by K E Osborn
I think to Trax, I love him so much.
Today was such a great day.
If today is my last day, at least I got to have one last date with him.
I hope he’ll be able to pull through this.
It will devastate him.
But I know me, and our babies will be with him, always.
As I lay on the ground, smoke invading my lungs, fire lapping all around me, my eyes close. An image of Trax fills my mind making a calm wash over me as everything finally turns black.
TRAX
My heart hasn’t stopped racing. Even though I’m on my ride which normally soothes me, the fact we’ve been able to ping Sparx’s cell, and we’re tracking where she’s located, it’s eating me up. I know where she is, I just need to get to her and fast. The fact I can also see the Notorious Knights pulled up on the side of the road ahead as we enter into Grand Rapids does nothing to ease the tension inside my body. All I know is I’m not fucking stopping to chat to Crest. I know it would be the decent thing to do, but we’re already behind the eight ball and delayed. We just need to keep moving so we can catch up to that son-of-a-bitch.
As we ride up alongside Crest and his men, they pull out joining our group ride. Two clubs riding side by side. The noise of the hogs is loud through the darkened night.
I tip my chin to Crest, and he does the same in return, making me feel like maybe he might not kick my ass too hard when I finally get a chance to speak to him face to face. But who knows. After we get Sparx back, he might shoot me himself.
Ace continues to track Sparx’s cell leading the way. My nerves are fucking shot. I know Everett has to stop at some point, and when he does, we’ll be on him. I have no idea what our game plan is. We didn’t discuss it. We’re riding in blind, but I know we’re all coming in fucking hot.
Eventually, Ace leads us down a long dirt road of what looks like a farm. I see an old barn in the distance, a set of gates leading up to the barn and at the gates a car is stationed. As we ride up, I notice three men stepping out of the car. I don’t hesitate, reaching around my back to the Glock that’s down my pants pulling it out.
I notice one of the guys has the same blue baseball cap Jason had on in the baby emporium which I now notice has Senator Scott’s slogan printed on the front. The other two men reach into the car pulling out guns aiming them at us. Firing off rounds aiming at no one in particular. Bikes break off as the sounds of guns firing echo through the night. I don’t hesitate to fire my weapon, the Glock instantly reflecting back in my hand as I aim for cap guy. The wind as I ride my bike making it hard to get in a good shot as he aims right at me. His rifle goes off, a bullet flies straight past me, nipping the side of my helmet making my ears ring a little as I blink a few times aiming for him again. Without hesitation as I ride right for him, I pull the trigger, the bullet hitting him right above his left eye. His body swings to the left, blood sprays all over the car. I grin beneath my helmet as I don’t waste any more time. I watch as Torque and Chains make quick work of the other two idiots, and I hammer down along with Crest and Ace as we ride toward the barn. I can see and smell smoke coming from inside, and this instantly puts me on high alert. I hammer down even harder. I have no idea what the hell I’m going to be walking into, but all I know is my woman and unborn babies are in there, and I need to get inside.
Now!
I see the flicker of flames as I get so close I can smell the fire. My bike not even brought to a full stop as I slide it to the side. It falls to the ground as I jump off running, ripping off my helmet as Ace and Crest pull up jumping off and running inside along with me. My heart beats out of my chest when I see the ring of flames. I squint shaking my head trying to figure out what I’m seeing, but as I look through the red blaze, I can vaguely make out the image of Sparx on the ground, passed out.
My stomach sinks as my eyes search around for Everett who’s nowhere to be seen. Ace and Crest run off as Torque rushes to my side. I step up with him toward the flames in a mad panic. I look, trying to find a way in, but the heat is so intense I have no idea how to get through to her.
“Mylee!” I call out my stomach wanting to unload its contents all over the floor.
In grief.
In utter panic.
Suddenly, someone lands on my back like they just jumped from a height. The weight almost knocking me into the flames as a fist lands into the side of my head. The sting dazing me for a second as I stumble on the spot trying to grab the idiot off my back. Torque races forward to help me, but I stand up taller righting myself as I look to my blood brother. “Torque, help Sparx,” I scream. He hesitates but then rushes off in the direction of Ace and Crest.
