to find even more smoke billowing. Visibility made it hard to know for sure what had happened, but there seemed to be a big plume rising north of town.
That’s when both our phones went off, and I looked down to find another alert.
Level three—immediate evacuation for all Hallies Falls residents and the surrounding area.
BB and I shared a glance, and then I made for the door. Inside, the girls were freaking out. Mary Webbly shot me a sharp, questioning glance.
“There’s been an explosion north of town,” I said, wondering what the hell could’ve caused it. There wasn’t much up there—just trees and the Nighthawks’ clubhouse. There was a forest fuel depot, but that was to the east. “We have to evacuate. Go to the car. You’ll be safe with us, girls.”
“What about my dad? He’s out there fighting this!” There was a touch of hysteria in Anna’s voice.
“Save it,” I said, my voice firm. “Your dad is strong and smart. He’ll be just fine, but only if he knows that you’re safe. Out to the car. Now. BB, you’ll have to ride your bike—there’s no room for you in the Mustang. Just stick close to me and we’ll get through this just fine.”
I hope.
Grabbing my keys and purse, I herded them out the front door, trying not to panic. Then I stepped through, closing and locking it behind me. Funny, all these months I’d wanted to get the hell out of Hallies Falls, but right now the thought of losing my home was almost more than I could handle.
“Take good care of it, Mama,” I whispered, laying my hand against the darkened wood. Hopefully she was up there somewhere, listening. A quick glance around the parking lot showed that the rest of the tenants were already gone. Gage’s semi was still parked behind the building. Hopefully it was insured. Pulling out my phone, I tried to call him but it wouldn’t connect, so I texted him instead.
Then I jogged over to the Mustang and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Everyone ready?”
“Let’s go,” Mrs. Webbly said. “It’ll be good to find some fresh air.”
I put the key in the ignition, turning it.
Nothing.
Frowning, I tried again. More nothing.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I asked, hitting the steering wheel with the heel of my hand. “No fucking way. This can’t be happening.”
“Looks like you need a new battery,” Dad said. “I’ll swing by the hardware store later this afternoon, pick one up.”
“Not right now, Tom,” Mrs. Webbly said. “Tinker, what’s our plan B?”
I didn’t answer, because I had no damned clue.
GAGE
We were maybe a mile outside Hallies Falls when the explosion hit. One big, massive boom that shook the trees and echoed off the hill, then a fresh plume of smoke rose through the air. Pic waved us over, and we all pulled off to the side of the road.
“Jesus, what do you think that was?” Taz asked, looking grim.
“Nothing good,” Pic replied. “I’ll reach out to BB. Gage, you call Tinker.”
“Way ahead of you, boss,” I said, raising the phone to my ear. This time it didn’t even give a token ring before the mechanical voice said the call couldn’t be completed.
“Fuck,” I muttered, then sent her a text instead, hoping it would make it through.
“I can’t get BB,” Pic said. “He’ll be with Tinker, though. It’s not far now.”
I was already kicking my bike back to life. “No luck on my end, either. I’m heading for her house.”
“Right behind you,” Pic said.
“We’ll be with you,” Hunter added. Taz nodded, and I pulled back out onto the highway. We’d already reached the clubhouse, although I wouldn’t be stopping there. The smoke started growing thicker, and then I saw flames licking through the trees on the west side of the road.
Fuck.
Heat rolled out in hellish waves, the flames exploding upward, jumping from tree to tree. The seriousness of the situation dawned on me—if one of those fell across the road, we’d be well and truly fucked. Throttling up, I tore down the highway, pulling around a broad turn to find the Nighthawk Raiders’ clubhouse completely engulfed in more flame.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Fire was everywhere, and with a chunk of the roof covering half the road. That explosion had been the clubhouse.
What the hell had happened here?
Not that it mattered, I realized, slowing the bike to steer around the section of roof. Whatever had caused it, the town was doomed unless there was some kind of miracle. Fire to the south, and now this in the