Chapter 28 #2
“ Legion wanted to give you the opportunity to resolve our issues amicably. You care about something , obviously… Someone… Perhaps we should consider pressing that button.”
So, this is what it’s like to have the one you love threatened. I’ve never been on the receiving end of such a blow. The level of rage it ignites within me is more profound than I expected. Wise of him to keep his distance. I’m rather tempted to rip his throat out with my own fucking teeth.
“I strongly advise against that grave mistake,” I growl. “ That fucking button is thermonuclear.”
Jagger takes a silent moment to consider my responding threat. “Legion can’t make it here tonight. What else would sweeten the deal for you? I’ll make a phone call.”
“The entirety of Jocsan County as well. Beyond that, I don’t give a fuck what you do or where you do it.
” I take a step closer to him. He doesn’t move back, but the men with their guns still trained on me shuffle nearer in warning.
“And as far as talk of buttons goes, if he presses mine, I’ll annihilate his. ”
Jagger walks off in the direction of the trailer, leaving me with their henchmen while he makes that phone call.
Feigning boredom, I glance around to get a more accurate assessment of my predicament.
There are two men behind me, two more off to either side, lingering in the shadows.
The puffs of moisture in their breaths are more discernible now against the wall of black trees as the temperature continues to drop.
Jagger returns within a few minutes, parting his hands in mock apology as he informs me, “I’m afraid with the ports and size of Jocsan, there’s no dice. The location is too valuable. We will agree, however, to pull out of a certain region .”
“Well then, I too shall have to consult with my associates.”
“Legion has a secondary offer.”
“I’m listening.”
“ Join us .”
I wasn’t expecting that.
“You’re clearly an asset. Clever and ruthless. And I’ve been ordered to inform you of our gratitude for your assistance.”
“ My assistance?”
A knowing smile splits his features. “For wiping out some of the competition in your quest to disrupt our dealings. That deserves a bit of gratitude, don’t you think? And we’ll let you leave here with a warning and some time to consider our very generous offer.”
This seems too easy…
“I can tell you’re wondering, what’s the catch?
Well, you’re right to wonder. We can’t just let you walk away.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re gonna let you go, Legion .
But not without leaving you with a few reminders of our conversation.
It’ll be difficult for you to think or do anything else for a time, at least without the painful reminder of everything we’ve laid out for you. ”
Fuck…
“We’ll give you several weeks to recover while you decide.
The holiday season is a bit overwhelming as it is.
But you should come back to the dark side, Legion,” Jagger taunts.
“It’s more fun over here… You taught me that …
Anyway, sorry about this.” He gestures to his men.
“Until we me meet again.” Jagger grins once more before he turns and heads for his motorcycle.
Without sparing a backward glance, he lifts a hand, snaps his fingers, and his crew circles tighter around me…
P ain registers throughout my entire being before I attempt to open my eyes. I’ve been here before. This isn’t new. But one would think the cold, hard ground would at least offer some level of relief to the numerous bruises dominating my aching body.
I crack open one eye at a time, wondering how long I’ve been out.
Only the right opens, and I stare up at the blurry moon while pulling in a slow, steady breath, attempting to assess whether or not they broke any ribs.
A sharp pain seizes my lungs, and I exhale a burst of fleeting mist into the starry night above me.
I’d venture to say a few are broken. Slowly reaching a scuffed-knuckled hand into the inner pocket of my jacket, I feel for my prized Zippo, and am relieved True Love is still tucked safely inside.
I should get up. If I continue to lie here all night, I’ll succumb to hypothermia and die in the dirt. Too many have insisted that is the fate I deserve, and I refuse to grant them the satisfaction, at least, not without a fight.
My entire skull throbs as I attempt to sit up, and a loud groan tears from my throat while my body screams in agony. Everything hurts, and the overwhelming taste of blood in my mouth makes me wretch, causing my head to throb harder still. My vision spins and goes dark again.
“ H oly shit. Are you dead?” a familiar voice stirs me back to consciousness, and I crack open the eye I can still see from.
“Axel?”
“Yeah.”
“Fortunately for us both, I am not dead… I am, however…in a world of pain.”
“Yeah, I’d say…” He glances nervously over his shoulder.
“How did you find me?”
“I’ve had an AirTag hidden on your bike since right after Thanksgiving,” Axel grumbles.
He sounds pissed, but there’s a level of concern in his words.
