Page 5 of May 11

Rush had thought the same. He believed it was safe to run across the lot to where he parked his Harley, but someone had snuck up on him and tried to kill him.

Luckily, Rush would live.

Wire parked in front of the van and motioned for Dio to stop behind the vehicle. She wouldn't get away from him before they talked. Jagger wanted answers.

Once both bikes were off, he stood and swung his leg over the seat. Watching the windows, he saw no movement from inside. Unlike before, she never peeked through the blinds.

He knocked on the door. "I don't mean you no harm."

Dio snorted behind him. He shrugged. What else was he supposed to say?

"I was here an hour ago to pick up my brother. My name's Wire." He paused. "I asked you to call me."

The slats on the blinds in front of him separated, and the window slid open. "Please, go away."

"I can't do that." He rocked back on the heels of his boots. "Someone tried to kill a member of our club. I want to find out who is responsible."

"I already told you. I don't know. I could barely see. It's dark." She exhaled loud enough to make it past the screen of the window. "Could you move your motorcycle?"

"Not yet."

"Please. I want to leave. I have everything ready now, and want to go somewhere else. I don't feel safe here."

Dio stepped forward. "There are no campgrounds open this time of night, except the turnout on the highway."

"I've seen that one. I don't want to park next to the highway."

"Smart." Dio scratched his head. "You could always follow us and park behind our clubhouse. It's in town, and there are people around—"

"Sorry, but didn't someone try and kill one of you tonight? Why would you think your club is safe? You're totally sus."

"Sus?"

"Suspicious." Dio chuckled. "You're cheugy, bro."

"Huh?"

"Cheugy—uncool." Dio smacked him. "You're showing your age, man. Don't you pay attention to how the prospects talk around the clubhouse?"

"I try not to," he mumbled.

Wire turned his back on the van and cocked his brow at Dio. No matter what kind of slang she used, the woman had a point. There was danger around them, but she would be safe at the clubhouse.

"The police station is a block away from our clubhouse." Dio hooked his thumbs in his vest pockets. "The city pool is next door. Our club runs a motorcycle parts shop in the same building as the clubhouse. It's a legit business. Anyone is welcome. In the morning, you can walk down the sidewalk and grab a coffee and muffin at Whale's Tail, the local coffee shop." Dio looked around the empty lot. "It's better than staying in a parking lot next to the highway."

Several seconds ticked by without the woman saying anything. Wire wanted to tell her to wise up and think about the situation, but if she wasn't arguing, she was thinking.

Thinking could get her in trouble.

Fuck it. He'd go in the opposite direction of convincing her to go with them. He'd scare her into staying. That would allow him more time to find out who came after Rush.

"Listen, lady. It's the middle of the night. I imagine you're tired. I know I am. We don't feel right about leaving you here with no one around in case you need help. If you don't want to take us up on our offer to follow us back to the clubhouse, I'd suggest you hit the highway and get out of Seaglass Cove." He glanced at Dio and then lied. "Though, traveling at night brings its share of danger. What with that string of break-ins along the one-o-one."

"It's probably not that dangerous, man." Dio scrapped the toe of his boot against the ground. "Whoever is doing the break-ins only hits high-end vehicles. That old couple with the Beamer. The woman with the Jaguar..."

Wire kept from shaking his head at Dio's overdramatic role in the story. He was going to blow it.

"If I go to your clubhouse, will anyone bother me?" She pressed her face against the screen. "I don't want to talk about what happened tonight. I want to forget about it. You said your friend was going to be okay, right?"

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