Page 21 of Bayou Knights

“Can I help you?”

“Nah. I’m just here to collect you. Someone is waiting for you,” the man sneers as he takes a step closer.

“Stay away from my mom,” Gage yells as I push him back.

“Shut your mouth, boy,” the man growls, stepping closer as I step back.

“Run, Gage,” I tell him.

“Mom?”

“Run. Find help,” I tell him. I push him away as the man lunges for me.I try to get away but I feel his elbow come down on the side of my face. He hauls me up and slaps me.

“I like this. You are a spitfire,” he says before slapping me again.

I kick at him, trying to scramble away. I break his hold and take a few steps before he yanks my legs out from underneath me.I’m clawing at the ground as he drags me behind him.

“It will only make it worse,” is the last thing I hear before he punches my lights out.

* * *

Zion

I stepped out to go to my house to grab a few of my guns, just in case I might need them. By the time I get back, the parking lot is filled with bikes.

I step inside and see a standoff with the president of the Beast Vibes and everyone else.

“Stand down, I called him here,” I call out.

“What the fuck?” Luca growls.

“It’s not him,” I say as I go to shake Dixon’s hand.

“How do you know?” Tex asks.

“I’m Plum’s father,” Dixon states and everyone stops talking.

“She doesn’t know I’m in a club.Sawyer was a plant, except I think greed took over.I don’t know how she found her way here, but I knew she was here. I wouldn’t start a war if she could be a casualty,” he says.

“Makes sense,” Bones agrees.

“What do you mean plant?” Jace asks.

Dixon tells the whole story, including what Sawyer and Lyra did to her, and how it ended up on national news. I can see a range of emotions on everyone’s faces. Most of them are angry and not at Dixon or Plum.

“I did offer to beat him up,” Gator says.

“You think it’s your ex-son-in-law that’s here,” Tex states.

“I do and so does Zion,” Dixon says.

We hear a crash outside and run out guns drawn. I see a figure and before I can say anything, one of Dixon’s men is holding him up by his throat.

“You knocked over my bike,” the man growls at the figure.

“I’m sorry,” I hear the person gasping for air and then the man turns.

“Put him down, Axe,” Dixon hisses.