Page 16 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
“I’m not taking you there.”
“Then, I’m going myself.”
The standoff with Link had been going on for well over two hours now. Between making her life with Link and working her ass off, I hadn’t seen my sister in over a week now. And I wanted to see her. If that meant going to her office, I’d find a way. But I didn’t want to have to sneak out.
I would, though, if this asshole of a man wouldn’t do as I asked.
“I’ll be as careful as possible,” I said.
Link nodded. “I know, because I’d be there if I were taking you. But I’m not.”
“And why the hell not?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“My entire life is dangerous. You going to coop me up from that, too?”
He snickered. “If it means we’re getting our job done? Then, yes.”
“Job? What job? No one’s paying you to look after me, or watch over me, or anything like that. You’re doing this as a favor to my sister so you can keep getting laid. That’s all.”
His eyes narrowed. “Is that what you think?”
“That’s exactly what I think.”
He slowly stood from his chair. “You haven’t thought, for one second, that I actually care about you because you’re Joanna’s sister?”
I blinked. “Well, no.”
“So, you haven’t thought—for one split second—that we just might be family now? And family doesn’t do shit for other family members for the money?”
I paused. “Family?”
He sighed. “Look, I know this is all new and I know this is scary as hell.”
“Well, knowing and understanding are two different things.”
“Look, Hope. I’ve seen, endured, and experienced more scary shit than you ever will. I’ve seen the darkest of nights and the brightest of days with evil lurking in every corner there is to be seen in this fucking town. I know how evil ticks. I know how darkness lurks. So, don’t even attempt to pull that card with me because you aren’t going to win. No one ever does.”
I glared up at him. “You take me to my sister at her office, or risk me sneaking off. And I can promise you this, Link—if I sneak off? You’re never finding me.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
“Good luck, then.”
I turned on my heels to make my way back to my room before he finally caved. Just like I thought he would.
“Wait.”
I stopped walking. “Yeah?”
He sighed. “Thirty minutes.”
I peered over my shoulder. “Forty-five.”
“Forty-five minutes and I’m with you the entire time.”
“Not in her office, though. Outside, standing watch.”
“Outside the door. Not the facility.”
I sighed. “One more condition?”
“What is it?”
“Can we stop and get a burger? I’ve really been craving one from—”
His chuckle interrupted me. “Come on, Hope. Let’s get you situated in a helmet.”
I never imagined myself clinging to any one of Joanna’s boyfriends. But as we inched our way out of the woods and blazed a trail down the highway, that was exactly what I did. I fisted that man’s leather jacket and held onto the bike with my thighs for dear life.
Only, I wished it was Bowser instead of Link.
Wow, what a kisser.
The bike rolled to a stop, but we weren’t at my sister’s law office. Instead, I was staring at the drive-thru menu of the best burger joint in town.
“Link?” I asked.
The intercom came to life. “Welcome to Bubba’s Burgers, what can I get started for you?”
“Link?” I asked again.
“We’re gonna get you and Joanna lunch to have in her office. What do you want?” he asked.
I stared at the menu. “Uh, yes. Hello?”
“Go ahead,” the intercom said.
“I’d like a big double burger with bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles. With a large Cajun fry and a blackberry tea,” I said.
“Anything else?”
Link jumped in. “I’d also like a grilled chicken sandwich with provolone, marinara, mushrooms, grilled onions, and lettuce. With a small parmesan fry and a large Diet Coke.”
I grinned at the fact that he knew my sister’s order from this place.
“Anything else?”
Link’s eyes danced around the menu. “Uh, yes. A peanut butter Oreo milkshake, a large Cajun fry, and a side of your macaroni and cheese. And that’ll be all.”
“Pull around for your total.”
After acquiring food and salivating the rest of the way to my sister’s law office, we pulled into a parking space. I practically leapt off the back of his bike and ripped the helmet off, ready to gorge myself on the food I had ordered. I could already taste it: the juicy meat with melted cheese over the sides. The mixture of condiments with the tang from the pickles. The hot fries that made me sweat while eating them. Ugh, I loved them. I loved everything about that damn place.
And when I walked into my sister’s office with the bags, she quickly hung up the phone.
“You’re a lifesaver, you know that?” she asked.
I smiled. “Missed you, sis. Where the hell have you been?”
She got up from her desk and took her bag, then hugged my neck tightly. I heard the door close behind us, probably due to Link, but I didn’t pay it much mind. I wrapped my arms around Joanna and hugged her tightly. I kissed her cheek profusely, covering her in them before she finally pulled away.
