Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

11

I blinked rapidly at my phone. The message I just read scaring the living hell out of me. A silent thank you to my previous effort to get dressed after waking up.

I stood from the kitchen stool and charged upstairs. My head no longer ringing after sleeping all night and morning. My fever over as of late last night.

I tore through my closet to find my small safe. Unlocking it, I grabbed the tan item and the waist belt that held it. My hands quick as I ran back down the stairs, my motorcycle keys in hand as I burst through the garage door.

"Xena? What is going on?"

"I've got to go help someone really quick!" I shouted pulling my leather jacket on as I opened the large garage door, helmet in hand.

"Honey you're supposed to be recovering." She was in her house robe as she stood at the garage door, our eyes locking as I got onto my bike.

"They need me, mom. My fever cleared last night, I haven't thrown up at all. My head isn't fuzzy. I have to go." She sighed.

"You're almost 18. I technically can't make you do anything. BUT! If you get hurt I will personally lock you in your room for three days." I grinned as I turned to face down the driveway.

"Deal." I slammed my visor down and kicked off. My bike accelerating through the neighborhood as I melded into it. The wind pushed against us, but I kept going. My bike roaring as we tore through the streets.

The square groupers are here.

They're looking for John B.

We're trapped in my Dad's office. We don't have the gun.

Xena.

The text messages flashed in my mind as I cut the normally eight minute drive to four.

I yelled into my helmet, worry consuming my chest. I wasn't ready last time these assholes jumped my friends.

The pavement soon giving way to dirt as I broke through the barrier and entered the Cut. Avoiding random obstacles and dogs on the roads I finally made it to the driveway of the Château.

But now I am.

I slowed the bike down to a stop as I pulled the tan handheld out of its holster. The gun pointed at the large black truck.

The bullets were non-lethal, the gun was self-defense and approved to carry after becoming 18. Other than Gray and I going to the range, this was the first time I've ever used it. Especially cause I wasn't 18 yet.

I ignored the squawking of the chickens, the birds always screamed when I pulled up with my bike. My focus was on getting the groupers' attention.

I sent two rounds into the back of the truck. The thuds rang out as shouts were heard from inside the house.

I was cautious, I kept myself in the tree-line as the two men ran out of John B's house boxes in their hands as they looked around.

"Who's out here? Show yourself, kid!"

I sent another round to the truck, right in front of the shorter fellow who was loading the boxes in.

"Oh fuck!"

"It's coming from the woods!" The bigger burly male shouted pointing in my direction.

I took a deep breath and fired one more time. The bullet hitting the smaller guy making him drop his pistol and cradle his stomach.

"Ratter!"

His counterpart was quick on getting him in the truck, my sign to start leading him away from the Pogues wherever they were.

"Oi asshole! You're next!" I shouted, slapping my visor back down as I broke from the tree-line, dirt and leaves kicking up as the big guy jumped into the driver seat and reversed.

His threat loud and clear when the first bullet struck the ground beside me. The situation now real. Very real.

"Oh fuck. Oh fuck." I murmured weaving as I tour down the dirt road. The black truck quickly following as I kept an eye on him in my side mirror. I watched as his pistol popped outside of the mirror and held my breath as I blindly fired backwards before he could send any my way.

The two bullets from me were enough to distract him as I turned to get off the cut. The angry roar of the truck behind me nearly covered the sound of gunfire as I went off road to avoid the rapid firing from the driver's pistol.

The one I had shot would be out of commission for another thirty minutes with nausea and pain and the panic that he had been shot. Though it wouldn't surprise me if he got over the side effects faster since there wasn't any blood.

As I got closer to the barrier to leave the Cut, the dirt growing into pavement, I took a sharp turn. My bike skidded as I pulled with all my might, my momentum and I fighting each other as I shot my bike down a small dirt path between the trees.

My bike more than capable of handing the rough woody terrain as I vanished from view, the grouper fired until his pistol was out, but I was already gone. Circling back around to go find my friends.

My head pulsed as I gripped the handles tighter. Maybe I wasn't completely telling the truth. But I'd deal with the consequences later.

Breaking through the woods, I slid my gun back in its holster as I took the turn to reach John B's. My bike rolling to a stop as I cut the engine and got off the bike. My hands pulling my helmet off as I stared suspiciously at the chicken coop.

The quiet chicken coop.

I spared a glance behind me before getting off the bike and sprinting to the coop.

I slammed my hands on the top of the roof and was met by four screams and a smack to my shin.

"Damn Pope!" I hissed as I looked at the red outline of his handprint. I ducked down to see the four of them sigh.

"What the fuck, Xena!" John B spat as they started getting out of the cage.

"Sorry. But we need to go. Like now." I ordered turning to go back to the vehicles.

"Since when do you carry a gun?" I sighed, I knew that was coming.

"I don't carry. Though with the events in the last two days, I may need to." I turned to face the group and pulled the pistol free. "It's non-lethal. But packs a hell of a punch. The Ratter guy is gonna be out for another twenty or so minutes. But we need to go incase they double back."

"I'm pretty sure that I'm in love." I paused.

"I have no words, JJ. Let's go. Grab your shit. All of it. We're going to my house. B, get the Twinkie keys. I'll lead on my bike."