"Elle, calm down," Honey said softly, even though it took an immense effort to moderate his tone, "Calm down, baby, this is not your fault."
"No, it is. It is though, Honey. I was the one who went there. I was the one who lied to them and they figured it out. If Scorpion hadn't walked in – ."
"Wait, is that what happened? Why you came tearing out of there like your ass was on fire? That asshole saw you?"
"Yeah. I had almost made it outside when suddenly he was there. Just … there in front of me. I thought Sparkplug was going to draw him out."
"Me too," Honey said, thinking. He hoped that Sparkplug was okay. Obviously, something had gone south and tipped Damaris's right hand man that something was happening, he just prayed that Sparkplug hadn't paid the price.
"Something must have happened then. Do you think he's okay?" Elle asked, once more echoing his own thoughts out loud but all he could do was shake his head. He had just opened his mouth to speak when a cry split the air.
Elle head whipped to the right, staring as if she could someone see through the tall fields to the source of the sound.
"It's Carla." She whispered, an expression of pure horror drawing over her face as all the blood drained from her cheeks, leaving her a ghostly pale white.
"Elle, we'll figure this out, okay? We'll figure it out. I have to call the cops. This is bigger than us now. You need to stay here, and stay safe, okay? Promise me, Elle." Honey cupped her chin in his hand, drawing her face back until she was looking at him, "Promise me."
"I pro – ." But before she could finish another cry rang out and this time she flinched as if it was her own shout of pain.
"Carla." Elle whispered, "I know it's her. She's in trouble."
"Elle, please I need you to stay here. Promise me you'll stay here while I figure this out." Honey pleaded once more but her horrified gaze firmed into determination and he only had a moment's notice before she was tearing off in the direction of the cries, in the direction of her friends.
"Wait! Elle, stop!" Honey called after her, but he was afraid to shout too loud, afraid to draw any unwanted attention in their direction. He reached out, trying to stop her but it was too late. She was already disappearing into the first row of crops.
"Fuck!" Without any other options left, he ran after her.
Chapter 31
The tall plants whipped her cheeks as Elle ran past them but she didn't even notice. The only thing she could focus on was the shouts and yelling that drew closer and closer. She had to find them, she had to try and help her friends. It was all her fault that this had even happened.
Guilt, cold and greasy and slick settled uneasily in the pit of her stomach, urging her on. She'd made a promise to Carla, to do everything she could to help the farm. She'd made a promise, and she always kept her word, no matter what. That thought had her charging forward at a reckless speed and Elle gasped when she ran out into a small clearing. She had to windmill to stop herself from falling flat on her face, or running smack dab into Carla's back.
She gasped in dismay to see Carl and Hot Wheels surrounded by four of the Nomads, and what was even worse, one of them was their leader, Damaris. Elle shuddered at the look in his eyes, pure malice, and underneath that, joy. He was reveling in the fear he was causing. Even his men looked a little uncomfortable but they held their post, making sure that neither women could run while their leader confronted Joel.
"Carla!" Elle hissed, still hiding behind her friend. Carla turned to give her a shocked look that turned quickly to dismay.
"Elle, what the hell are you doing! Get out of here. Run while you still can. Before they see you. Please!" Carla pleaded but Elle just shook her head.
"No, I got you into this mess. I'm not going to just leave you guys alone."
"Then you're a damn fool," Hot Wheels added quietly, careful not to draw too much attention, "But a loyal one."
"Honey is right behind me. He said he was calling the cops – ."
"Well, thank god there's at least one functioning brain between the two of you." Hot Wheels said but Elle could hear the relief in her voice. They were genuinely terrified of what the Nomads would do. That thought had her looking over just in time to see Damaris strike out, hitting Joel across the face.
"No! Stop it!" Carla shouted, but the leader of the Nomads didn't even look over.
"What the hell do they want?" Elle muttered.
"Control of the farm," Carla finally answered, "One way or another. Just like he threatened before."
"But they can't just come here and take it like that. It's not legal!" Elle protested, horrified.
"Hah," Hot wheels snorted, "You really think they give a damn about legal, sugar?"
"Well, no, I guess not – ." Elle bit off her words as the rustling of the plants gave way to a new, familiar face. And not the face she'd been hoping to see.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Hot Wheels spat out the words as Viper pushed through, shooting a gloating grin at Joel as he stepped up beside him. He was all condescending arrogance with the leader of the Nomads and the other bikers there holding Joel back.
"Viper, I should have known you would be here," Joel growled out, his words slightly muffled by a bloody lip, "Like a mangy dog scavenging for scraps."
Viper growled and lunged forward but Carla interrupted, distracting him.
"What are you- How are you – What are you even doing here?" Carla stuttered out the shaky words and Viper just smirked.
"You didn't think I was gonna let the Nomads have all the fun, did you? Besides, this is my farm now. I have to protect what's mine." Viper sneered the last words towards Damaris and the smaller man nearly growled at the not so hidden threat.
"Yours, Viper? My crew is here. Where are your men? Hmm? Where are the rest of big, scary Dirty Cruisers? And how, exactly, do you think you're going to stop me from taking this nice juicy plum for myself. I should just pluck it up. It would be so easy." Damaris smiled his snake like smile at Viper then, "I'm just kidding, of course."
"Of course," Viper hissed back, and there was a new malice in his beady eyes. Greed had gotten the best of him and he already had a tenuous hold on the Cruisers. He couldn't afford to look weak in front of the other crew's leader, but at the moment, he had no choice.
Elle had been hidden behind Carla and Hot Wheels up till then but she felt the exact moment that Damaris saw her, recognized her.
"You!"
The look on his face had Elle stumbling back as fear, potent and raw filled her. She'd never been looked at with such pure hatred before, but there was also a twisted lust in his gaze that had nausea rolling alongside the terror.
Carla tried to block his path as Damaris lunged after Elle but she was knocked away with an almost casual blow that had her toppling to ground.
"You should have taken my offer before," he growled out as he stalked even closer to her, "things would have gone a lot easier for you. But not now. Oh no. Now, I'm going to make it hurt."
Elle tried to get away and she screamed as she felt the brush of his outstretched hand against the back of her shirt but then it was gone and instead of falling into his clutches, he was just … gone.
She looked back in shock to see Damaris being pulled rapidly away from her and for a moment she didn't understand what was happening until she saw the man directly behind him. Sparkplug! Hot Wheels lurched, recognizing him at the same time, tracing his obvious black eye and what looked to be evidence of a bloody nose with a look so full of love that Elle had to look away for a moment.
Wait a minute, how had he gotten away from Scorpion? They knew he must have been tipped off somehow and had feared the worse for the other man. But before she could ask the question out loud, Sparkplug was already answering it.
"Your thug Scorpion throws a mean right hook, but I'm tougher than I look." Sparkplug sneered as he drew Damaris out into the middle of the opening. "A punch doesn't keep me down for long. You should have had him kill me."
"I'll remember that for next time," Damaris spat back, his cool composure long gone as the feral animal underneath was revealed.
"There won't be a next time. Consider this an official challenge." Sparkplug said, the only warning before he pulled back his own fist and let it fly, landing a hard blow. Elle flinched away from the fight, waiting for the other Nomads to step in and was surprised when no one did.
"Sparkplug challenged Damaris for leadership," Hot Wheels explained quietly, "The other's won't do anything. And honestly, by the looks on their faces, they don't want Damaris to win."