Page 28 of Diesel

“What’s happening,” G asked. She and Skittles opened the curtains.

“Get to the middle of the RV,” I said, “and get down on the floor.”

“There’s a road on the left,” Brainiac said. “Looks like a curve-laced road to the highway.”

Bullets hit the RV, sending us all to the floor. For a good five minutes, bullets tore through the RV.

“Brainiac,” Beast said. “Get us on that road.”

Brainiac returned to the driver seat and gunned the RV to the side road. Two minutes down the road, we realized why it had been left unblocked—the bridge crossing a large creek was out of service.

“Now what?” Brainiac asked.

Beast rolled up the carpet in the middle of the RV and released a hatch leading to beneath the RV. “Everybody out. Head toward the bridge.”

We each grabbed an AK and Glock, crawled from the RV, and then Beast sent Wendy, Trixie, and Skittles down the creek’s embankment.

“Brainiac, I want you atop the trailer. Diesel, take the left flank, and I’ll take the right.”

The roar of bikes sent up sprawling. The bikers started shooting again, not knowing we’d exited the RV. I made a large arc around the left, and it looked like Beast was doing the same. Eventually, we came up behind the group and began firing, eight bikers dropping before the others realized they’d been tricked.

Brainiac stood while the bikers had their backs turned and finished off the final four.

“Fuck, that felt good,” Beast said.

“Yeah, but we can’t drive that big bitch down the highway full of bullet holes.”

We stepped over the bodies and joined the ladies back at the RV.

“What the fuck are we gonna do with those bodies and bikes?” Brainiac asked.

The road was a mess, and there weren’t enough of us to clean up the carnage.

“Let me make a phone call,” Trixie said. “I’ve got some friends up this way. I’ll see if they can help.” She walked away from our group and pulled out her phone. I walked Gigi toward the creek, leaving everyone else behind.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Do you know how fucked up the last forty-eight hours have been?” She pulled away. “I’ve almost died three times.” I followed her to the bridge, where she crossed her arms and stared across the creek. Standing there alone, quiet, lost in thought, the sun beaming through swatches of mist, she was as beautiful as I’d ever seen.

I put my hands on her shoulders, staying behind her, looking across the creek as well. “This is why they all leave, G. I get it if you wanna take off and return to Arkansas.” She turned, tears running down her cheeks. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

“I want you to drop me off at the nearest rental car location. I’m going to drive myself back.”

“I can’t let you go back alone, G. Fuck.”

She pushed me away, shaking her head. “I need time to think, Diesel. You get on your bike, get out on the road, and are in your element. It lets you think, even if I’m on the bike. I fucking need that to know I’m doing the right fucking thing.”

She walked away, and Skittles met her by the RV. I’d fucked up again and run off another one. That was fine. I’d needed to get back to fucking whoever I wanted whenever I wanted. That left no attachment. No worry about whether or not the life I led was good enough. It obviously wasn’t good enough for most women.

Beast joined me at the bridge. “What do you wanna do, brother? We’re closer to Boston than we are to Pine Bluff. We might as well see this through.” He put his hand on my shoulder, and I appreciated the touch. Even men my age needed to feel the father-like care of another man.

I saw Gigi walking away with Skittles. “She wants to go back to Arkansas without me.”

“You gotta let her go, brother.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“You okay?”

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