Chapter 18
Panic gripped her when she heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the vehicle.
Instantly, she understood they were not alone.
Jolting to a stop, Veronica’s horror only grew when Bella rounded the car with her hands in the air.
A man stood behind her, following closely with a shotgun pressed to her young companion’s back.
The look of fear and rage she saw in Bella’s eyes only served to infuriate Veronica.
A matronly instinct she didn’t know she possessed took hold.
The mother inside of her was ready to slaughter the man who dared point a weapon at a child.
While she had expected it to see the worst in people, Veronica had hoped it wouldn’t be while traveling with Bella.
The child had already endured so much. She didn’t deserve to suffer any more.
Taking a deep breath, Veronica quickly raised her hands into the air, thankful the gun was concealed by her shirt.
The man’s eyes darted from Veronica to her motorcycle, still sitting in the middle of the road.
If he wanted the bike, he could have it as long as he didn’t harm them.
She knew by the look in his eyes what he was after, and thankfully, it was neither of them.
“We should all just take a step back and ease into the entire situation. No one needs to get hurt here,” Veronica said.
“I don’t understand. It doesn’t seem like it should be possible for you to have a running vehicle when everything else is completely dead around here. Are you somehow involved with the government?”
“No. I’m not part of the government in any capacity. Honestly, I’m just a mechanic that knows what I’m doing when it comes to working on cars. With a little common sense and a basic set of skills, I was able to get this thing up and running.”
“That’s bullshit,” the man fumed. “Our town has half a dozen mechanics, and not a single one of them has been able to get anything running. How in the hell do you have a motorcycle that runs?”
“I’m not lying to you. I took a shot in the dark at some things that I had learned along the way. Only the really old vehicles or going to run, but even then, it’s going to take a certain set of circumstances to get them up and running again.”
“I’m not sure that makes any sense.”
“It has to do with the newer vehicles having computers and other sensors that get burned out. The older vehicles have a more basic system, but people are going to have to replace some parts and practically keep their fingers crossed the entire time. If it’s the motorcycle you’re after, then you’re more than welcome to take the bike. We would just as soon walk as ride.”
The man’s eyes darted away from Veronica to the classic motorcycle sitting in the middle of the crossroads.
She knew he was tempted by the offer. It was something she had been expecting from the first moment she realized she could get it running while the rest of the nation was at a standstill.
Veronica hated it to see the motorcycle go but knew her knowledge of how to do it was more valuable than any investment she had in the vintage piece.
Given the state of the nation—and quite possibly the rest of the world—things like money and possessions no longer mattered.
Only survival was paramount in her mind.
When he jerked his head, indicating they should start moving toward the motorcycle, relief coursed through Veronica.
It looked like he was going to take her up on her offer.
Taking several quick steps at a time, Veronica put a little space between the man and themselves.
The color had completely gone from Bella’s cheeks, and Veronica knew the girl was terrified.
She had to make sure her young friend was okay and that no lasting damage had been done to her.
No matter what, Veronica was going to keep her safe.
She had no intention of letting Bella out of her sight ever again.
“I knew there was going to be a possibility of running into someone, but are you okay?” Veronica asked.
“I’m fine, but I can’t stand the idea that I didn’t listen to you and happened to step out of your sight for just a moment. I hate myself for being the reason you don’t have your bike anymore.”
“That’s not what I was asking. If I had to make a decision between you and the motorcycle, I would pick you every single time. Now, are you all right?”
Bella nodded. “I’m all right. The only thing going through my mind right now is the fact that I’m the reason you’re going to lose that bike, and I hate even thinking about it.”
“The bike doesn’t mean shit to me. Just the fact that you and I are still alive is the only thing that matters right now. People are going to take things from us for as long as we are alive. I just want to make sure that you and I both make it to the farm.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but I still feel bad. It’s all my fault for stepping out of your sight and not staying where you could see me the entire time. I really don’t want you to lose your motorcycle because of my mistake. It’s just not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair, but I’m far more concerned with your well-being than whatever happens to my bike.”
“Both of you shut the hell up. I don’t need the two of you up there conspiring. As a matter of fact, that’s plenty far enough. Don’t move another step,” the man growled.
They were still a good ten yards from the motorcycle but did ask their kidnapper asked.
Veronica bit her tongue to keep from saying something that would only make the situation worse.
If the only trick she had left up her sleeve was to stall until a better plan jumped into her mind, Veronica was going to use it.
He had his back turned to them. She quickly shot her hand to the back of her waist, but as she felt around, her heart plunged.
The gun was no longer in the small of her back. Immediately, her eyes darted to Bella.
At that moment, with the girl’s hands in the air and the hem of her shirt riding above the seam of her jeans, Veronica saw the weapon tucked into the front of her waistline.
She had no idea when the girl had snatched the gun, but the more she thought about it, the less surprised she was.
Bella obviously had picked up some pick-pocketing skills throughout the course of her life.
Before she could snatch the gun back from her new friend, though, the man turned back to face them.
Veronica instinctively stepped in front of Bella as the man’s weapon raised once again.
Her heart started to steady some when he set it on the back seat of the motorcycle.
“I have to admit this is a really nice bike,” the man said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen one up close before, but even with that in mind, it’s not going to be enough. I’ve got an entire city full of people who want their cars up and running again.”
Veronica scoffed. “I really don’t understand what you are expecting from me. What in the hell are you asking?”
“I’m not asking you for a damn thing. I’m telling you right now that if you want to see this girl live another day, then you’re going to come back to the city with me.”
“I’ve already offered you everything that I’m willing to offer. I’m telling you right now that my going back to the city with you is not going to happen. I’m not leaving Bella here on her own.”
He chuckled. “I’ll leave that decision for you to make.”
“There’s absolutely no decision for me to make. I’m telling you that I’m not going to leave her behind, and that’s final.”
“I guess we’re just going to have to do this the easy way, then.
I’m sure my people won’t mind having one less mouth to feed.
Here are your choices. You can come back with me, and the girl gets to live, or I can kill the little bitch right here and leave a corpse instead of a living girl to fend for herself. Either way, it’s no skin off my back.”
Suddenly, the man reached around for the weapon he had set down. Veronica screamed for Bella to run just as the shotgun leveled at the pair and a single shot fired into the silence around them. Her only thought was of the young girl standing behind her. Veronica couldn’t let her die.