I grab the hem of Everett’s shirt who’s still on my back, and yank him over the top of my shoulders. He groans as he flies over and to the ground. I spin as I bend over him, kneeling either side, it startles me for a second as I get a good look at him. It flashes back. Even though I’ve seen his picture it didn’t click until right now seeing him in the flesh. He’s the asshole I saw with Mylee in the hospital, the one who she was laughing with. My stomach swirls with anger as I bring my fist back, landing a solid blow into his nose. It cracks under the hit, the audible break sounding through the barn as he groans, blood spilling from his nose, his face swells almost instantly.
I go to hit him again, but his hand comes up to the side with a stray rock smacking me in the side of my cheek. I flop to the side, disorientated, as he gets up to run away like the coward he is. Shaking my head, I stagger while chasing after him. He reaches for a pitchfork as he shoves the pointy end toward me. I duck out of the way, bending down grabbing a fist full of dirt and throwing it at his face. He coughs and splutters, his eyes closing and opening a few times as he drops the pitchfork in shock. I step in, my hands grabbing him around his neck, squeezing tight.
This fucker tried to kill my woman.
Tried to burn her and my babies alive.
He’s going to fucking pay.
His eyes bulge as his hands come up to mine squeezing around his neck. He claws at my hands trying to get me to loosen, but he fails.
Suddenly, his knee comes up between my legs hitting me right in the balls. Pain like I’ve never felt before ripples through me. I let go stumbling backward as he gasps for air but only takes a moment to gather himself before he’s on me. His fist slamming into my face. The agony reverberates through my entire body as I swing around toward the fire, getting a little too close for comfort. He pushes me, making me stumble. He grabs my arm, thrusting it straight into the fire. I scream as my wrist burns in the flames. My skin bubbling with the heat. But through the pain, I bring my free hand up punching him in his ribs. He lets me go as I quickly pull my arm from the fire. Bending over in agony, he comes for me again.
No, this fucker has done enough.
Now, I’m fucking angry.
So as he comes toward me for another round, I reach behind me pulling out my Glock aiming it at him. He skids to a halt as his breathing becomes rapid and shallow. He looks from me, then all around like he’s trying to find a way out.
There isn’t one.
He’s a dead man tonight.
“Trax, we can sort this out. I’m the son of a senator,” his shrill voice begs.
I curl up my lip as I unclick the safety. “You tried to kill Mylee, you don’t get an out.”
“Then kill me like a man. No guns.”
I snort. “Oh, right. How would you like to die, Everett?” I ask.
“I need to be reborn in the fire.”
This guy’s lost it. But if he doesn’t want a gun. Fine. I can give him no gun. I lower my Glock taking a deep breath as a slow smile creeps up on his face.
“Fine. No gun. But you’re not dying the way you want either,” I declare bending down picking up the pitchfork. The weathered wood grates against my fingers as I race forward shoving it straight into his stomach. He lets out a gurgled grunt, his muscles fight and contract against the intrusion, so I pu
sh a little harder. Blood pools on his white shirt as his eyes open wide. He coughs out a long line of blood.
“You don’t make the rules here, Everett… I do. Now go to hell, and stay there,” I grunt as I thrust the fork up into him deeper. His eyes close as he slumps onto the fork, so I drop his lifeless body to the ground.
I don’t have time to check if he is, in fact, dead but I know no one could survive that. I have to get to Sparx. I turn around to see Ace, Crest, and Torque with giant, thick blankets putting out the flames. Crest’s already in the middle of the circle, untying Sparx’s hands from behind her back as the rest of the bikers, Defiance and Knights, rush into the barn to see what’s happening.
I move as fast as I can over to Sparx, dropping to my knees in front of her as Crest finally manages to get her hands untied, and I pull her to me. She’s so limp as relief floods through me, but she’s completely out of it.
“Mylee, baby, c’mon. C’mon, baby,” I murmur stroking her hair away from her face as Crest strokes her torn wrists.
