Christmas Outburst

CHAPTER ELEVEN

– NIXIE –

Leon is rattling on about mechanical parts of his bike and it goes in one ear and right out the other. I bob my head and smile, enjoying the enthusiasm he’s running on when he works on his bike. We’ve been talking a lot these past two weeks and ever since we made some mugs in my pottery studio, he’s wanted to show me his hobby.

Which is obviously working on his bike. It might not be just a hobby, though. He’s completely enthralled by it and hangs on to every word Amos said when he was explaining about a motorcycle he was fixing for a client at his father’s garage. Something about an engine overheating, I wasn’t really paying attention.

Leon and Amos are changing the oil of Leon’s bike. They explained to me that it needs to be done regularly or it’s a guarantee to ruin the engine of the motorcycle. I do love riding on the back of Zale’s bike, but all the details? They just fly past me, so I nod and try to keep focus.

Amos stepped away a few minutes ago, right after he received a phone call. He said it had something to do with his sister bringing over some parts. I squat down next to Leon when a white van enters the garage.

I hear Amos raise his voice and glance over my shoulder to see a woman stepping out of the van. She goes head-to-head with him, and I wince at the way they are arguing.

Leon’s voice draws my attention back to him. “Don’t worry about it. Adette always gets in his face and causes trouble for him with the other brothers. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a sister and then I hear those two fighting.” Leon chuckles. “Let’s just say I can’t wait to start prospecting, then I’ll have a whole club filled with brothers.”

I feel a slight pang in my chest at the reminder of being an only child, which means the only family I have left is my daughter. Circumstances aside, I’m glad she’s moving here. Hopefully Vera will be apprehended soon so we can go back to our home.

Meave is arriving in a few days, and even if Zale said she’d be welcome to stay at the clubhouse, it would be better if we’d stayed at my house. Meave has been through enough and hasn’t had the slightest chance to process or feel happy about the pregnancy. That dick of a guy who knocked her up really screwed her over.

She doesn’t need to stay in a clubhouse filled with men. What she needs is her own space and a new environment to lick her wounds and come out stronger. It’s also why I understood her need to drive herself here.

I smile at Leon, but an intense pain stabbing through my left side rips a scream from me. My knees buckle and I land on my hands and side. Glancing at my side, I instantly notice the blood soaking my white shirt. There’s someone behind me and I’m sputtering against some fluids she’s squirting all over me, Leon, and his bike he manages to jump behind.

“Did you really think you could simply slide in and take my place? You have nothing, bitch, nothing. I’ll make sure when I burn you to a crisp,” Vera states and drops the lighter fluid to palm a small butane torch.

The fear in Leon’s eyes is almost my undoing. He’s not staring at his mother. No, his full attention is on me, and the fear he’s displaying is solely for my life. My arm feels sticky due to the blood gushing from my side. I feel slightly dizzy, and I’m sure it’s due to the knife wound in my side.

There’s not much time, and my mind is running overtime to think of a way to get out of this alive. There’s so much more to live for. Not only do I want to become a freaking grandmother but I also want to be there for my daughter. The new and exciting connection with Zale. Many, many other things, chances, adventures.

This bitch doesn’t deserve to take away another person’s chance of happiness just because she’s jealous or simply screwed-up in the head.

“Vera,” Adette gasps. “What are you doing? You said you only wanted to talk to your son.”

I glance in the direction of the van to see Adette with her eyes wide standing next to her brother.

Amos curses and snaps, “Why do you always fuck things up for everyone, Adette? I asked you multiple times to stay away from Vera if she contacted you and call me the second she reached out. What do you fucking do? Bring her back to the place she set on fucking fire.”

“She only wanted to see and talk to Leon,” Adette whines.

“The bitch was in jail for almost killing him the last time and fucking escaped prison, Adette,” Amos growls.

Vera is chuckling due to their interaction while I take in my surroundings to see what options I have left. Leon is standing behind his bike and can easily make a run for it. He’s also dosed with lighter fluid, but the burner Vera is holding is small and needs to be held for the flame to ignite. Which means Leon has a chance to run.

“There you are,” Vera says and I feel her words rumble against my back.

Her breath smells like stale beer. I already feel woozy and the stench adds to the need to gag. Dammit, I need to focus. My gaze lands on Zale who is standing beside Amos. A flash of movement makes me notice Reef who is sneaking his way toward us, trying to use the row of bikes as cover.

“I was hoping you’d be here. This way I get to see your reaction when I take everything away from you.” The satisfaction in Vera’s voice is causing a chill to run up my spine.

“Why are you doing this?” I croak on a whisper.

“Why?” Vera screeches, and I move my hand to urge Leon to move back to where Reef is.

I’m thankful to see him slowly step back.

