Free Foamers by Justin Kassab Page B

the loss in stride, but he also couldn’t
afford Mick losing his head over one of their deaths. In all likelihood it wouldn’t
be the last.
    “Grace, go to the van,” Kade ordered rising to his feet. “Now.”
    Without saying a word, Grace scrambled away.
    “Victoria, get back to the ambulance. We are leaving in five,” Kade said.
    “I’m just going to grab a bottle of water from the bus quick,” Victoria said, as
she walked away.
    Kade strode up to Mick and Tiny. He pulled the pistol from Mick’s hand.
    “Mick, we all lost a friend. I can’t have you lose your head over it,” Kade said.
    Mick separated from Tiny. “You don’t get—”
    “I don’t care what I don’t get. You’re going to drive Lucas’s SUV the rest of the
way. By now X and Ash have a huge lead on us. What I do care about is you pull it
together so we can catch them,” Kade said.
    Mick took the handcuffs from his belt and handed them to Kade. “For your own protection.”
    Kade took the keys, while Mick trudged toward the convoy.
    “Was I too harsh?” Kade asked.
    “I don’t think so. I am surprised at how he’s taking this,” Tiny replied.
    Kade shook his head. “You got Argos with you?”
    “Yeah. We owe that dog a huge thanks. If it wasn’t for him and Grace, we’d all be
dead,” Tiny said.
    Kade tapped his chest. “Seems I owe Jem my life for more than one reason.”
    “Let’s catch up to your sister before she falls for X’s outlaw charm.”
    “Not funny.”
    Kade and Tiny made their way back to the convoy. At the top of the embankment, Kade
looked back at the spot where his friend would stay forever and gave him a farewell
wave.
    When he got to the van, he felt like the handcuffs had become an anchor in his hand.
He wanted to trust Grace, but he didn’t know what she was capable of doing. She had
killed her brother, and Mick’s warnings were still echoing in his head. He had no
idea if trusting her or trusting caution would pay off in the end.



C HAPTER VI
S PEED B UMPS
    ___________
    Xsped along, the lights of the sports car slicing through the darkness, illuminating
the
trees that had shed their foliage. The dotted yellow line in the center of the road
went by so fast, it seemed solid. This was probably the last time X would ever get
to drive a fast car. There were many things he looked forward to in the Primal Age:
no job, no taxes, and no cops besides Mick. However, there were some things that
he would miss from the Old World. Expensive cars that could go fast—they ranked high
on the list along with movie theater popcorn, beautiful women, and cold beer.
    “Is that the best you can do?” Ashton said, reclined in the red passenger seat.
    “Don’t want to get out of range of your brother. He’ll think I’ve pulled off to the
side of the road and raped you.” He took the walkie from the cup holder.
    “It’s not rape if they’re willing,” Ashton replied.
    X searched for any indication she was kidding, but her stone-faced delivery gave
none. “Ha. Ha. Good joke.”
    She still showed no response. He shook his head, trying to keep out thoughts that
would piss off Kade. He held down the call button. “X to Kade.”
    When the button released, the usual static wasn’t there. X tossed the walkie onto
Ashton’s lap. She shot up in her seat, startled. He gave her a wink. “Mind checking
what’s wrong with the walkie?”
    Ashton twisted the channel nob. “It must have got bumped off the right channel.”
    She handed it back, and he held the button. “Coolest man alive to Mopey.”
    “I bet he’s freaking out right now,” she said with a look of amusement.
    X had a feeling she was right. As tough and uncaring as Kade appeared to the world,
X knew him better. If anything, Kade cared too much. Kade felt a friend’s pinprick
like his own seppuku. X hoped they could make it a long time before they had casualties.
Any loss would have Kade questioning his leadership abilities, and frankly, they
didn’t