“Sorry, I could see the sunlight, and I usually sit here enjoying the quiet before everyone arrives. My bad, Dakota, don’t be mad; I didn’t think.” The tension dropped from Dakota’s shoulders, and he sat down.
“Gotta be mindful, baby. Because I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you. Tanner is out there. You’ve got to be aware. Have you practised your shooting since the other day?” Er, no, I shook my head, and Dakota raised an eyebrow. I knew what was coming. “Where’s the gun?”
“Upstairs.” I winced as Dakota snorted and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “Dak, I can’t get used to carrying it and, in the bar, I know where the shotgun is!”
“Do you even sleep with it by your bed?” Dakota asked. Again, no, I twisted my lips, and Dakota rolled his eyes.
“It’s in the kitchen cupboard where I keep the cereal.”
“Jesus Janey, you got a death wish?” Dakota muttered, sipping his coffee.
“Ha! You just called me Janey!” I hooted, and Dakota looked sheepish. “Can I be stern and grumpy now?”
“Fine, we both should be more careful, Bunny. I’m going to give Lio twenty-four hours and call for an update. So what’s this shit with Alice tonight?” Dakota sought. We drank our coffees as I explained what Alice and I had discussed.
“And Alice thinks she’s safe here?” Dakota asked. “You think Magic knows?”
“Yeah, Magic’s aware of everything around here,” I quipped, and Dakota nodded thoughtfully.
“Bunny, you joke, but it’s true. Magic has fingers in information pies we can only dream of. He’ll know before anyone else if Tanner has a bead on you. Magic’s not Dylan Hawthorne, but he’s in a league of his own. You couldn’t wish for anywhere safer than here.” Naturally, I agreed with Dakota. Magic would bring down the flames of hell to protect one of ‘his girls’.
“Are you working at Hellfire today?”
“Yeah, on a build with Fanatic, which is why I made him fetch our breakfast. If we don’t force Fanatic to take a break, he’ll lose himself. Seriously, we have to watch him because he has a one-track mind.”
“Fanatic seemed nice,” I mused.
“Fanatic’s great, and we know he’s special, so we try to rein him in so he doesn’t burn out. He’s best buds with Calamity from Rage. Hellfire watched Micah grow from a teen to a man. Hellfire couldn’t be prouder of him. Speaking of the kid, I hear bike pipes,” Dakota spoke, cocking his head. Damn, I couldn’t hear anything! Fanatic arrived carrying two trays of food, which he handed to Dakota before strolling away.
“Hey! Where’s yours?” Fanatic glanced back over his shoulder but didn’t stop walking.
“Three’s a crowd, bud, and I ain’t watching you two moon over each other,” Fanatic replied with a smirk and disappeared around the corner. His bike revved and then shot off.
“Kid’s got a smart mouth on him,” Dakota muttered.
“Haven’t all of you bikers?” I teased, and Dakota snorted.
“Hate to say it, Fanatic learned from us. Eat your breakfast, brat,” Dakota said, pointing his fork at me.
???
“We have an emergency! Silence!” Magic bellowed. I nearly dropped the glass I was holding. Dakota had gone to work hours ago, and the bar had opened at eleven. It was three in the afternoon. Magic had taken a call a few moments ago and was now bellowing at the customers and staff. Quiet fell as everyone glanced at Magic.
“What’s up?” Brett asked, coming out of the kitchen wiping his hands.
“Yesterday morning, five teenagers came up the mountain on a so-called trip. So-called because those little fuckers were growing an illegal weed farm. What they hadn’t realised was a six-year-old boy snuck away with them. While they were tending the crop, the kid named Logan got out of the truck and was lost.
The teens returned home, and several hours later, Logan was noticed missing. His older brother, Eli, guessed what had happened because Logan always hung around them. Instead of doing the logical thing, Eli gathered his friends and returned to check the crop. When they couldn’t find him, they did the next stupid idea. They burned the crops and drove home, and Logan’s parents phoned the cops early hours of this morning.”
“Woah! They waited until the early hours to call the cops?” Mouse shouted from Unwanted Bastards.
“The boys claimed they’d return with Logan, and when they didn’t, the cops were called. Logan’s out there, lost somewhere and has been for twenty-four hours. In addition, those little fuckers didn’t put the blaze out once the crops burned. They left it burning, and now we have a fire to deal with.”
“That’s the smoke we’ve been seeing all day?” Ace from Rage asked.
“Yeah, it’s spreading. The winds changed. Chief Howser from RCPD is calling in search and rescue teams for the kid and all firefighters. If you’re like Ace and a volunteer firefighter, shift to the right side of the bar. Anyone not trained for fire, move the to the left,” Magic roared. People rose from chairs and shuffled around, and Magic faced them.
“Considering the little fuckers were growing their field a few miles from here, Chief Howser has asked to use the bar, and I agreed. A command centre is being organised here. Need to shove several of the tables outside. The MCs trained in search and rescue, and firefighting are on their way now, bringing their equipment. Those who moved to the left side, if you’re not experienced in search and rescue, move to the entrance. Then those who are trained, buddy up with an untrained person. The more teams we organise, the better chances of finding Logan. If you’re trained in both, firefighting takes precedence,” Magic ordered.