Truck Stop Tempest

by Daniels, Krissy

  He carried me back into the dark diner. Lightning brightened the sky, and I counted. One, two, three. Boom.

  A laugh bubbled from my chest. I was about to die, and still, I was scared of the storm.

  “What’s so fucking funny?” Erik dropped me to my feet. My legs gave out and I slumped to the floor.

  Wiping hair off my face, I lifted my chin. “I’m not scared of you.”

  “What?”

  “You’re going to kill me, and I’m not scared.”

  A smile evident in his voice, he snapped, “I’m not going to kill you, stupid kid.”

  “No?”

  The bully squatted out of striking distance. “Fuck, no. Our arranged marriage was bullshit. Jeremy promised to make me his successor when you and I tied the knot, but really, he only wanted to keep me around ‘cause I played his game better than anyone. I was his favorite fucking toy. Sick fucker thought he was using me? I was using him, keeping him busy with his perversions while I built my own empire behind his back. He’s dead now. Feds are crawling all over the place. Time to move out of Idaho. Besides, got more lucrative dealings in the works.”

  “So why are you here, then? I don’t matter anymore.”

  “Oh, this is the fun part. Found a buyer in Texas. Rich fucker. Likes his girls small and young. But when I told him you were Carver’s daughter, he paid top dollar. Said he’s known you since you were a baby, always had an eye on you. Didn’t even matter that you’re legal now. He said you still look young enough.”

  “You sold me?”

  “I sold you. Get up.” He nudged my shoulder. “Need to get on the road. It’s a long drive.”

  So many emotions, so many thoughts tumbled through me, I couldn’t make sense of anything other than defiance. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Afraid you don’t have much of a choice.”

  I mimicked his growl, “‘Afraid you’re gonna have to kill me.”

  That earned me a slap.

  He fisted my hair. Grunting, he rose to his feet and dragged me across the checkered tile floor, my thrashing nothing more than an annoyance.

  When he pushed through the double doors, he froze, his fingers loosening. “What the fuck?”

  I twisted and turned to look.

  Despite the dire situation, the violent, morbid scene, I smiled.

  She smiled. Fucking smiled. Despite the cuts, bruises, and blood, and even with her muddy, mangled hair, I’d never seen anyone, or anything, more beautiful.

  “Tuuli. You okay?” The words left me on a choked groan.

  Laughter bubbled from her throat. Yeah, she looked like a mad woman. Yeah, she was on her hands and knees, a dead man’s fingers twisted in her hair, holding her at his mercy, but she didn’t cower, she didn’t cry. She laughed.

  Ignoring Tuuli, Erik asked, “Where’s Riley?”

  I stretched my bloody knuckles, itching to rile the guy. “Which parts of him?”

  “What’d you do?”

  “I did what needed to be done.”

  The sky lit up outside, throwing another blinding flash through the diner, distorting Erik’s features, exposing the demon inside.

  Tuuli’s eyes widened and her lips moved, counting, one, two. Boom.

  My bunny laughed harder. Girl was losing her shit. I had to get the situation under control.

  Erik crouched, pushing her head to the floor. “Don’t fucking move,” he ordered, untangling his fingers from her hair and stroking her head like she was a goddamn dog.

  Took every ounce of control I had not to end him where he stood.

  I stayed put and attempted to draw his attention away from Tuuli. “I told you, lay hands on my girl again, you’ll be fishing your fingers outta the lake.”

  He rose to his full height, turned to me, and replied, “Told you, she was mine before she was born.”

  “Yeah? Explain how that works, how you think you can own any girl?”

  “Bitch was bought and sold while she was still in her mama’s fat belly. Now that Jeremy’s dead, I own Mommy, too. Lots of men willing to pay top dollar for that pussy. I’ll give every one of them a whack at her, soon as I’m finished taking my fill.”

  So, Erik had Tuuli’s mother.

  Through my periphery, I watched Tuuli crawl backward, rise, then slip through the kitchen doors, quiet as a mouse.

  That’s my girl. Hide.

  “I have it on good authority you don’t like pussy. I’ve seen the videos. You and Jeremy.”

