Willow by Donna Lynn Hope Page B

understand him since he was wearing his helmet. His brows were furrowed and he appeared to be angry.
    “What’s going on over there?” Reece asked.
    “None of your business,” Haven hissed. He raised his gloved hand and motioned for us to drive off. I heard Amber unbuckle her seat belt and she started to climb over the seat when Reece blocked her.
    “Oh no you don’t,” he told her.
    “I’m not staying put when Lacey is so outnumbered,” Amber argued. “Now let me pass.”
    While they argued I saw that someone was approaching the truck. It was the man with the moon tattoo. Haven rode his bike around to the front of Reece’s truck and dismounted quickly. He took off his helmet and dropped it on the ground. He put up his left hand and shoved the man back. The man flexed himself and shoved Haven back with both hands. That’s when the others came towards them. The man with the shoulder length dark hair approached Haven calmly and as he did, the man with the tattoo took that opportunity to reach for the passenger door before I could lock it. As quick as I had ever seen someone move, he unbuckled my seat belt and was attempting to pull me out of the truck when Amber shouted and Reece grabbed my arm. I leaned back and kicked the man above his groin. Haven reached around and twisted the man’s arm behind his back and thrust him away from me. The man jumped up and took a confrontational stance. Haven stared him down.
    Now that the rest of us were involved we couldn’t drive off but we didn’t leave the truck either.
    “Easy you two,” the dark-haired one said. He looked towards the man with the tattoo and raised a finger in warning. “Back off Justin.”
    Justin spit on the ground. “You can’t let them drive off now that we’ve found them.”
    “Ambushing them in front of witnesses is not the way to do business!” The dark-haired one said.
    “Darius, let them go,” the blonde spoke up. He was addressing the dark-haired man but glanced at Haven.
    It was then that I noticed the third rider. He was holding Lacey by her other arm but was taking directions from the others. He was thinner and more ordinary looking than them and had not said a word all night.
    “They’re not going anywhere. Not yet,” Justin said.
    “You aren’t in charge,” Darius said authoritatively. “If you’re challenging me, it’s not going to end well for you.”
    “You are only in charge because Haven went rogue and you’re screwing the boss.”
    The silence that followed was short-lived.
    “You’re sleeping with my mom?” The blonde questioned angrily.
    Haven looked over his shoulder and shouted to Reece.
    “Get out of here now.”
    Reece didn’t have to be told twice. He started the truck, spun his tires, and drove away as fast as he could.
    “What did they want with me ?” I wondered aloud. “I am no one to them.”
    Amber reached over the back of the seat and wrapped her arms around me.
    “I don’t know...” Reece said under his breath.
    Minutes passed and bright lights once again flooded the cab and one separated from the others. Simultaneously we heard a thud on the back of the truck and saw a bright light bobbing in the ditch with the rider closing in on us.  I don’t know which I heard first, Amber’s screams or the shattering of glass. I don’t know which I felt first - razor-sharp shards of glass as they sprayed my face or the searing pain as a hand violently grabbed a handful of hair and began pulling me out the window. I had never refastened my seat belt and there was nothing holding me in place. I heard Amber and Reece cry out. I felt Reece’s hand on my leg as he tried to pin me in place. With one hand I was holding on to the roof of the cab and with the other I was gripping the hand that was pulling me free of the window. Another thud sounded and the truck swerved again and the force of the grip disappeared, replaced by the terrifying sensation of falling. Before I could scream I felt a