My stomach churns. Scrambling to my feet I give chase. I rush out of the front door to hell on Earth. My car is on fire. Breezy is bleeding out on the concrete. I scan the area and spot Trixie’s hair flying out behind her. She’s on the back of a bike with a property cut I recognize immediately.
Stupid bitch.
The 45ers are small time bad news. They have a small crew who look to exploit weaknesses and make easy money. They don’t like Chaos because we keep them in check.
I rush over to Breezy and check his pulse. It’s there, but faint. “Jenna! Call an ambulance and get me my cell phone.”
She runs back and returns with my cell phone.
I hit speed dial.
“Is Wizard okay?”
“Stone, we have a problem. Trixie is riding bitch for the 45ers. She just came in to the shop to inform me Chaos was going to burn.”
Stone snorts. “I don’t know what lines they fed her, but they have no power.”
“She sounded pretty fucking sure.”
“I’ll put out patrols. Issue the lockdown warnings.”
“Thank you,” I say, relieved. “Breezy is down. I have an ambulance coming right now. It’s looking bad.” Tears fill my eyes. I’ve already lost so much and now the rest of my world seems to be in danger of falling.
“I’m going to have her god damn head on a platter for this bullshit. Do not leave without prospects.”
“I won’t.” We disconnect.
Sirens blare in the distance. I see the flashing lights as they come around the corner. They pull up onto the cu
rb and the doors open. “What happened, ma’am?”
“I don’t know. I came out here and found him like this. He left for lunch twenty minutes ago, so it couldn’t have happened that long ago.”
“All right, we’ll handle it from here. I need you to step back and let us work.”
I comply with their request and send a prayer to Mother Mary as they strap my friend onto a body board and lift him up. I want to go with him, but I know it’s not my place. I need to stay here as Stone asked. I stand and watch dazed, as they lift him up and push him into the red vehicle.
“We’ll be going to Mt. St. Joseph Hospital, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” I back away as they pull away from the curb. Tendrils of hair fall into my face and I blow them out of my eyes. I must look a fright. Smoothing down my gray skirt I turn to go inside.
An anxious faced Jenna is staring at me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m trying to be,” I answer as honestly as possible.
“Nevada, you should come inside,” a masculine voice says.
I glance up and look at Wheels. “Yeah, you’re right.” I follow him in and wonder what the next few hours will bring.
We retreat into the store and watch every person who goes by with distrustful gazes.
Shannon walks in a few minutes later. “What the hell happened?”
Snickers and nervous laughter break out.
“You missed a lot,” I whisper. Wizard. A strange vibe settles in the pit of my stomach. “Wheels, we need to go.”
“Go where? The police will be arriving any moment.”