I did, it would've been me and Axl laying in a ditch, being discovered by the cops right now. Whatever else I felt, I felt sure of that.
I also felt sure that I'd done exactly what I wanted to. Yeah, I could've kept hiding behind the wall. Waited for the cops, and told them everything. Cleared my name. But it would've come at the cost of Axl's life. And although I didn't know what we had, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that had happened.
A chill came over me. I had entered a new world indeed. And as we rode on the highway, it didn't just feel like we were riding away from the Four Corners park. It felt like we were riding away from everything I'd known in my life.
I held onto Axl for dear life, the pavement rushing past us just inches below my feet. The engine roared, and the wind whipped through my hair faster and faster.
21
Axl
A Demon. The motherfucker had been a Demon.
It didn't make any fucking sense. Demons were based out of Nevada. Had never been interested in pushing up against our territory. I wouldn't fuckin' turn my back to one of 'em if I didn't have to, but this… This'd come out of nowhere.
Ryker and the club would be pissed to hear from me, but I had to get in touch with them. And fast.
As the bike cruised down the open highway, my thoughts drifted to Holly.
She'd killed for me, just like I'd done for her. She'd kept me breathing on this miserable fuckin' Earth for a little bit longer.
And I didn't know what I thought of that. I was grateful to still be kickin', yeah. But I'd never wanted her to get blood on her own hands. She was too good for that. My hands were too stained to ever come clean, but she'd had a chance.
Hated to see that happen. But goddamn, was she a loyal woman. Maybe even worthy of becoming an old lady. Wasn't everyday that you found a woman that'd do something like that for you.
I reached back with one hand and tapped her on the arm. I turned my head and shouted over the wind, "Water."
I felt her shift her body, dipping her hand down into one of the bike's saddlebags, and then she handed me a canteen after unscrewing the lid for me. I took it from her and brought it to my lips, drinking deeply. The water was hot from sitting in the saddlebag all day but it still rejuvenated me. Provided my body the raw materials it needed to rebuild, for my heart to pump me full of all the blood I'd lost.
I reached behind my back again, handing the canteen back to her. She took the canteen, and then my fingers found the bare skin of her forearm.
I left my hand behind my back like that as we rode, steadying the bike with one hand only. I ran my fingers along her skin, savoring the smoothness that contrasted with the choppy, violent wind and grit that blasted into us as we rode fast on the highway.
Then I traced my fingers down toward her palm, grabbed her hand in mine, and squeezed. I linked my fingers with hers, and rested my hand in her lap behind me.
Yeah. I guess I was feeling a little sentimental or some shit. But damn, I wanted her again. One night hadn't been enough. I needed to blow off some steam, to bring her in close, and show her just how fuckin' sexy and strong I thought she was.
I looked down at the bike's console. The gas light had come on. Right now I had to pull my shit together, focus, and figure out what the hell was going on. But goddamn, I hoped that tonight we'd be able to satisfy each other over and over again, until the first rays of the sun came up.
I pulled off the highway at the next rest stop, parking next to a gas station convenience store. I hopped off the bike to let Holly dismount the passenger seat. The muscles in my legs felt stiff. My ass was killing me. I was finding out about muscles I never even knew I had.
"I'm going to the bathroom," she said. Her hair blew in the wind, beautiful against the bright blue sky. Jesus, I couldn't understand the effect she had on me. It was like fuckin' morphine.
"Alright," I grunted. "I gotta call