Chapter 11 - Highway Pursuit
The deep, aggressive rumble of multiple custom V-twin engines vibrated through the floorboards of the speeding interstate bus. Jax whipped his head around, pressing his face against the side window. Through the rain-streaked glass, the harsh high-beam headlights of three Iron Vipers motorcycles cut through the pitch-black night, hugging the rear bumper of the bus with terrifying precision.
“Step on it!” Jax shouted up to the terrified driver, who was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles had turned completely white.
“I’m going as fast as this piece of junk can handle!” the driver yelled back, his voice cracking with panic as he glanced into the rearview mirror. “They’re going to run us off the road!”
Ahead, the highway narrowed sharply as it approached the old Iron Mountain viaduct—a towering concrete bridge flanked by steep drop-offs and jagged canyon walls on either side. There were no exits, no turnoffs, and no cell service for twenty miles. It was the ultimate killing zone for a club that ruled the county roads.
Leo clutched Jax’s good arm, burying his face against his father’s chest. “Are they going to kill us, Dad?” the boy asked, his voice muffled by the thick leather of the vest.
“Not while I’m breathing,” Jax growled softly, though a cold knot of dread tightened in his stomach. He pressed his hand harder against his bleeding shoulder, trying to stem the warm flow of blood seeping through his shirt. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving a dull, throbbing agony in its wake.
Outside, one of the motorcycles—ridden by Vance—suddenly surged forward, pulling out into the left lane and matching the speed of the bus. Vance glanced up through the passenger window, a sadistic, wide grin splitting his bearded face. He raised his left hand, holding a heavy steel tire iron, and slammed it directly against the reinforced side window of the bus with a deafening CRACK.
The passengers screamed in terror, ducking beneath their seats as the glass splintered into a massive web of cracks, holding together only by the safety film.
“He’s going to break through!” the driver yelled, swerving the heavy bus slightly to the right to try and force Vance back into his lane.
Vance just laughed maniacally, dropping back slightly before accelerating again, lining up his front tire to clip the rear corner of the bus and send them spinning out toward the canyon edge.
Jax knew they couldn’t outrun them, and they couldn’t hide. The only way to end this nightmare was to confront it head-on. He looked down at Leo, his hazel eyes softening with a profound, aching tenderness.
“Leo, listen to me very carefully,” Jax said, holding the boy’s face gently between his calloused hands. “When the bus stops—and it’s going to stop very soon—you take this envelope and you run straight toward that emergency call box near the tunnel entrance. You don’t look back, you don’t stop for anything. Do you understand?”
“No! I’m not leaving you!” Leo cried, shaking his head violently as fresh tears spilled over his cheeks. “You promised we’d stay together!”
“I’m not leaving you, son. I’m giving you a future,” Jax said, his voice cracking slightly. He reached into his vest and pulled out the old faded photograph, pressing it firmly into Leo’s small palm. “Keep this safe for me.”
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Before Leo could protest, Vance’s motorcycle slammed violently into the side of the bus again, sending the heavy vehicle skidding across the wet asphalt toward the concrete guardrail with a horrific squeal of tearing metal.
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