“Yes, why? After all this time to come back here while you escaped from prison and could have easily fled to disappear and never be found,” I challenge, trying to keep her talking and not think about the fact that she’s holding the power to burn me alive.

“A life on the run?” Vera snarls. “Why the fuck would I want that? My life is ruined, and I have that asshole there to blame. He needs to pay for his sins.”

Reef moves past Leon and he’s getting closer to us. I have no clue what his plans are and it’s why I keep talking to distract Vera.

Even if I don’t want to hear her twisted reasoning, I still ask, “What sins?”

“He should have made me his old lady, should have treated me with the respect of someone he loves. I gave him enough time after I knocked myself up. What did he do instead? He despised me, didn’t you?” she spits at Zale.

Zale’s hands ball into fists, knuckles white, he stays in place and doesn’t so much as move or say one word to defend himself.

Vera continues, “He didn’t even believe it was his, made me take a paternity test and after that he was only interested in the kid. Gave him all the love and care while I was only the mother of that attention seeking ball on a chain. So, I gave him a wakeup call that fucking backfired and landed me in jail.” She presses the butane torch under my chin, making it hard to swallow. “I finally manage to escape to set things right, and when I go to see my fucking kid, what do I find out? He’s fucking cheating on me with an older bitch. One he does make his old lady. You think you can slide right in and take what’s rightfully mine? Think again, cunt. First I’ll–” Vera suddenly notices Leon who has managed to crawl away from us and is now near Zale.

“Fuck,” she snarls when she sees Reef.

Vera stumbles back and drags me with her. The butane torch leaves my neck for a moment when she uses it to set fire to the bike. Since she’s dosed it with the lighter fluid, it allows the fire to rapidly eat away at the leather of the seat.

The flames, the heat, the stench, everything spikes the fear running through me about how I’m next to catch fire. Vera’s reasonings are borderline obsession, insane ramblings where there is no reasoning with her.

“You have my attention now,” Zale bellows. “You want me? You got me.”

He strides our way with determination and there’s a split second to react when I see Vera’s arm still pointing in the bike’s direction. I know she’s going to either place the torch back under my chin or set me on fire. Neither thing sounds appealing.

To make things worse? I don’t think I can keep myself standing for much longer. This is my one and only shot. Leon is safe. Meave will land on her own feet if something happens to me. I’m sure Reef and Zale will help her if I’m gone.

I swallow hard and see Vera’s arm swing my way. Moving fast, I grab her wrist with both hands. She jerks in my hold, causing my upper body to twist. Pain shoots through me but I hold on. There’s no way I can let go because that would mean she’d have a chance to light me on fire.

We struggle and it’s hard to block out the pain and the yelling coming from behind me. The heat of the flames from the motorcycle is closing in and I suddenly understand what she’s trying to do.

A whimper tumbles from my lips. I feel the strength drain from my body. I don’t want to give up, but the dark spots entering my vision while my limbs feel like jelly don’t leave me much of a choice.

Strong arms surround my waist. More pain flares from my side. Vera screeches when I’m being ripped away. I think I hear Zale’s voice, and yet the words aren’t penetrating my mind. Reef is now fighting with Vera. He steps back. The sound of a gunshot cracks through the air right before I feel myself slip away.

“Look at me, Nixie. Open your damn eyes.” Zale’s voice is pleading.

I want to honor his request, I really do, except my body doesn’t feel like cooperating.

“She can’t die.” The torment in Leon’s voice causes a tightness inside my chest.

Somewhere deep inside me I gather the strength to open my eyes.

“That’s it, sweetheart. Keep those hazel eyes locked on me,” Zale demands. “Ambulance is on the way. Hold on for me, okay?”

“Vera,” I whisper.

“Dead. Amos shot her. You hold on, you hear? Don’t you fucking go anywhere.”

“So demanding,” I muse and close my eyes to brace for the pain that’s starting to consume me.

“You haven’t fully experienced my demanding ways yet, Nixie,” Zale grits. “Don’t fucking die or I’ll be very pissed I won’t get a chance to grow old with you.”

I try for a chuckle, yet it sounds more like a choked sob. “I’m already old.”

“You’re not old, Nixie. Besides, fuck our ages. You can become a grandmother, start a new relationship with a young biker god, find happiness at any damn age ’cause it’s just a number that adds up, love. It’s not your spirit, not your character, not your joy in life that’s being expressed in numbers; that’s all up to you. So, fucking give me that chance and stay the fuck alive.”

Even through the overwhelming pain I muster a smile because he’s right. Age is just a number and I damn sure want to stay alive to live life for the sole reason to add joy to it. Even if the man just called himself a young biker god. Ego much? Oblivion takes me under, preventing me from voicing the dream I want to share and make reality with Zale alongside of me.