The moment the kitchen door slammed shut behind us, my legs gave out. I slid down the wall, my hands shaking so badly I couldn't feel my fingers.
"Hey—hey, breathe, sweetheart."
Lacy crouched in front of me, grabbing my shoulders. I tried, but my lungs wouldn't work. All I could see were leather cuts. All I could hear was laughter. All I could smell was gasoline, whiskey, smoke and blood.
"They found me," I whispered.
"No they didn't," Lacy said quickly. "They're still out there arguing with Maud and Pops. They're not coming back here."
That didn't help.
"They sent them before," I said, my voice shaking. "They'll send them again."
The kitchen door swung open and Rusty stepped inside. He stopped when he saw me on the floor.
"What the hell happened out there?" he asked.
"Those bikers," Lacy said. "They're the ones."
Rusty's eyes snapped to me.
"The ones who hurt you?"
I nodded. My throat felt like it was closing.
"They didn't do it themselves," I whispered. "They sent men."
Rusty's jaw tightened.
"Ma's got the shotgun out front," he said. "And Pops looks ready to swing."
Through the swinging kitchen doors I could hear muffled voices from the diner. A man I don't know was yelling. Maud's sharp voice cutting through the room. Someone slammed a hand on a table. Glass broke. My heart started racing again.
"They're still here," I said.
Lacy squeezed my hand.
"They won't get past Maud."
Rusty shook his head.
"No reason to risk it."
He grabbed a set of keys from the hook by the back door.
"We're getting you out the back."
"What?" I looked up at him.
"You're shaking so bad you can barely stand," he said. "And those assholes are still ten feet away."
Lacy helped me to my feet. My legs felt like they might collapse again.
"You're coming with me," Lacy said firmly.
"I don't need—"
"Yes. You do."
Another loud voice echoed from the diner. Then a metallic click-clack. Rusty froze.
"That's Ma's shotgun," he muttered.
Lacy's grip tightened on my arm.
"Time to go."
Rusty opened the back door. Cool air rushed into the kitchen. The dark alley behind the diner stretched out under a single flickering light. Rusty glanced back toward the diner one last time.
"They keep those boys busy," he said quietly.
Then he looked at me.
"Let's get you home."
Lacy guided me out the door, keeping one arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders. The door shut behind us. The argument inside the diner continued, voices muffled through the walls. But my heart was still pounding like they were right behind me. Because three years of hiding had just ended. Cash had found me. And Click had been standing right beside him.