Page 140 of Praying for Thunder

“Leave my wife out of it, Art,” grumbled the ‘big guy’, Maverick.

Art told me, “He’s big here.” He imitated having arms so thick they couldn’t touch his sides, then teased while pointing down to his groin. “But here, not so much.”

“That’s it.” Maverick burst through some Ryders and went after Art.

As they locked up, Diesel went back to stomping his boot. “Tuck! Get in there!”

A tall guy with brown hair whined, “You said to mind my business.”

“Separate your boys!”

“Fine,” he pouted, which was rather comical being that he was a big biker.

As the three locked up and tussled, I watched in disbelief.

Boom! went a bullet into the air.

When everyone looked at Onus, he waved the gun. “I’m in charge here!” He was now flanked by Titans, including Piercer.

“Of course,” said Diesel, as if it were merely time to have a civilized meeting of the minds. Yet, when his eyes darted between all the men now flanking Onus, as if counting them, I realized Diesel may have purposely drawn them out.

I stared at him, his arms crossed, so much wisdom speaking to him in his mind. His shoulders were set back, eyes focused. He was a proud man. He was a strong man. He was… my father.

Deep inhale…

My eyes fell back to Onus.

Between the two, it felt like I was standing at a crossroads.

Onus was foreboding, dark, and cruel, yet who I had lived with for so many years. It was going to be hard to walk away. I know. It makes no sense, but he’s what I knew.

I gazed down at Rya, who was regarding me. She mouthed, “Everlasting.”

There were only two women in my life that would have the ultimate power to shatter me. Eventually, against their will, both of them did just that; Ani was murdered, and Rya let me go… yet all they wanted was for me to have happiness.

Isn’t that a gift inside a curse?

They felt they were helpless to stop the wheels of fate, not realizing they had endless power. Deeper than the deepest of all the oceans. Their love for me was everything I needed to survive.

Everlasting…

It was time for me to honor such a gift.

I beamed at my little goddess. “Can you stand?”

She took a deep breath, almost smiling. “Yes.”

Gently, I stood her on her feet, then nudged her behind me. Then… I cracked my neck before looking at Onus. “There is no need to talk. Titans are done.”

Diesel had once said I had power. It was now time to use it.

In an instant, every Ryder had a gun pointed at Titans.

In return, every Titan had guns pointed at Ryders.

Onus pointed his gun at me, just as he had so many other times.

Slowly, as I had in the past, I lifted and spread my arms wide. “I’m not afraid.”