“Coma! Get your ass over here,” Crest calls out to one of his men. I look up to see a young guy, well built, kind of ex-military looking. He steps in, looking down to Sparx.
“We need to get her out of here and away from this fucking smoke,” Coma instructs. I fear the worst as I lean in picking her up, even though my wrist is killing me as I run outside placing her on the fresh grass with all the men following me. Coma runs to his bike pulling out a first-aid kit from his saddle bag.
I glance to Sparx, her breathing is shallow making me start to panic as Coma returns sitting down beside her placing a small oxygen cylinder over her mouth. I look up to see Crest is on his cell. I overhear him talking to an ambulance as I look to Sparx who still isn’t waking up even with the oxygen. I stand up and begin to pace while running my hands through my hair.
Shit.
What if she doesn’t wake up?
What if she is really gone?
What if I lose her and my babies?
I can’t handle this. I can’t fucking lose them all.
“Fuuuck!” I call out as I start to walk in circles. I’m freaking the fuck out as I look back to Sparx, her body unmoving as Coma works on her.
But there’s nothing. She’s breathing, but she’s so lifeless.
Hands grab me pulling me to face them. Crest comes into view, his concerned face makes me feel even more broken. “Trax, brother, you need to calm down. She’s okay, she’s going to be fine. You need to keep it together for when she wakes up because we don’t know how she’s going to pull through this mentally. She will need you to be the strong one.”
It’s just the jolt I need. “Okay… yeah, okay.”
Torque moves to my side, yanking on my arm, bringing it up to look at my burnt flesh. “You make sure they look at that when you’re at the hospital.”
I pull my arm away from him. “I don’t care about me, I’ll be fine.”
Torque grunts. “I know you don’t care, but Sparx does. She’ll be pissed if you don’t get yourself looked at. You know I’m right.”
Groaning, I roll my eyes leaning down to stroke Sparx’s hair then kiss her forehead while hearing the drawling blare of ambulance sirens in the distance. Relief washes over me that they’re on their way, but I’m also worried about the repercussions of what might come from what’s transpired here tonight.
I killed the son of a senator.
Shit like that doesn’t tend to go down well.
I might get Sparx back just in time for me to get locked up. I have no idea how this is all going to go down. All I know is for right now, I want my woman and my kids looked after. I can deal with the fallout later.
The ambulance pulls down the dirt road. I don’t miss the look on the faces of the driver as they take in all the bikers on the lawn.
Crest looks to me with a sigh. “I’ll meet you at the hospital. You ride with her,” he demands.
As if there was any other option.
The ambulance EMT rushes over to assess Sparx, and I let them do their thing. For once, I’m not going to interfere or try to get them to do things my way because all I care about is her safety right now. They know how best to do that, not me. I know when to bow out.
They stretcher her into the back of the ambulance, and I get in, but it doesn’t go unnoticed that the Knights’ VP, Aero, is closely monitoring the situation. What’s with that?
I look to the officer tending to Sparx as the driver closes the door. “She’s pregnant… twins,” I murmur. “Will the babies be okay?”
“We’ll do everything to keep her oxygen levels up and to keep her stable,” is all she says not filling me with any kind of reassurance.
I sit back as dread slides over my entire body. What if we lose the babies? I think that would kill Sparx. I don’t even know how I would deal with it.
The officer looks to me, glancing down at my arm. “That’s a nasty burn you’ve got there.”
I huff. “I’m fine.”
She chuckles. “It’s not fine, it needs attention. If you let it go it will get infected, and that won’t be good for anyone. Trust me. Let me tend to it.”
I groan but concede, letting her dress my wound. It hurts like a motherfucker. I hadn’t really felt how bad it was until right now as everything’s starting to sink in.
We arrive at the hospital a short time later. Sparx is admitted into an emergency bay, and just as we are, she starts to wake up. I shift to her side instantly as she looks up to me with tears in her eyes. Her hand moves straight to her stomach.
“It’s okay. I’m here, I’m right here.”
“The babies?” she asks as a doctor walks into the bay.
