Chapter 9
The amber light overhead flickered, casting long, dancing shadows across the rows of empty vinyl booths. Julian finished pressing the damp cloth to his temple, tossing it onto the table where it now bore a distinct stain of crimson. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the laminate, his dark eyes sharp and focused despite the lingering pain in his ribs.
"Tell me about this back room," Julian whispered, keeping his voice low so as not to carry through the reinforced glass to the men pacing outside. "Is there another way out besides the service door?"
"No," Chloe replied, tracing the edge of the table with a bruised finger. "It’s a dead end, but it’s built like a vault. My dad reinforced the walls after the diner got burglarized back in the nineties. If we can get inside and lock the steel door behind us, they won't be able to punch through it easily, even with their tools."
"And the CB radio?" Julian asked. "Is it still working? When was the last time it was turned on?"
Chloe hesitated, biting her lower lip. "I haven't used it in months. Dad swore it could reach the northern relay if the atmospheric conditions were right. With the storm overhead... it might boost the signal, or it might just create too much static. We won't know until we try."
Outside, a sharp metallic scrape echoed against the front glass—someone was testing the lock with a pry bar. The harsh screech of metal against metal sent a shiver down Chloe’s spine. Time was running out. The bikers were growing impatient, and patience was never their strong suit.
Julian stood up, gritting his teeth as his cracked ribs protested the movement. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the small metallic data drive, slipping it carefully into the front pocket of Chloe’s damp apron.
"Keep this," Julian said quietly.
Chloe looked down at her apron in sheer disbelief, her big eyes widening. "Julian, no! If they catch me—"
"They're looking for me, and they're looking for the bike," Julian interrupted, his voice laced with absolute, unyielding conviction. "If they corner us, they'll search me first. They won't suspect the waitress. If I create a distraction at the front doors, you slip into the back room, lock yourself inside, and get on that CB radio. Do you understand?"
May you like
"I'm not leaving you to face them alone," Chloe protested fiercely, her voice rising slightly before she caught herself and dropped it to a desperate whisper. "We fight them together, remember? That was the deal."
"That wasn't a deal; that was a suicide pact," Julian said, a faint, weary smile touching his scarred face. "I've lived my life, Chloe. You have your whole future ahead of you. You saved my life tonight, and you gave me a reason to believe in things I thought were dead and gone. Don't waste that sacrifice now."