  Idiot came at me. No plan of action. Pure hatred. Pure adrenaline. His first strike was clumsy, slowed by the weight of his wet clothes no doubt. The second hit home because I’d allowed it, giving him a sliver of hope, but I didn’t strike back, not yet. Instead, I moved deeper into the hallway, drawing him farther away from Tuuli.

  “You’re fucking dead,” Erik sputtered, coming at me again.

  The dim lighting from the exit signs offered little aid. Bad for Erik, good for me. I’d always worked better in the dark. The pale giant came at me again and I struck him in the solar plexus, only enough to knock the wind out of his sails, and he stumbled backward. I struck again, a chin tap, holding back. I wanted him conscious but hurting.

  His nose was my next target. I only struck hard enough to break the cartilage. Let him know I wasn’t fucking around. His hands whipped to his face, leaving his midsection wide open. I took another shot, landing a body blow. The piece of shit crumpled, landing right where I wanted him, at my feet. At my fucking mercy.

  The light flickered. Came on. Went dark again.

  Tuuli pushed through the door holding Charlie’s rifle to her goddamn shoulder. “Where’s my mom?”

  Erik looked up, pure, murderous hatred rolling off him in waves. “I should’ve killed you the night I ended Jonas.” He wheezed through his pain. “I should’ve fucked your ass and slit your throat.”

  Her gasp echoed, bouncing off the brick walls. “It was you?”

  Fuck. Fuck. The situation was turning to shit. “Tuuli. Put the gun down.”

  “Back off, Tito,” Tuuli ordered, voice booming, gun aimed at Erik’s midsection.

  “Where is my mom?” she asked again, deep and threatening.

  “Won’t matter.” Two deep breaths. “By the time you find her, there’ll be nothing left to save.”

  Crack! The butt of the rifle hit Erik’s forehead. He screamed, loud and shrill, arms raised to shield his head.

  His cries turned to laughter. Crazed. “The Banshees have her. Jesus Christ. I’ll fucking kill you.”

  “Not if I kill you first.” She raised the gun again to her shoulder, aimed, and took a deep breath.

  “Tuuli. Don’t do this.”

  “He’ll never stop hurting people.”

  I didn’t recognize her voice anymore.

  “Tuuli. Listen. Trust me. Don’t do this.”

  She stepped closer, gun aimed at Erik’s head.

  I had to stop her. I would not lose Tuuli to my demons.

  Pulse racing, head pounding, I asked, “Can I kiss you?”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Erik screamed.

  “Ignore him,” I ordered, throwing extra grit into my voice, hoping she’d submit one last time. “Look at me.”

  Her head aimed my direction.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  My sweet angel complied. “Tell me something I don’t know about you. Something big.”

  Fuck, I loved how much she trusted me.

  “I love a girl. I love her so fuckin’ deep and true, she’s part of my DNA.” God, it hurt to say those words. A beautiful, cleansing, steel wool to the veins kind of pain. “So, you see, you have to put the gun down. You have to let me handle this, you have to trust me, ‘cause I can’t lose the woman I love.” I took careful steps in her direction. “I can’t let you fall victim to the demons I battle. They want you, baby. I can feel them, they’re everywhere—in the dark, in the shadows, just waiting for you to cross that line, take that shot. You do t
hat, they’re in. Those demons are in your head for good, and I know you don’t want that.”

  “If I kill him, then you won’t have to.” Her voice trembled, betraying her motives.

  Fuck. She was protecting me. Fighting for a soul that was long ago damned.

  “I love you,” I said, giving her the facts, straight and true, hating the words, but feeling the sentiment to my marrow. “Listen to me. Neither one of us is killing Erik. Where’s that faith, Bunny? I’ve got this under control. He’s never going to hurt another child. He’s never going to hurt you again. I promise.”

  “How can you promise?”

  I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket. Swiped. Sent the text. “In about two seconds, some men are gonna come in here. They’re with me. Don’t shoot.”

  Flashlights preceded the heavy stomp of boots.

  Dane’s voice cut through the darkness. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to think he got the jump on you.”

  “Riley secure?” I asked, positioning myself between the bikers and my half-naked girl.

  “Fucker’s not goin’ anywhere.” He aimed the light on Erik. “What’s the holdup?”

