Page 55 of Ride with Zane

“I'm over the moon for this news.” He pulls me in a hug again, and kisses the top of my head. “Call him. I guess he's freaking out already.”

I nod while butterflies explode in my heart. “Most definitely.”

Zane

There's nothing in the world that pisses me off more than knowing The Vipers are in Newtok. I can sense in the air something is about to change and I don't like it at all. Even though The Black Panthers are patrolling 24h and they haven’t noticed anything at all I feel like someone is watching me and I don’t fucking like it.

I drive to a warehouse zone. I don't think it's wise, being alone puts a target on my back, but since I'm near that area, I can’t stop myself. When the phone rings I pick up:

“Hey Princess.”

“Hi, Rock, can you come over?” Her voice sounds a bit off.

“Sure, is everything okay?”

“I… I told dad about us.” Is she sobbing? Fuck!

“I'm on my way, baby.” I cut off a car. The traffic is insane and after forty minutes I get to Harrison’s house.

Ashley comes to hug me, and I kiss her forehead.

“Are you okay, Princess?”

She nods. “Yeah, I missed you, boo.”

“Rock,” Harrison greets me.

“Sir,” I extend my hand and he shakes it.

“I'm going to grab my cell phone,” says Ashley, leaving us alone.

I can feel Harrison’s eyes on me.

“Break her heart and you'll regret being born, Rock.” His stern voice can’t be missed.

“She's everything that's worth living for,” I confess, not taking my eyes off him. He's trying to intimidate me but it's not going to happen. I fear no one and definitely not him. It took me ages to step out of my grieving and guilt for not being able to protect Caroline. But with Ashley, everything switched right away.

“Will you respect her?”

“For the rest of my life, Sir.”

“Good to know, Rock.” He pats on my shoulder. “How's everything?”

I sigh, peering around to make sure she’s not nearby. “We need to talk.”

“That bad?” he asks and I nod, seeing Ashley playing with a dog.

“Same place tomorrow morning?”

“Sure,” I agree as Ashley comes back to us.

“Hey, what are you two talking about?”

“Weather,” we say in unison.

“That means men talk, okay, I get it.” She clings to my arm. “Come in, lunch is almost ready.”

“You sure? I thought you wanted me to pick you up.”

---