I must be in shit-shape for Axel to care at all.
“I’ve been keeping track of your whereabouts for the club, hoping you’d slip up and reveal where you might have that leverage on me hidden, you fucking asshole.
” He struggles to help me get back on my feet, and I grit my teeth, biting back the pain that seems to come from everywhere at once.
I’m barely able to stand, leaning heavily against him.
“I don’t think you’re gonna be able to ride, Legion. ”
“You shouldn’t have come here, they might?—”
“They left. I waited,” Axel says as we stagger together and head for our motorcycles in the distance… A distance that seems too far away as pain shoots through my sides like a knife twisting between my ribs. I stagger, but Axel prevents me from hitting the ground again.
“Did you enjoy the show? I imagine seeing me jumped brought some level of contentment.” I try to sound humorous, but the pounding in my skull is relentless, and my vision goes blurry again.
Axel scoffs, half-carrying, half-dragging me as my boots scuff against the ground with every agonizing, off-kilter step. “I got here after they kicked your sorry ass.”
“Do the Saviors know you’re here?”
“No.”
“Call them… Let them know… Nothing can happen to you, Axel…” Everything is spinning, and my head throbs nauseatingly harder.
Of its own volition, my body keels over and expels the meager contents of my stomach.
I can’t help but laugh at myself when the bitter taste of bile mingled with the spice of gingerbread spurs a roiling guilt for puking up Vanna’s cookies.
The emotion is short-lived, however. Blackness rapidly consumes my vision once again.
V anna giggles as I spin her and pull her back to me.
She lets out a playful little squeak when I dip her back and kiss her beneath the mistletoe hanging near the jukebox, currently playing Snowman by Sia.
For a moment, it’s just us, and the buzz of conversations around us fades into the background.
The music thrums through my chest, but it’s nothing compared to the way she feels in my arms—warm, steadfast, mine .
“You’re actually enjoying yourself,” she teases, her fingers lacing behind my neck as we continue to dance.
“I always enjoy myself with you. And I’m happy when you’re happy.”
“I’m glad we did this. The community loved it. The kids were so excited. And Viking really was a great biker Santa.” She smiles.
I’m about to tell her she’s right, that Snowy would have wanted it this way, but Axel’s ringtone chimes inside my cut pocket. I glance around the room and realize he’s not here. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Axel in quite a while.
“Sorry, doll. I should probably answer this call.”
Vanna releases me so I can reach into my cut and pull out the phone. I hit the green icon and bring the cell to my ear.
“What’s up? When did you cut out?” I ask.
“Fuck… Dean … I need help! ” Axel’s frantic voice sends my heart plummeting to my stomach.
Vanna instantly reads the alarm written all over my face and grips my arm. “What’s happened?”
“Axel, what’s wrong? Where are you?” I demand.
“I’m sending you a pin to our location… I’m with Legion… He’s hurt real bad, man… He comes to and passes back out… I… I think he might be dying , Dean…he’s really fucked up…he threw up blood and?—”
“Jesus fuck, what happened?” Legion can’t fucking die!
“I don’t know, he says he was jumped. His bike’s here too, but there’s no way he’s riding. Have Chopper bring his flatbed. I’m gonna lay low with him until you guys get here… I’ve got my gun, I don’t know if they’re coming back.”
“Drop the pin, we’re coming.” I’m already heading for the door, and my determined stride has caught my crew’s attention. “ Viper, Viking, Chopper, let’s go! Now!”
“What’s happening?” Vanna rushes after me, worry in her voice, but I don’t have any time to explain.
My brothers know something’s gone down, and so they don’t ask questions.
They just move. She follows me into the lot as we rush to mount our bikes.
“Dean, what happened?” she demands, pure fear in her eyes when she grips my arm again as I fire up Serene.
“Axel’s in trouble. Stay with Cherry,” I say, before turning to Chopper. “Go get the flatbed. I’ll drop the pin to the location we’re headed to.”
“You got it.” Chopper nods and takes off out of the lot.
When I glance back at Vanna, her hand is covering her mouth before she lowers it to fretfully ask, “ Oh god … Did Axel crash his bike?”
“No, he’s alright, and hopefully he’ll stay that way long enough for us to get to him. Go back inside and stay with Cherry. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
Vanna nods, and the moment she backs safely away from Serene, I take off, Viking and Viper following behind me.