PART 1: Nightmares on Chrome, Savages in Leather<\/p>\n
Nightmares on Chrome, Savages in Leather.<\/p>\n
That was the name that people gave us.<\/p>\n
Men like us, they claimed, belonged in police briefings and cautionary stories. That when engines screamed too near, mothers crossed the street and shut their doors because of us. Before we even spoke, they made up the scenario based on the leather, the chains, and the scars.<\/p>\n
They might have been correct once.<\/p>\n
But I discovered something else that night, after midnight, when the garage descended into the kind of quiet that only walls covered with oil can experience.<\/p>\n
Not all monsters ride motorbikes.
\nThey occasionally return home upset while wearing clean clothing.<\/p>\n
When the Iron Cross Garage did eventually become silent, it was much after midnight. The final engine was now cool. The final instrument had been cleaned and stored. I had just put the torque wrench back in its drawer after completing the process of tightening the belt on a rebuilt Softail.<\/p>\n
I heard it at that point.<\/p>\n
A sound so faint I believed it was a creation of my imagination.<\/p>\n
A murmur.<\/p>\n
slim. Broken. hardly surviving.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, keep him from finding us.\u201d<\/p>\n
I went cold.<\/p>\n
Caleb Rourke is my name. Most people refer to me as Hollow. The Black Halo Saints, a club that most people pretend not to see during the day and hope no one notices at night, is the group I run with.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not perfect.
\nHowever, we are also not demons.<\/p>\n
No more.<\/p>\n
They were close to the open bay entrance when I emerged from the darkness.<\/p>\n
Four children.<\/p>\n
Not teenagers attempting to seem tough.
\nRunaways aren\u2019t being brave.<\/p>\n
Kids. Barefoot and trembling.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A woman who seemed barely conscious was slumped against a dented tool cabinet behind them. She saturated her clothing in blood. Already, one eye was swollen shut. Her respiration was irregular and shallow.<\/p>\n
As though he had discovered that wailing too loudly just made matters worse, the youngest youngster clutched to her waist and sobbed silently.<\/p>\n
Slowly, I raised both hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re alright,\u201d I said.
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve come to the wrong place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something moved behind me.<\/p>\n
Our mechanic, Briggs, came out of the lounge carrying a mug of scorched coffee. After a single glance at the situation, he silently put it down.<\/p>\n
\u201cHollow?\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cGet Lena.\u201d
\n\u201cNow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before life pulled her into our orbit, Lena worked as a military medic. She was better than any emergency room in town at patching bullet wounds and broken bones at our club these days.<\/p>\n
The tallest child took the lead. Maybe thirteen. All jagged edges and compelled bravery.<\/p>\n
He blurted out, \u201cWe weren\u2019t stealing.\u201d
\n\u201cWe were in hiding. from him.<\/p>\n
I knelt down so we could see each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvan,\u201d he said.
\nThat\u2019s Mara, Lucas, and Elle, the infant. And my mother is that. Rose is her name.<\/p>\n
Elle shuddered in a drenched hoodie. Mara had dark purple bruises on her wrist. Lucas refused to give up their mother\u2019s sleeve.<\/p>\n
In a matter of seconds, Lena showed up wearing gloves.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunshot?\u201d she inquired.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I replied.
\n\u201cRibs. Blant force.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose stirred, her voice scarcely coherent.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u201d she said in a whisper.
\n\u201cAvoid letting Derek discover them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chamber was rocked by that name.<\/p>\n
Briggs clenched his jaw.<\/p>\n
\u201cDerek Cole?\u201d<\/p>\n
Evan gave a nod.
\n\u201cHe causes her pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lena worked quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cA possible concussion.\u201d ribs that cracked. We cannot wait for an ambulance if she crashes.<\/p>\n
I looked at the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cPay close attention. Tonight, nobody touches you. That dude stays inside our gate.<\/p>\n
The garage really came alive in less than a minute.<\/p>\n
Locks were activated.
\nThe engines warmed up.
\nMen didn\u2019t require commands to move.<\/p>\n
Rose hadn\u2019t chosen us by chance.<\/p>\n
Section 2: The Unsuitable Men to Interfere With
\nRose was brought to the couch in the back office. With his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles became white, Evan stepped next to us.<\/p>\n
He informed me, \u201cShe said bikers hate men like him.\u201d
\n\u201cSaid you would comprehend.\u201d<\/p>\n
intelligent woman.<\/p>\n
After Lena steadied her, I knelt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy here?\u201d I inquired.<\/p>\n
The patch on my vest, which featured a black skull beneath a crooked halo, caught Rose\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou helped a girl last year\u2026 her father,\u201d she uttered feebly. I recalled the halo.<\/p>\n
That was sufficient.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet the van ready,\u201d I instructed Lena.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re heading to Mercy General.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked directly into my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be waiting, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quietly, we rolled out.<\/p>\n
No loud engines.
\nNo coercion.<\/p>\n
Just a purpose.<\/p>\n
Lucas and Elle were nestled into the sidecar while I rode point. Rose went in the van with Evan and Mara. Every rider is on guard. Every mirror observed.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t think twice at the hospital.<\/p>\n
I made my way directly to the nurse\u2019s station.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s been assaulted. internal wounds. She has four children with her.<\/p>\n
Our patches were examined by the nurse.<\/p>\n
She then made a move.<\/p>\n
As they wheeled Rose away, Evan held onto my vest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill she pass away?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I replied.
\n\u201cNot this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
We waited with the children. Mara needed something to focus on, so Lena braided her hair. Lucas leaned in close to one of the men as if they were old friends.<\/p>\n
Evan chose not to sit.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cHe\u2019s coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive it to him,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
Briggs\u2019 burner buzzed at 3:12 a.m.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cHe\u2019s here.\u201d
\n\u201cBrought backup.\u201d<\/p>\n
We left slowly.<\/p>\n
Three of us.
\nLeather is silent.
\nDon\u2019t hurry.<\/p>\n
When Derek spotted us, he laughed.<\/p>\n
He hissed, \u201cYou think you scare me?\u201d
\n\u201cI own her.\u201d<\/p>\n
I spoke in a calm tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are protecting them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trigger moved to the front.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are not the owner of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Derek\u2019s men grabbed his jacket.<\/p>\n
A poor decision.<\/p>\n
Security at the hospital was already reporting it.<\/p>\n
Derek paused.<\/p>\n
He spat out, \u201cThis isn\u2019t over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said.
\n\u201cYes, it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
They took off running.<\/p>\n
Minutes later, police arrived.<\/p>\n
PART 3: Just There, Not Heroes Rose made it out alive.<\/p>\n
Child services arrived, offering assistance rather than threats. She was recognized by a nurse. endorsed her. spoke the truth.<\/p>\n
The bills were paid by us.<\/p>\n
Since we could.<\/p>\n
Derek was taken into custody two days later. weapons that are not authorized. warrants. violent past.<\/p>\n
Eventually, cowards always fall.<\/p>\n
The children spent some time with us.<\/p>\n
Mara became proficient at chrome polishing.
\nOne of the guys led Lucas everywhere.
\nElle referred to Briggs as \u201cGrandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evan inquired about joining one day.<\/p>\n
I advised him to first learn to be kind.<\/p>\n
When they see us, people continue to cross the street.<\/p>\n
Give them permission.<\/p>\n
Because Derek and other monsters?<\/p>\n
They ought to be terrified.<\/p>\n
Heroes don\u2019t always wear badges.<\/p>\n
On sometimes, they ride into the night while sporting oil-stained jeans.<\/p>\n
Halos are not worn by us.<\/p>\n
They are earned by us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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