Page 4 of Venus

I followed her to where we’d left our bikes. She climbed on hers, tossing her hair over her shoulder before reaching down to turn the key. I had to admire her. She rode that pink monstrosity like a boss. I was surprised she hadn’t already taken off, but she kept fiddling with her bike.

“Everything good?”

“No. Everything is not good.” Her response was muttered, and she didn’t start her bike.

“All right.” I tossed a leg over my own bike in a slow, deliberate movement. “What can I do to help?”

She didn’t look at me and for long moments I thought she wasn’t going to answer me. Then she started her bike, revving it a couple times before putting it in gear. Then she met my gaze with that eerie pink stare. “I think it best you go back to Grim Road.”

“I go where you go, Venus. Pretty sure I made that clear.”

Then, her control snapped. I knew she had a fiery temper under there. I’d met her sister Millie once and she’d said as much, but I hadn’t seen it. Until now.

“Why won’t you just go away?” she yelled at me. The outburst of emotion was so unlike Venus, it gave me pause. I knew I was pushing her, but maybe it was time I backed off. “Go away and leave me alone!” Were her eyes glistening? Tears? Surely not. I was seeing things. Or the fumes from the bikes were irritating her eyes.

“Venus, talk to me.” I yelled to be heard over her bike, but she just revved the engine a couple of times and took off like a bat outta hell. “Fuck.”

With a sigh I took off after her. Like hell I was going back to Grim Road. With that pink Harley of hers and the way she liked to push the speed limit, shew was sure to hit a speed trap. There was no way she’d make it through North Carolina, where we’d tracked Victor Zaitsev. It wasn’t like she was heading out of the woodlands. She took off in the direction I thought Zaitsev had run with whoever she’d suspected helped him out. If they were on foot, we’d catch them, but I didn’t think they were. I’d heard a small engine start earlier when Venus had left her prey to check on me.

Speaking of which, my arm was starting to burn. Blood dripped steadily from my deltoid down to my elbow. I did my best to ignore it, needing to keep focused on Venus. The woman wanted to shake me too badly for me to let her go. Besides, I thought she protested too much.

I followed her through the woods. It wasn’t long before she picked up the trail we’d been looking for. Unfortunately, there was no way to take our heavy bikes through the trail Zaitsev and his companion had taken.

“Blyt!” Venus had stopped her bike and turned it off. She sat there, staring longingly into the woods.

“We’ll get him, Venus.”

“I should already have him! Why are you even here? Why have you latched on to me like baby monkey?” There was a wild look in her eyes. This… didn’t compute. I knew this was a critical moment. I just wasn’t sure why.

I took my time fiddling with my bike, trying to figure out how best to form the answer to that question. “You interest me.”

“Interest you?” She gave me an incredulous look. Which was odd in itself. Venus rarely gave anything away. But with me, she was becoming less and less guarded. “What does that even mean? ‘Interest you’,” she scoffed.

“You’re a unique woman, Venus. A uniqueperson.” It was true in the strictest sense of the word, but it was a tepid description of my reasons for sticking close to her. “I like being around you.” Yeah. Lame. She wasn’t ready to push my claim on her yet, at least not in a personal sense. Everyone in Grim Road knew she was mine. That information had trickled out to her own club. Iron Tzars was very aware I’d put a claim on Venus as well. Because Sting, the president of Iron Tzars MC, had been my official military contact on my last mission for the CIA.

“You don’t claim woman you simply find interesting, Piston.” She had me there.

“What do you want me to say, Venus? That I want you?” I met her gaze without flinching, even when she looked like she was ready to kill me to death. “I do. More than I’ve ever wanted any woman in my life.”

She snorted out a scoffing breath but didn’t say anything more. She started her bike and backtracked out of the woods to the road. Then the highway. Finally, she made her way to the interstate. I followed, letting her take the lead, but putting myself on the inside of the lane she drove in with Venus slightly in front of me. I was sure I was in her periphery, but not so close I irritated her.

We drove for hours, only stopping for gas when we were running on fumes. My shoulder burned and ached where the bullet had kissed my arm, but I wasn’t about to let Venus see that as a weakness. So, I simply ignored it. I’d clean and dress it properly later.

True to her word, Venus headed straight to Iron Tzars. She probably thought Sting would put me out on my ear, assuming he didn’t just shoot me and be done with it. Unfortunately for her, Sting and I had been tight after the mission where we’d met. We’d only worked together that one time, but the man had earned my respect. I thought I had earned his too. I supposed we were getting ready to find out. Another eight hours of hard riding would tell the tale.

Assuming Venus didn’t say to hell with it and eviscerate me by the side of the interstate. I had to grin. That scenario was more likely than me making it to Evansville on her six. Then again, I thought she might be growing to at least tolerate me. After all, I was still breathing. Right?

Chapter Three

Venus

“What do you mean you’re not kicking him out?” Even though I tried to keep my voice neutral, I knew I sounded on edge of losing my mind. I never thought Piston would make it past front gate at Iron Tzars compound. Not only had he followed me straight to main clubhouse, but Sting had welcomed him like long lost relative. Male bonding moment of huge slaps on back made me want to puke. I tried to keep my mask of indifference. I really did.

“Piston’s a good guy, Venus. He’s always gonna be welcomed in my club.” Sting still had grin on his face. Either he was oblivious to tension between me and Piston or he didn’t care. He’d called Eagle, medic in Iron Tzars, and other man had cleaned and dressed Piston’s wound. Eagle said Piston had let it go too long to put in stitches, but one more scar wasn’t going to matter much. Again, they’d slapped each other on back and this time I had to stifle urge to gag.

Breath in. Breath out. Don’t go on killing spree.

“Piston!” Older teenager called out just as younger girl ran at full speed straight to Piston and jumped, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms and legs around him.

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