Page 85 of Praying for Thunder

I did the same. Rolling backward, I got to the street, then continued backward until finding my place in line. The back. Letting my bike warm up, I prepared my bandana to attempt some sort of protection for my lungs that were going to be engulfed in exhaust for a couple of days.

At a gas station half a day later, I was away from the group, off my bike trying to get my muscles to like me again. I’d never been on an official run, nor on a bike for days at a time. I guess that was on purpose. Apparently, Onus was waiting for me to age more so that I wasn’t matching any pictures that had been passed around between clubs after Ani and I disappeared.

He rarely smoked cigarettes but was toking on one as he approached, alone. “Breaking them legs in for a real ride?”

Standing funny, and bending my knees, I watched a mother scurry her children inside. “Do you get used to that reaction?”

He blew smoke into the afternoon sky. “Get used to it? We purposely create it.”

My upper lip lifted in disgust. “How honorable.”

Dad chuckled. “Damn, you are in a shitty mood.”

Just then, one of the reasons why came crossing the parking lot. She was holding up a bag from the gas station store. “Baby, I got you snacks!”

My head fell back as I grumbled, “Shoot me.”

Onus burst out laughing. “Too much?”

I delivered a lifted brow glower. “You must be joking. Do you have eyes and ears?”

Still laughing, he shouted across the parking lot to her, “Babe, he’ll have them later.”

“Or never,” I whispered, although a snack did sound tempting.

“So,” he took a drag of his cigarette, “what did you want to talk to me about?”

That got my full attention. “Oh! Rya.”

Smoke floated from his mouth. “Of course.”

I got closer to not be overheard. “I think her dad is a bad person.” As if my dad was any better.

“You don’t say?” There was much sarcasm in his non-question.

At that moment, I realized I was blinded by Rya. I was so engrossed in her, I was missing glaring details that could be helpful to me. “Uh… Yeah. She, er, thinks her dad killed—”

“Her mother?”

My mouth gaped. “Yeah.” I blinked for a few seconds. “You already knew?”

He exhaled more smoke, casually peering around. “You really believe my elderly mother was capable of properly setting a house on fire?”

My lips moved but no noise was made. I was flabbergasted by his insinuation.

“And you really think I wouldn’t have cameras watching over that property?”

Now I was pissed. “You saw what she was doing to me?”

Regret laced his expression as he looked to the ground. “No.” He shrugged, going back to observing our surroundings. “No inside cameras. Didn’t want to see Mom walking around naked or anything.”

“But her whipping me and burning me is okay?”

“That’s just life, kid.”

I shook my head in dismay. “I don’t know why I’m shocked every time you remind me of what an asshole you can be.”

He peered over his shoulder. “Maybe I need to call Sharell over here—”