Vernon's face was white as chalk. You think the angels are going to thank you? You think... He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes going wide as he looked past Caleb toward the smoking wreckage of the motorcycle. Caleb followed his gaze. The Harley was destroyed, but the saddlebags had burst open in the crash.
Papers were scattered across the highway fluttering in the hot desert wind. And there half-hidden beneath the twisted chrome was a thick leather roll bound with cord. Don't, Vernon whispered. Caleb, don't you dare.
But Caleb was already moving. He kept one hand pressed against Arthur's wound while reaching with the other fingers stretching straining until they closed around the leather. It was heavy, dense with whatever was rolled inside. He yanked it free just as the wail of sirens cut through the desert air. Hide it.
Arthur's voice had gained a moment of clarity. His hand fumbled at Caleb's arm. Dalton can't find it. Evidence, everything. Evidence of what?
Arthur's laugh was a horrible bubbling sound. Everything. The whole goddamn empire, cartel, shipments, payoffs, all of it. His eyes found Caleb's suddenly sharp despite the blood loss. You saved my life.
You earned a debt. But that he nodded weakly at the leather roll, that'll get you killed.
The ambulance screamed around the bend and Vernon physically dragged Caleb backward. Give it to me, Vernon hissed. I'll get rid of it. No. Caleb stuffed the roll down the back of his jeans letting his ruined shirt hang over it.
He said to hide it. Are you insane? Do you know what happens to people who cross the Hells Angels? Do you know what happens to people who cross Sheriff Dalton? Yeah, Caleb said quietly watching the paramedics swarm around Arthur's failing body.
I just watched it.
The lead paramedic, a woman named Rosa, who treated Caleb for a broken arm 2 years back, looked up at him with wide eyes. You kept pressure this whole time? Best I could. Probably saved his life. Femoral artery, Jesus, he should be dead already.
She worked with practiced efficiency, her team moving in synchronized rhythm. Who did this? Caleb opened his mouth but Vernon cut in fast. Hit and run. Truck didn't stop.
We didn't see the plates. Rosa's eyes flicked to Vernon, then back to Caleb, and something in her expression told him she knew they were lying, but she just nodded and returned to keeping Arthur alive.
As they loaded Arthur into the ambulance, his hand flopped out over the side of the gurney. Caleb stepped closer and Arthur's fingers wrapped around his wrist one more time. They'll come, Arthur whispered. My brothers. They'll come for it.
And Dalton, he'll come, too. His grip was weak now, barely there. You chose a side, kid. Soon as you picked me up, you chose. I didn't choose anything.