Swallow the Moon Read Online Free
Author: K A Jordan
bike.
June saw two people, a woman who was crumpled and still and a man who stirred slightly. Rags growled at the woman; his hair stood on end along his spine. June couldn't look away; the woman's body looked misshapen in the dimness. There was no doubt that she was dead.
Tasha bumped June's hand and licked her wrist, whining to get attention. Startled from staring, June let Tasha lead her away from the dead woman over to the man. Using her cell phone as a flashlight, June knelt by the man's side. He moved feebly, moaning, but alive, his face covered by a helmet, his body protected by a full set of sport-bike leathers.
June smelled gas. She moved over to the bike. Gasoline drizzled into the weeds. Frantically she fumbled with the shut off valve. The next moments blurred as she called 911 and gave her address. She was still talking with the operator when she heard the roaring of the truck.
"They're coming back!" June squeaked.
"Who's coming?" the operator asked.
"The truck!" June gulped. "Send the police!"
"What's going on, ma'am?"
June snapped her cell shut and searched for a place to hide. There was a shallow ditch only feet away. Grabbing the biker by his jacket, she managed to drag his bulk into the shadows. She threw herself on top of the dogs, all of them hidden in darkness. She could see it now – a massive SUV, dark and menacing as it leisurely rumbled back to the curve.
As the biker fumbled for the helmet catch strap, June let go of Tasha's collar to grab his hand.
"Shh!" she warned him. "They're coming." She peeked through the weeds.
The engine sounds quieted as the SUV came closer. Lights illuminated the crashed bike. For a moment there was silence as the black on black machine surveyed its downed prey. The black-tinted windows came down, the sound of hoots, crowing and the unmistakable hiss and pop of opening beer cans echoed in the night.
"That son of a bitch is dead."
"You said that last time."
"I'll bet you a hundred bucks."
"You're on. I'll go check."
The SUV door opened to reveal a white leather interior and three guys in ball caps and flannel shirts. A passenger got out, beer in hand, followed by the driver.
June held Rags by the collar, lying on top of Tasha to keep her down. She dared to peek; both men were walking towards the bike. June's breath was coming faster with fear, making little puffs of frost. The biker was absolutely still.
Crushed between June and the biker, Tasha strained to stand up, her body vibrated with tension. It was all June could do to keep Tasha down.
"I don't see 'im."
The guy had a familiar voice; it set off alarm bells in June's mind, but she couldn't put a name to him. Too scared to move, she resisted the conflicting impulses to either look or close her eyes.
"Ain't nothing moving," the second man said. "Must'a been thrown a ways."
As the man stepped closer, the hair on June's arms rose. Tasha strained to rise. June fought to hold her down. The Doberman's lips pulled back in a snarl, her chest rumbled with a low growl as the man walked closer.
"I hear something!"
June wrestled briefly with both dogs, but she couldn't hold the big Doberman. Tasha scrambled to her feet, rolling June onto the biker. June barely managed to hang onto the frantic Rags. Tasha stood over them, snapping and snarling as she advanced on the strangers.
The men screamed, sprinting for the SUV.
Tasha sprang from the ditch with a full-throated roar.
The driver had a dozen feet head start. The passenger was closer; he almost made it. Just as he managed to grab the open door, the angry Doberman caught him with a single leap, knocking him sideways and grabbing him by the calf, biting deep.
"It got me!" he screamed, thrashing. Even with his hand on the door, he couldn't stop his backward slide as the dog shook him like a rat.
The SUV roared to life.
The driver jammed the SUV into reverse as the third guy leaned over to grab Tasha's victim by the belt. Tasha held on until the man finally
June saw two people, a woman who was crumpled and still and a man who stirred slightly. Rags growled at the woman; his hair stood on end along his spine. June couldn't look away; the woman's body looked misshapen in the dimness. There was no doubt that she was dead.
Tasha bumped June's hand and licked her wrist, whining to get attention. Startled from staring, June let Tasha lead her away from the dead woman over to the man. Using her cell phone as a flashlight, June knelt by the man's side. He moved feebly, moaning, but alive, his face covered by a helmet, his body protected by a full set of sport-bike leathers.
June smelled gas. She moved over to the bike. Gasoline drizzled into the weeds. Frantically she fumbled with the shut off valve. The next moments blurred as she called 911 and gave her address. She was still talking with the operator when she heard the roaring of the truck.
"They're coming back!" June squeaked.
"Who's coming?" the operator asked.
"The truck!" June gulped. "Send the police!"
"What's going on, ma'am?"
June snapped her cell shut and searched for a place to hide. There was a shallow ditch only feet away. Grabbing the biker by his jacket, she managed to drag his bulk into the shadows. She threw herself on top of the dogs, all of them hidden in darkness. She could see it now – a massive SUV, dark and menacing as it leisurely rumbled back to the curve.
As the biker fumbled for the helmet catch strap, June let go of Tasha's collar to grab his hand.
"Shh!" she warned him. "They're coming." She peeked through the weeds.
The engine sounds quieted as the SUV came closer. Lights illuminated the crashed bike. For a moment there was silence as the black on black machine surveyed its downed prey. The black-tinted windows came down, the sound of hoots, crowing and the unmistakable hiss and pop of opening beer cans echoed in the night.
"That son of a bitch is dead."
"You said that last time."
"I'll bet you a hundred bucks."
"You're on. I'll go check."
The SUV door opened to reveal a white leather interior and three guys in ball caps and flannel shirts. A passenger got out, beer in hand, followed by the driver.
June held Rags by the collar, lying on top of Tasha to keep her down. She dared to peek; both men were walking towards the bike. June's breath was coming faster with fear, making little puffs of frost. The biker was absolutely still.
Crushed between June and the biker, Tasha strained to stand up, her body vibrated with tension. It was all June could do to keep Tasha down.
"I don't see 'im."
The guy had a familiar voice; it set off alarm bells in June's mind, but she couldn't put a name to him. Too scared to move, she resisted the conflicting impulses to either look or close her eyes.
"Ain't nothing moving," the second man said. "Must'a been thrown a ways."
As the man stepped closer, the hair on June's arms rose. Tasha strained to rise. June fought to hold her down. The Doberman's lips pulled back in a snarl, her chest rumbled with a low growl as the man walked closer.
"I hear something!"
June wrestled briefly with both dogs, but she couldn't hold the big Doberman. Tasha scrambled to her feet, rolling June onto the biker. June barely managed to hang onto the frantic Rags. Tasha stood over them, snapping and snarling as she advanced on the strangers.
The men screamed, sprinting for the SUV.
Tasha sprang from the ditch with a full-throated roar.
The driver had a dozen feet head start. The passenger was closer; he almost made it. Just as he managed to grab the open door, the angry Doberman caught him with a single leap, knocking him sideways and grabbing him by the calf, biting deep.
"It got me!" he screamed, thrashing. Even with his hand on the door, he couldn't stop his backward slide as the dog shook him like a rat.
The SUV roared to life.
The driver jammed the SUV into reverse as the third guy leaned over to grab Tasha's victim by the belt. Tasha held on until the man finally
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