  “Tuuli here is deciding whether or not she wants her piece of him, too.”

  “Tuuli. Nice name.” Dane lowered his light, tucking it under his arm, before leaning to the left to look around me. “Listen, baby. I understand you’ve got good reason to take this fucker out. Can’t say I blame you. Thing is, I promised to bring him to my pres. That’s a promise I can’t break. I can assure you, this twat ain’t gonna live to see next week. But he can’t die today. He needs to answer for what he’s done. I can promise you, though, he will suffer.” The big biker stepped up to Erik and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “Tell you what. You put that gun down, I’ll throw in a little extra torture, just for you. Sound good?”

  Erik laughed again, maniacal, desperate. “Shoot me, Tuuli. Shoot me, you fucking cunt. Fucking traitor. You don’t deserve that mark you wear. I shoulda cut that tat off your back and then fucked your ass. Fucking cunt. Shoot me. Shoot me!”

  Dane shut him down with a steel-toe to the jaw. Shot me a nod.

  Tuuli sobbed, the gun bobbing in her hand. I stepped closer, voice low. “Baby. Give me the gun.”

  She lowered her arms. “He made me watch.”

  “I know.” I stepped closer, laying a hand over her shoulder.

  “He has my mom.”

  “We’ll get her back. You have to trust me. Let me take you home.” I slid my hand down her arm, over her hand, over the gun, and gripped the metal tight. “That’s it. Let go.”

  Dane and his crew moved in behind me, not wasting a beat. Slow and steady, I moved between Tuuli and the Slayers, blocking her view. The less she saw of them, the better.

  “It’s over.” I cupped the back of her head, pulling her against my chest, and dropped a kiss on her wet hair. Her fingers slipped off the gun, her hand falling to her side.

  Over my shoulder, Dane asked, “We good to go?”

  “Yeah. Go.” God, her skin was cold.

  “Wait.” Tuuli jerked away from me. “My mom.”

  “Fuck, Moretti. Gotta get this show on the road. Long drive. Long fuckin’ night.”

  “Dane,” I warned.

  He huffed expletives. Someone grunted. I didn’t turn around.

  Erik screamed, the sound much like the wails of the children I’d watched him break on those damn recordings.

  Dane’s voice rose behind me, full of lethal warning. “Where’s Tuuli’s mom?”

  “You’ll never find her…ow. Fuck.”

  Unholy, fleshy, gurgled noises rose from the floor.

  Tuuli buried her face in my chest, covering her ears.

  “I’ll only ask one more time. Where. The fuck. Is. The bitch?”

  Had to give Erik credit. The psychopath could take a beating. He sobbed. Screamed. Laughed, then yelled, “Over the fucking rainbow, assholes. She’s over the fucking rainbow.”

  More screams. Then silence.

  “Guy passed out. Sorry,” Dane grunted, his leather creaking as he rose to stand. “Don’t have time for this shit. Gotta hit the road.”

  “No. No. No.” Tuuli tried to pull out of my arms. “Tito. My mom.”

  Fuck. I was helpless to do anything but hold her tight and keep her from pissing off Dane. “Shh. It’s okay. I’ll find her. I’ll find her for you.” I stroked her hair and whispered in her ear. “Breathe, baby. Breathe.”

  I couldn’t breathe. The air around us was thick with brutality and dripping with incitement. I pulled away from Tito, hoping to reach Erik, beat the truth from his vile flesh. Punish him for all the wrongs he’d committed.

  Tito braced an arm around my waist, hoisting me off my feet. Holding me steady while I fought.

  “Tuuli. You can’t. They’ll kill you, too. They’re Slayers.”

  His words struck their intended target. I stilled, giving in to his unyielding hold on me. Slayers. I’d heard Jeremy and Jonas talk about the motorcycle club. Enemies of The Brotherhood. One of many.

  “I promise. I won’t stop until I find her.” His rough, ragged voice drained the fight from my bones.

  I believed him. He would find her. He wouldn’t stop until she was home.

  My hands trembled. The rest of my body followed suit, crashing from the adrenaline rush.

  “I need air. I feel sick.” I jerked out of Tito’s grip and bolted for the front door.

