“Bad move heading for my old lady,” Ledger says in an utterly calm but deadly tone.
Peeking around Ledger I see how the biker shrugs. “I figured if you have one of our women, I’ll take one of yours.”
“You figured fucking wrong.” Ledger takes a step toward the biker, getting right in his face. “Step outside and we will solve the issue another way.”
They glare at one another for a few breaths. The biker fakes a move as if he were to attack and steps back pointing two fingers at his eyes and then at Ledger before he stalks out of the diner.
Ledger moves forward, as if he wants to follow the biker. I scramble from my seat and grab his wrist. I have to squeeze hard before he responds by glancing down at the spot where I’m holding him. Colt strolls up with Kay in tow.
“Do we call for backup or head home by ourselves?” Ledger questions.
“You two are going to join us at our table and talk through some shit before we head home. I’m getting the idea this fucker was acting on his own. There’s no way Rowen would send a single biker to retrieve his sister. Besides.” Colt pierces Kay with a hard look. “The way you reacted when you saw him tells me there’s more to the story than you just running off to see May. Am I right?”
Kay swallows hard and gives a hint of a nod.
I grab my ice cream and Ledger’s too. “Well, go on, let’s sit down at your table.”
As soon as our asses are on the chairs, Colt snaps in a harsh tone, “Spit it out, Kadence. I don’t like being misled and withholding details puts not only you but all of us at risk. I thought I scolded you enough the second your ass crossed our land.”
“Rowen is having a hard time keeping some of the bikers in line. One of them you just met, his name is Cannon. Let’s just say Rowen didn’t pick the obvious person to be his VP. But I think he did make the right decision.”
“Let me guess,” Colt says. “We just met the VP wannabe.”
Kay nods. “Cannon is a lying asshole, one who thinks I was the prize that came with the title. So, when he didn’t get the title, he…he came into my room. I managed to land a few punches and ran out. Then I kept running.”
“Why didn’t you go to your brother? If it would have happened in our MC we’d bury the fucker,” Ledger says.
Kay’s head goes down and she closes up completely. Colt curses underneath his breath and my gaze slides to him. Ledger is shaking his head in disgust but I don’t understand any of it.
“What’s going on?” My voice is thin because I’m almost afraid to ask the question.
Colt looks me straight in the eye and says, “Her brother probably promised her to that fucker who came here looking for her. A sort of consolation prize to keep the peace within his MC and to tie her to it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I seethe.
“Shhhh, keep your voice down,” Ledger grumbles.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I whisper hiss in repeat, seriously questioning the sanity of some people on this fucked-up planet.
“I can’t go back. I know I have to, and I had no right coming here. Never mind. I should have gone with him. It’s inevitable.” Kay grabs her ice cream–which has somewhat melted–and scoops some into her mouth, closing her eyes to lock everything out and enjoy the sweetness. I know, because I’m doing the same.
Conversation falls silent. Though, it seems as if Ledger and Colt are having a silent conversation with the looks they’re shooting at each other. We all finish our ice cream and head for the bikes. Suddenly I’m itching to be home. I can’t help glancing in every direction to see if Cannon is still around, but there’s no trace of him.
Colt is riding next to Ledger instead of behind each other. I resist glancing back. At this point I’m too stressed to even glance back, because what if Cannon is following us? Would he start shooting? Kay and I are the ones exposed. Holy shit. My breathing picks up and I have to take a breath to calm myself down and not panic.
I feel a squeeze on my leg and realize I’m holding Ledger in a death grip. I loosen my arms slightly and his hand disappears from my leg. This man has a way with my body, lighting it up with a mere touch and even now, destressing me by a reassuring squeeze on my thigh.
A car passes and is now in front of us, closing in. I risk a glance back and see another car coming up from behind. I hear Ledger talk but I don’t catch all the words and I’m guessing he’s making a handsfree call or something because Cole has his gaze set in front of him.
“Hold on,” Ledger bellows over the roaring of the bike.
My mind offers, like hell am I ever letting you go, before he suddenly swerves to the right. My heart is in my throat when he drives straight for a half-closed fence surrounding a pasture, the road underneath turning into gravel, dirt, and grass. Colt picks up speed and rides straight through the gate as Ledger follows.
A crashing sound makes me turn back to see the fence shatter as a car bursts through and starts to chase us. I bury my face against Ledger’s leather cut, making a solid promise to myself that if I do get out of this alive, I’m going to enjoy every second of my life as if it’s my last one, because right now…I’m
