Page 108 of The Vows We Keep
Vex runs out of the clubhouse like his ass is on fire. He shows King the security footage on his phone.
King closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Los Reyes have Cat. They surrounded her on the shore. They’re headed west, straight towards us. We ride fast. Halo and Vex lead.” I notice Vex giving Halo an earpiece so they can talk while on the move.
Halo calls out that we’re to mount our bikes.
Bates nods. “See you on the road.”
As I watch him mount, I realize I’ve had family all along. I’ve just never named them.
34
CATALINA
My mind is racing. What weapons do I have? My 9 mm SIG is holstered beneath my hoodie. I have a knife in each boot. On my bike, there’s the dipstick that’s been modified into a stubby blade. I have a five-shot 0.22 caliber pistol in the toolbox. There’s the small knife hidden inside the silver peanut on my keychain. And there’s a bloodsucker, a knife in the shape of a slim tube, in my pannier.
But there are six Los Reyes and only one of me, and no amount of weaponry is going to change those odds.
The life I was building in Jersey flashes before my eyes. Camping with Niro. Margaritas with the old ladies. Long rides for and with the club. Proving I’m worth the chance they are willing to take on a woman.
No matter what, I won’t go down without a fight. Or at least a fight I have a chance of winning. If I try to break out of the center of this ride pattern, I stand more risk of injuring myself. In this formation, I’ll only take down my bike and one other. And even if for a millisecond I could cut through, I’d have six guns aimed at my back before I could get ahead.
We weave our way out of town into a never-ending wooded area, where tall trees loom ominously on either side of the road. Civilization seems farther and farther away. I wish I’d spent more time learning the territory. I’m unfamiliar with exactly where I am. For a while I could track it. The lefts, the rights, keeping the shore to my left. But the shore has long since disappeared, and the turns have been so frequent we could be anywhere.
I break down pieces of my plan. The first is to appeal to Felipe, to stay alive with his protection. I’ll do whatever it takes. The idea of him touching me makes me feel ill. There is only one man’s hands I like on my body. But if it helps me live, I’ll do it.
Prayers feel useless, but I say one anyway. I pray I’m fast on my feet, and even faster in my head.
I pray that they’re drained after long days of riding.
I pray for courage, and that if this is the end, that it’s painless.
And I pray that Niro and the club realize I’m in trouble and ride like the wind.
After forty-five minutes of riding, we pull down a tree-lined trail. The trail has been used; the snow compacted. I see Mateo’s rear tire slip, and I thank God for the snow tires Niro insisted on fitting my bike with once I agreed to stay on as crew.
Eventually, we pull to a stop. It’s cooler beneath the trees. No sun gets through the dense pine branches. I’m more prepared for the elements than they are. I’m wearing a thicker coat, thermal clothes, and one of the vests Niro got me for Valentine’s Day.
This must be the notorious Pine Barrens I’ve heard the club refer to.
The men are off their bikes quickly, but I take my sweet-ass time. Every second I drag this out is a second more Niro has to get here.
“Must be some grade A pussy, you traitorous bitch,” Perrito says.
Felipe tugs his jeans up and proceeds to light a cigarette. “Te extrañé, Lina.”
I don’t need to know that he missed me or hear the way he always shortens my name. But there is something cold about the way he says it. Kind of like the way a cat toys with a mouse.
In dangerous moments, I’ve learned to say nothing. Existing only in the most fragile of ecosystems, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s better to listen and learn.
I add something to my prayer. I pray that I’ll get the chance to kill Felipe first, Mateo second, and Perrito last. I’ll want him to know it’s me who killed his sons.
Perrito postures ahead of me. “Off the bike, Catalina.”
I kick my leg over the seat and swiftly swipe the dipstick blade. I dig my hands into my pockets and breathe a sigh of relief when seemingly nobody spots what I did.
Felipe reaches to steady me, and it takes every ounce of self-control to not shake out of his grip. Now is not the time to be a martyr. He pulls my helmet off and tucks a curl back from my face. It makes me want to hurl. Instead, I look up at him, keeping my face schooled. “Is Neva okay?”
“She’ll heal eventually.”