  The sky lit with a blinding flash, followed immediately by an earth-shaking rumble. The storm was right over us.

  I pushed through the door, the cowbell clunking its greeting, and sucked in a large dose of air, daring the storm to do its damage. Take me. Hurt me. Punish me. I stayed under the awning, back pressed against the white brick, and I watched lightning dance across the lake. No longer fearful.

  My storm was over.

  Erik was over.

  Jeremy was gone.

  The Brotherhood, soon, would be over.

  I fell to my knees on the cold, wet cement. Every inch of my body screamed in protest. I screamed out loud through the pain at the storm. At God. I screamed for my mom. For Jonas. For wasted lives. I screamed until my voice gave out. Until I was empty. Until there was nothing left to purge. Depleted, I dropped my hands and my head to the ground. I cried, and I prayed. For forgiveness. For strength. For my mother.

  A warm arm draped over my shoulder. Another wrapped around my chest. Tito lifted me to my feet. Made sure I was steady, then wiped the wet strands of hair off my face. “You good now?”

  I nodded, finding peace and solace in those worried eyes. He yanked his shirt over his head, placed it over mine, and helped me pull my arms through the sleeves.

  “You’re bleeding everywhere. Need to get you cleaned up.”

  He guided me back through the diner. Two men held flashlights aimed on Erik. One bald, one with long, black hair. Both of them huge. The man Tito called Dane, whose face was hidden behind a long, unkempt beard, was tugging Erik down the hallway by his hair, hands secured behind his back, ankles tied together.

  Erik’s eyes popped open, searching blindly. “Tuuli. Tuuli. Please. Don’t let them take me. Tuuli. Help me. Tuuli.”

  “What are they going to do to him?” I whispered, unsure if I wanted the answer.

  “Whatever it is, it won’t be enough.”

  A hard shiver ran through me. More violence. More murder.

  We followed them down the hall. Erik fought against his binds, bucking and twisting. The bald man laughed, swung his flashlight, and Erik went still.

  “Stay here.” Tito braced my shoulders. Kissed my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

  I caught the door before it swung shut and watched him follow behind the bikers, all dressed in black leather. Physically, Tito was not as tall and not as big as the other men. But in their space, he was every bit as fearsome. More so even. They stepped away when he approached, as if in respect, or fear. I couldn’t
be sure. It was dark. I was probably in shock.

  As they paused to talk, I allowed myself one last look at the man who had tortured me and made me live in fear. I remembered the boy, the bully. I remembered the threats. The promises. His secret hideouts.

  I hated that I wanted him dead. That knowing he would suffer gave me pleasure. I hated that he’d turned me into a monster.

  Somewhere over the rainbow. A memory tickled my nerves.

  I waited for a painful beat before following Tito outside. He didn’t notice. He didn’t hear me approach because he was bent over Erik with a hunting knife in his hand. And he was cutting. And although I couldn’t see the blood. I heard the sound, the screams.

  Over the rainbow.

  Somewhere over the rainbow.

  I knew where he’d sent my mom.

  I knew where to find her.

  I needed to tell Tito. We needed to leave before it was too late, before she disappeared. I stepped closer, then paused when I heard him say, “I told you if you touched my girl again, you’d be fishing your fingers outta the lake.”

  One of the bikers said, “Fuck. That’s fucked up.”

  “I always keep my promises,” Tito growled, bending low to Erik’s ear.

  I was done. Done. Done. No time to hide or move out of the way. I vomited. Right there. All over my shoes.

  “Tuuli,” Tito grunted over his shoulder, not a lick of apology in his voice. “Shit, you were supposed to stay inside.”

  He rose and came my way. Face and hands bloody.

  “Don’t.” I backed away. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this anymore.”

  So much blood.

  He continued anyway, eyes wild.

  “Stop, Tito,” I pleaded, desperate for a moment alone. To clear my head, to come up with a plan. “You’re a mess. Just give me your keys. I’ll wait in the car.”

  He paused, hands to hips, bare chest rising and falling, water sluicing down every ridge of muscle. Tilting his head, he blinked the darkness away, and whispered, “Tuuli.”

  “Just give me the keys.” I held out my palm.

  Eyes worried and body taut, he tugged his car keys out of his front pocket.