Page 7 of Knuckles (Dragon Riders MC 4)
At this point, I also knew that would never change.
“Yep?” I asked.
“If he says ‘no’, maybe I could stay at your place until you get back?”
I yanked the door open. “Trust me, you’re coming. Just give me a few minutes.”
She smiled. “Okay, JayJay.”
My heart warmed at the nickname. No one had called me “JayJay” in years. Fucking years. And she was the only person ever in my life that called me that. I could’ve smiled, it made me so happy to hear. But I was more focused on other things.
Like convincing Link to let me take her.
And figuring out how to keep her safe when it almost felt like she was on the run.
“Knuckles!”
I followed the sound of Link’s voice and found him in a corner booth with a broken overhead light, sipping a beer.
I eased into the booth without a second thought.
“So, I take it the girl outside is what’s got you all knotted up?” he asked.
“Nice looking out,” I said.
He leveled me with a stare. “She can’t go with you, Knuckles.”
“She’s my foster sister, man. And she’s in trouble.”
He blinked. “Wait, that’s Simone out there?”
I nodded slowly. “In the flesh.”
He set his beer down. “What kind of trouble? Something we can work on while you’re gone?”
I grinned. “I knew you’d change your tone once I told you who she was.”
“She’s family, and we take care of family. Hands down, no matter what.”
“I really appreciate it.”
He sipped his beer again. “Got any idea what’s got her spooked?”
I shrugged. “No fucking clue. But I know Simone. I grew up with her. She’s good at facades. A bit too good, honestly. And hers is cracking right now. So, whatever it is?”
He paused. “It’s bad.”
“And she was way too quick to jump on the bandwagon with coming along. Even though she knows it’s dangerous.”
“Did you tell her anything?”
I shook my head. “Just that we’re chasing some dude that’s got a nasty rap sheet. She knows I’m doing recon.”
“Right, right. Well, here’s what I want you to do.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Take her with you, because I know that if she doesn’t go, all you’ll do is worry about her. But the second you can? Drag out of her what’s going on and call me so we can get to work on it. You two aren’t gonna do this on your own, you hear me?”
“I really appreciate that, Link. A lot.”
He nodded. “Family sticks together. I just hope she doesn’t run out on you again this time.”
“Eh, even if she does, I’d rather her do it once I know she’s safe rather than when she’s still in trouble.”
“True, true. You got any idea what it could be about, though?”
I leaned back. “You know, I’ve been thinking about it a bit. And Bowser always used to help me track down her address. She’s had a few of them. Just about a new one every year, it seems.”
“And you’re wondering if that home-hopping has to do with this.”
I sighed. “Can’t say I’m not curious about it.”
He nodded toward the door. “Go on. Get out of here. And call me the second you know what’s up. We can start working on things from here while you’re doing recon. It’ll be good for the guys, anyway. They’re all itching to do something.”
I grinned. “Then let me get them something to do.”
He chuckled. “That’s my man.”
After standing and clapping each other’s backs in a big hug, I made my way back out to my bike. And when I stepped out of the bar, Simone looked a bit too relieved to have me back. That worried me, too, but I shoved it all to the side and tried to focus on our journey. The motel was expecting me, and I hoped they didn't give me any issues with the fact that I had Simone. I knew the motel room I booked only had one bed, but maybe if I finagled the small couch in there, I could make up another bed or something.
Or I could cuddle up.
“So, what’d he say?” Simone asked.
I pushed the thought away and threw my leg over my bike.
“Hang on tight. We still got another forty-minute drive ahead of us.”
“Yesssss,” she hissed.
The second she wrapped herself back around me, my mind flew back to that one bed. In one room. Sharing it, together. A shiver worked its way down my spine. There had been many things in my life that I had once dreamt of. And waking up next to Simone had been one of them. The tighter she clung to me, the more of her I felt. Her breasts pressed against my back. Her legs flexing against the outside of my thighs. Her warm center beckoning to the small of my back.
And damn it, when she fisted my leather jacket? I almost blew out of my skin.
