Page 50 of Riordan's Revenge

“I haven’t come off a bike since I was learning to ride at sixteen. The greater risk is once we head south and hit up the motorway and then the cities. If we’re seen, I’ll be pulled over, and as we’re both armed, that’s a shitshow in the making.”

“Wait, if ye don’t mind a stop on the way, I’ll get us another.”

“Whatever works. It’ll beat getting stopped by the cops.” I reached for her bag, stuffing it into my half-empty one.

Cassie shrugged it on then tapped out something on her phone. “Hey, fiancé, I’m going to need your phone number so I can give ye the addresses we’re heading to.”

I pursed my lips but recited the digits. Cassie saved it then drop-called me so I had hers. Then she held up a pausing finger. Turning, she backed up against my chest and activated her camera, taking a shot.

“What? I need one for your profile. There. Now I’ve sent it to ye as well. Our first engaged couple’s shot.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

A door opened somewhere in the mansion, and a shout followed. “Cassie?”

Her smile fell. “Mind if we just leave? I’m seriously not in the mood.”

“Fuck, okay. Step over the bike to get on.”

Cassie peeked at it. “I’m too short. I’ll never get my leg over.”

“Then climb on me, little backpack.” I crouched and tapped my shoulder.

Her eyes danced. “Too cute, Rio.”

I barely had time to process the nickname when she clung to my back, wrapping her arms and legs around me, her weight so slight as I climbed on the Ducati. Cassie dropped into her seat. I reached back to set her boots on the pegs.

Then I snapped her visor closed and revved the engine.

At last, it was time to leave.

We circled the mansion and spat gravel, not looking back. Cassie whooped, letting go of me to make a hand gesture I couldn’t see. Yeah, fuck her brother.

A few miles down the road, I stopped to extract my phone and set up navigation. The first address Cassie had sent me was only a thirty-minute drive away, but I had the unfortunate bad habit of seeing arrival estimates as a challenge.

We zipped through dark countryside, the roads completely empty and perfect for biking. We had a full moon, my bright headlight, and elation guiding us. Wind rushed me, cooling my blood but doing nothing for my building energy. Particularly at the feel of Cassie so close. Her tight arms. Her hands. Her thighs.

After what felt like no time at all, the route took us past a loch and through a pair of tall stone gateposts, the road continuing over a bridge and to a castle. We hooked right, circling the ancient building. Cassie directed me to a set of steps that scaled the outside of the castle wall.

I killed the engine. “Who the hell lives here?”

Scotland was littered with castles, but I’d never met anyone who owned one.

A man jogged down the stairs, a black helmet in his hands.

“Him,” Cassie said helpfully.

A second on, and I recognised the red-headed thirty-something as one of the people who’d flown into protect Cassie. A mountain rescue man, as I recalled.

“Hey, Max, sorry for the midnight request,” she chirped.

“Nae bother. I worked late tonight anyway. Good to hear it’s all over.” He lifted the helmet. “Did my best regarding cute. Luckily Lia had the same idea once. We had it stashed in the flat.”

Cassie removed my helmet and accepted the new one, gleeful at the decoration. It had two black cat ears. I flicked them to make sure they were road safe. Fixed ones would break her neckif she came off and they caught the road. These were flimsy, though. Not dangerous. I slid it onto her, getting a buzz at her blue-eyed gaze holding mine for a beat.

She was too fucking adorable.

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