Page 70 of The Gentleness of Rage

Pipes roared.

Drake glanced up to see Artemis heading out. Drake hoped she’d reach Jaelynn in time.

Jaelynn

I couldn’t stop shaking, and tears distorted my eyes. I was terrified of coming off, and the bike was making a terrible noise. When Slate rode, it didn’t sound like this, but I kept going. I had to get help. I sniffed hard as a tear leaked down my cheek, but the wind soon dried it. Sirens had been screaming behind me for several minutes, but I didn’t know how to stop. The only thing I’d learned was to take my foot off the pedal that controlled the speed. This had been a bad, fucking disastrous idea.

Narrowly, I missed hitting a truck as I shot through a stop sign, and suddenly, the police car pulled up alongside. The officer yelled something, but I couldn’t hear over the rush of the wind. I daren’t turn my head, either. The vehicle moved forward, and I saw an arm motioning for me to follow them. The officers dropped in front of me, and I sensed I had an escort.

We weren’t far from Rage, so I kept pushing ahead. I hadn’t even considered how I was going to stop—and that now hit me.

How did Slate stop the bike? I didn’t know because I was always tucked into his back. Shit. A cry left my lips as tears streaked down my face. I blinked to clear them before I had an accident.

Bike pipes sounded, and I saw a Hog heading towards me. A tiny woman was on it and when she spotted me, she began turning in the road. I blew past her, and she got behind me and then appeared on my left. The woman pulled a little in front of me and raised her right arm. I could see her as she brought her hand down to the throttle and tapped the lever in front of it. She slowed and dropped back, and then sped up.

She showed me once again and made a slow motion. The stranger pointed at her foot and sped up. She made a drama out of lifting her foot and then placing it on the pedal in front of the footrest, and she made a slow movement. The bike slowed.

I grasped what she was showing me. Puffing out my cheeks and trying hard not to break down, I nodded. She waved her hand and foot at me and used them both together, and I shot past her again as she braked.

My heart was in my throat as I kept my eyes on the streets as the Rage sign came into view. The road had been blocked off, so I could turn in easily.

I lifted my boot from the accelerator and Slate’s Harley decelerated a little, but not enough. The stranger gave me a thumbs up and repeated her actions, and I copied. I did it as slow as she did and took my foot off the throttle. Slate’s bike slowed down just in time as I wobbled into the forecourt. Drake, along with many others, gestured towards the fence, shouting.

The gates were open, and I could see grass.

Without a second thought, I headed there, and as soon as I hit it, I slammed the brakes on.

That was a mistake. I lost control. As the bike toppled at the last moment, I threw my arms up to protect my head. The Harley and I went down hard, and the air left my lungs in a rush. I slid along the grass with the bike crushing me until we came to a stop. The wheels still spun as I sluggishly moved my arms.

Pain rushed through my body, and I struggled to breathe. My back was on fire, and I released a cry of pain. The bike was so heavy.

Dazed, I lay there, gasping as everything fell silent. A ray of sunshine broke the clouds and covered me in sunlight before disappearing again.

A cacophony of loud noises overwhelmed me.

“Jaelynn!” Drake roared my name.

Frantically, I started scrabbling, trying to get out from under the bike. Events rushed back, and I screamed words, hoping somebody would understand. “Damien shot Slate! We were at the cabin, and Damien shot Slate. He tried to kidnap me, and Slate tackled him. You need to find him, go, go! Slate’s been shot. You gotta save him. Someone help, you gotta help Slate!”

“Jaelynn, which cabin?” Drake demanded. He leaned over my battered body and held my face cupped between his hands.

“The one at the lake. Slate was buying it for us. Damien attacked there, and he had a gun. He shot Slate and then tried to take me, and Slate made me run away, but Damien came instead, and I started the bike. I had to leave Slate. Damien kept shooting. Slate didn’t come, it was Damien. He needs help!” I cried loudly.

A slap hit me hard, and I drew in a shuddering breath and stared into the eyes of the unknown woman.

“Artemis!” Drake hissed, sounding shocked.

“Girl’s getting hysterical. We need facts. Talk slowly and calmly,” Artemis ordered me.

I took a deep breath and explained everything again. As I did, Axel and another man lifted the bike off me. A third guy checked me over and shook his head in disbelief.

“Engine’s fucked, I don’t think she changed gear at all,” someone muttered.

“Slate won’t give a shit as long as we find him,” Drake replied.

“Jaelynn’s uninjured. Bruises and cuts, but no broken bones or anything. Luck of the devil.”

“Thanks, Klutz. Artemis, get her to hospital. Jaelynn’s in your hands. Rage is riding for this cabin. Ramirez! Barclay has surfaced and shot Slate. I’ve got an address, let’s go,” Drake called out, and I twisted my neck and saw the detective heading towards a car. Tired and in agony, I lay my head down and closed my eyes.

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