Page 17 of Amaze

“He’s going to be completely safe after I teach him the ropes. You know I’m the best, baby.”

“Second best.” AJ cleared his throat.

“Maybe even the third.” Lade interjected.

“Well, that settles it. Ant is going to have the three best riders in the game as his teachers. That along with all your prayers and church stuff, he’ll be the best and the safest on the road.”

“Whatever. I’m not about to stand here and argue with y’all on the Lord’s day. Y’all aren’t going to make me late for church with this shit.”

“Let’s go. She’s already cursing. We gotta go let the preacher lay hands on her,” I joked.

“I’m taking you straight to the altar when we get there,” Wesley informed me.

“Anyway.” I shook my head. “Y’all taking your bikes or riding with us?”

“I’m riding my bike. You never know who I have to lay hands on after church,” Lade decided.

“Agreed. Why you think I keep showing up?” AJ laughed.

“You know what? I can’t with y’all. Let’s go.” Wesley shook her head, pushing past us.

“Y’all gon’ mess around and get me in trouble with y’all shenanigans,” I said, following Wesley outside. “Babe, you know they’re crazy. I don’t know why I called them over here.”

Church was pretty much the same as I remembered it. There was a lot of good singing and an inspirational message with a lot of collection plate passing in between. I didn’t hate it. Actually, the message seemed to make me feel better.

While listening, I felt some of the pressure that had been weighing on me lifting off my shoulders. I could see why people went seeking solace from the stressors of everyday life. Maybe Wes wouldn’t have to drag me to church with her in the future. I might join her voluntarily. Who knew. I wasn’t making any promises, but I wasn’t completely opposed to going back.

“Now what was that about lunch being on you?” Lade asked, draping his arm over my shoulder as we exited the church.

The sound of Wes screaming tore through me like a knife. My head was on a swivel, whipping around to find where she was. A man in a black leather jacket stood next to Anthony’s car, holding her at gunpoint. People were running and screaming as if they were the ones in danger instead of my wife.

Without thinking, I moved into action, yanking the nine out of the waistband of my pants and firing a single shot at his head. I hit him, sending him crumbling to the ground with a thud. Wes reacted quickly, kicking the gun away from him just in case. Before I could make it to her, two motorcycles and a black SUV came barreling into the church’s parking lot.

A blast shot the glass out of the truck before I realized that AJ and Lade had both brandished their guns. They moved toward the truck, covering me as I rushed around it to get to Wesley. I wasn’t letting anyone get to her before I did. The SUV barreled out of the lot with the motorcycles behind it. They circled theparking lot, dodging shots from my boys before they made their exit too.

“I’m here, baby!” I shouted to Wesley as my feet carried me to her.

She had picked up the dead man’s gun and was holding it by her side. Her hands shook violently as she held her finger on the trigger. Wes’s eyes darted around the parking lot wildly as I pulled her body to mine.

“Where is Anthony?” she asked.

My heart sank at the realization that our son was nowhere in sight. There was so much chaos that I had lost track of him. I had to find him.

“Ant!” I bellowed. I was so hurt, knowing that my son was likely somewhere scared, thinking that I couldn’t keep my promise of keeping him safe.

“Anthony!” Wesley shouted. “You have to go find him, Maze.”

“Stay close to me, Wes. I’m not leaving you,” I said, grabbing her hand as I ran to meet AJ halfway.

“What the fuck was that?” my brother asked when I reached him.

“Have you seen Anthony?”

“He was walking in front of us when we were coming out of the church,” Lade informed me.

“It’s my dad, Maze. He took him. I know it’s him.”

“Give me your keys,” I demanded, extending my hand to both Lade and AJ. It didn’t matter who gave up their keys first. I had to go get my son. AJ didn’t hesitate to toss me the keys to his motorcycle. “Don’t let Wesley out of your sight.” I warned my brother before striking out running toward his bike.

---