We both look up to him.
“We’ll do a scan to check on them. You’ve inhaled smoke so we want to ensure your oxygen levels are okay before we move you around too much.”
Sparx coughs a little, looking at the doctor, tears still glistening in her eyes. “Is there any risk to the babies?”
The doctor tilts his head. “With the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, there’s always a chance of the babies having some issues, but right now, it’s best for you not to worry.”
Sparx moves a little, trying to sit up, so I reach out helping her as she looks to the doctor. “Can you please do some testing, make sure our babies are okay?”
“Of course. I will get an OB/GYN to come in to do some testing straight away.”
Even I relax slightly at hearing that. Sparx seems to sink into the bed seemingly calmer. Knowing our babies are okay will make us both feel better.
While we are waiting, a nurse came and tended to my arm. Sparx was really upset I’d gotten hurt. We had a talk about how she was feeling, but she’s actually doing remarkably well. She said as long as the babies are safe, she’ll be fine. Knowing I came to save them makes her feel so undeniably loved, she has no idea how to thank me. I told her there was no need. I love her, and I will always be there to protect my family.
Always.
Movement in the doorway gains my attention, so I look up and see Crest. I smile as he swallows hard peeking in to see Sparx awake. “How’s my baby girl?”
Sparx’s bottom lip trembles as she bursts into tears at seeing her father. He races in as I move aside letting him embrace his daughter. “Don’t cry, baby girl. You’re safe now. He’s gone.”
Her eyes widen as he pulls back. “Malcolm… Everett’s father, he was in on this.”
My head snaps to look at her as Crest tenses. “Why do you say that?”
Sparx sniffs. “Things Everett was saying. Trust me, will you look into it?”
I nod. “Yeah, babe, I’ll have Ace go through everything, but for now you need to rest.”
Crest looks at me. “Thanks for doing everything in your power to get our girl back.”
I’m shocked. I thought out of all the emotions I’d get from Crest, it would be anger, but instead, he’s thanking me. I smile as Crest simply turns walking out of
the bay. Sparx lets out a little cough as I scrunch my eyebrows in shock.
I guess Crest is full of surprises. But the biggest surprise from this conversation wasn’t Crest’s non-reaction. It’s that Malcolm might be involved. I just want to know how. But that can wait. Right now I need to make sure my woman and my kids are doing okay.
Them first, the Senator later.
TRAX
A little while later, an OB/GYN walks in with a machine making my nerves spike up another level. The idea something’s wrong with our twins has me on edge as I sit next to Sparx’s bed.
“You ready to hear your babies?” she asks. I bow my head as Sparx just swallows hard. I grab her hand letting her know, no matter what, I’m with her in this.
She squirts the gel onto Sparx’s tummy while Sparx flops her head back on the pillow almost like she’s scared to look, but almost instantly, I hear the whooshing sound of two heartbeats. Joy fills my chest as I grip onto Sparx’s hand so tight as her head flies up almost like she’s shocked. Her face lights up in the brightest smile I’ve ever seen as her eyes well with a glistening sparkle. “They’re okay?” she asks, her voice a breathy whisper.
“Their heartbeats are strong and healthy. From what I understand, you’re staying in overnight to ensure there are no complications from the inhalation of the smoke.”
“Yes, definitely,” I agree as Sparx looks to me.
“I’m so happy they’re okay.”
I lean in planting a kiss on her lips as the doctor turns off her machine, subtly walking out of the bay leaving us alone to celebrate our good news. “I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you today.”
She brings her hand up caressing the side of my face. “You didn’t. I’m okay. We’re okay.”
“I can’t ever go through that again.” I lean in kissing her strongly, knowing she’s my world, my life, my everything.
Her and our twins.
The stay overnight in the hospital was cramped and awkward, but we’re about to head home. Sparx is getting dressed as a knock sounds on the door. We both turn, my stomach sinks as I see none other than Malcolm fucking Scott standing in the doorway with two security goons on either side. His pristine politician suit tailored to perfection, his gray hair styled to within an inch of its life. He looks like the next fucking president.