“We’ve got to hold off,” I repeat Hawk’s direction.
Logan jumps out.“I’d better ride in front.I might end up killing him.”
With Bronson secure in the van and Roar watching him.I rush back to Hawk.He’s giving orders for all of us to move out, leaving behind a very large crate of meth laced with fentanyl for the feds to find.
Hawk searches the top of the building where the man in black was standing, but the man has disappeared.
“Was that Phantom?”I ask.
“Yeah.”He sighs.
“Where the hell did he go?”
“He’s got to pay a visit to a friend.He’ll be back,” Hawk replies.“Let’s go!Time’s up, and we’ve got to roll.”
The Redemption Riders make it back to our bikes and cars, which were hidden away.The Satan’s Pride brothers take off in another direction, heading home.
Chapter21
Cleaning Up the Town
Tessa
Meanwhile…
I panicked when I was told that Bronson planned to burn down my home or shop.I was frazzled and stunned that anyone could be so cruel as to eliminate everything I worked for just because I chose not to participate in his illegal schemes.
I knew I couldn’t be at both places at once and was determined to stay at the shop in the hope that if they chose to strike, they’d be deterred when they saw the lights on.Probably not, though.
Imagine my surprise when half the business owners in town showed up at my door.
“What’s happening?”I ask.
Don speaks up for the crowd.“We need to stop being bullied.Sasha called and told us what Bronson has planned.We’re here to make sure the son of bitch doesn’t get away with it.”
Clara adds, “Sasha alerted the phone tree.”She scans the people who have come to help.“We’ve had enough.Standing together makes us stronger and sends a message.”
I can’t help but get emotional.The thought of all these people coming to my rescue is overwhelming.Most don’t even know me, and yet here they are.
“I don’t know what to say.”My throat is clogged with emotion.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Don takes the lead and disperses the crowd into smaller groups as they set up a perimeter, securing the store from all directions.
“Maybe I should go to the house, then,” I say to Etain and Sasha.
“No need.Liz has that covered,” Sasha returns.
“Liz?”
“Well, not on her own,” Sasha says with a giggle.
“The town’s decided to step up and stop being afraid of Bronson and his gang.Liz is with Dina and a dozen others.Plus, the entire neighborhood is on watch.They want the town cleaned up from people like Bronson,” Etain says.
They’re taking a huge risk.Bronson could direct his anger toward any one of these people, and he doesn’t play fair.I begin to feel guilty for putting them in danger.
Obviously, I should never play poker, because my expression says exactly what I’m thinking, and Clara calls me out on it.“Enough,” she says.“You’d be the first person to step up and assist any one of us.Whether it be watching the shop, or visiting to check in on us.I know as well as I know my own name that you’re the woman who would go above and beyond to make sure we’re okay.So, enough of those crazy thoughts in your head.We’re here.We’re staying until we get the all clear from Hawk or Motown.”
It isn’t until much later that I notice that Ruth isn’t anywhere to be seen.I ask Sasha if she’s at the house by any chance.