The ride back towards the farm was almost magical for Honey. He felt like he was driving through a dream. A dream that he never, ever wanted to wake up from. He could feel Elle real and solid at his back. She was holding him so tight that he could feel her heart beating out its steady rhythm against him even through the thick leather of his jacket.
Something had happened back there, after he had managed to get past the Nomad bikers that had been chasing after them. When they’d been parked there, in the middle of the nowhere, surrounded by the towering mountains and crystal clear blue Colorado sky. He had looked down at her as she’d said those words, and everything had changed. He had changed.
Those three magic words had fallen from her sweet lips like a spell, and they had…done something to him. He felt different, like he was riding out of that small deserted stretch of a road a different man than he’d been when he had first arrived there, and it was because of her. Because of Elle. Because of her love for him.
She loved him. Over and over he repeated her words in his head, like a record on repeat because he didn’t want to forget the way her voice had softened as she’d said it. Or the way her eyes had met his, strong, sincere, letting him know that she meant every word to the depths of her soul because he’d been able to see it in the dark depths of her fathomless gaze.
I love you. I love you. I love you. Like a mantra, like a totem, he repeated them. The words echoing back on themselves until it was just a cacophony of sound that filled him with lightness, with a sheer, wild happiness that he’d never felt before. That he never thought he deserved to feel.
It’s a forty five minute drive back to Honey Bud Farms from where they’re at but he stretches it to an hour and half because he hates the idea of this ending. Just riding with a motorcycle between his legs, the woman he loved holding on behind him and the sun shining down. Nothing could ever be better than this. He thought he would die of happiness if anything ever was.
But finally, he didn’t have a choice and turned onto the highway that would lead them back to the farm, and Joel and Carla and the rest of the guys waiting to hear how things had gone down. About as he expected it would, honestly.
It had seemed to be going fine at first. She’d been gone for a long time and fear had started to plague him, shouting at him to go after her but then she’d come stumbling out on her own. He still didn’t know what had happened to tip them off that she wasn’t in Viper’s camp, and he also didn’t know what sort of repercussions would come of it. But he knew there would be. And he knew that he wouldn’t like them. Damaris, the leader of the Nomads had a reputation for being merciless on those he thinks have betrayed him.
Damaris had a tenuous control over the Nomads, any loyalty there was inspired by fear and nothing more but like Sparkplug had told him, fear went a long way, and so did cash. Which, he knew from experience, was a big motivator for most of the members. And not just in the Nomads. But in the Cruisers, too. At least the new ones.
The thought had a pang of sadness surging through his chest. The family he knew was long gone, twisted by Viper’s greed and jealousy. He would fall, just like all punks would, but there was a rift now, between Joel and the rest of the crew, and Honey couldn’t help but wonder how they would be able to bridge it.
His mind kept going back to the Nomads, though. He knew that everything within the Dirty Cruisers would get worked out in time, especially once the farm started bringing in revenue. Then Viper wouldn’t have an argument to stand on. But the Nomad’s worried him.
Honey thought of everything he knew about the crew, most of which he’d learned from Sparkplug, and he knew that there would be some sort of retaliation from the rival members. He didn’t know how, he didn’t know what or when, he just hoped that they would have enough time to come up with that plan b that Joel had been talking about.
He still hadn’t come up any answers as he pulled onto the gravel driveway that lead to the farm and he felt Elle sigh behind him.
“I wish we could just keep riding forever.” She whispered at his back and he felt warmth shoot through him as she echoed his own thoughts back to him.
“Me too, baby.” Honey said, meaning every word, “But we got to let Joel and everyone else know what happened so we can figure out what to do next. My guess is that the Nomads haven’t exactly been standing still while we’ve been driving around.”
He felt a moment of guilt, knowing that he’d intentionally stretched out the distance to get back, stalling just so he could savor the moment a little longer.
“I know,” She sighed, “We have a duty to do. I just wish–.” Elle’s words cut off abruptly on a sharply indrawn breath as they pulled in the farm’s parking lot and Honey saw immediately what had caught her attention.
Parked haphazardly around the gravel lot was at least half a dozen, maybe more, unfamiliar motorcycles. They were left as if they’d been parked in a hurry, some even dropped to their side in a sign that whatever went down must have been important because no biker would ever just leave their motorcycle like that to get scratched up from the crushed rocks underneath.
“Honey, who are they?” Elle asked shakily as he hastily threw the kickstand on the bike Tucker had loaned him and took a closer look. He had to bite back an angry curse as he saw an insignia on one of the bike’s bodies.
“The Nomads.”
“What? Are you sure? How would they– It’s so soon! It’s too soon! We didn’t even get a chance to warn them, they probably didn’t even know what was coming and it’s all my fault! I never should have agreed to the plan, it was too risky and now they could be hurt, they could be–.”
“Elle, calm down,” Honey said softly, even though it took an immense effort to moderate his tone, “Calm down, baby, this is not your fault.”
“No, it is. It is though, Honey. I was the one who went there. I was the one who lied to them and they figured it out. If Scorpion hadn’t walked in–.”
“Wait, is that what happened? Why you came tearing out of there like your ass was on fire? That asshole saw you?”
“Yeah. I had almost made it outside when suddenly he was there. Just…there in front of me. I thought Sparkplug was going to draw him out.”
“Me too,” Honey said, thinking. He hoped that Sparkplug was okay. Obviously, something had gone south and tipped Damaris’s right hand man that something was happening, he just prayed that Sparkplug hadn’t paid the price.
“Something must have happened then. Do you think he’s okay?” Elle asked, once more echoing his own thoughts out loud but all he could do was shake his head. He had just opened his mouth to speak when a cry split the air.
Elle head whipped to the right, staring as if she could someone see through the tall fields to the source of the sound.
“It’s Carla.” She whispered, an expression of pure horror drawing over her face as all the blood drained from her cheeks, leaving her a ghostly pale white.
“Elle, we’ll figure this out, okay? We’ll figure it out. I have to call the cops. This is bigger than us now. You need to stay here, and stay safe, okay? Promise me, Elle.” Honey cupped her chin in his hand, drawing her face back until she was looking at him, “Promise me.”
“I pro–.” But before she could finish another cry rang out and this time she flinched as if it was her own shout of pain.
“Carla.” Elle whispered, “I know it’s her. She’s in trouble.”
“Elle, please I need you to stay here. Promise me you’ll stay here while I figure this out.” Honey pleaded once more but her horrified gaze firmed into determination and he only had a moment’s notice before she was tearing off in the direction of the cries, in the direction of her friends.
“Wait! Elle, stop!” Honey called after her, but he was afraid to shout too loud, afraid to draw any unwanted attention in their direction. He reached out, trying to stop her but it was too late. She was already disappearing into the first row of crops.
“Fuck!” Without any other options left, he ran after her.