Page 6 of Reaper

"Shit." Sandy's already moving, all business now."We need to move. Now."

She's right. Twenty armed Kings mean this isn't a random patrol.They're hunting, and we're exposed.

"Wake everyone." I hit my comm, broadcasting to our crew."Five minutes to wheels up. Timer, get Doc to sweep the lot.Sandy--"

"I'll coordinate with my crew." She's already headed inside, my shirt replaced by her leather cut.The transformation fromthe woman who just kissed me senseless to capable club officer is jarring.

Twenty minutes later, we're back on the road.Sandy rides point with me, her skills obvious as she helps guide our combined crews through back roads and desert tracks.The Kings' engines echo behind us, but her route keeps us just ahead of pursuit.

"You've done this before." I pull beside her at a stop sign, voice carrying through our helmet comms."This isn't standard treasurer training."

She doesn't answer immediately, focused on scanning the road ahead.When she does speak, her voice carries an edge I can't quite read.

"People change, Reaper. You're not the only one who grew up."

"Into what?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

Her visor turns toward me, reflecting starlight."Into someone who knows the cost of survival."

Before I can dig deeper, Timer's voice crackles through the comms."Kings breaking off. Looks like they're headed back to their compound."

Relief floods my system, followed quickly by suspicion.The Kings don't give up easy.Something about this doesn't add up.

"Keep formation." I signal the crew to maintain speed."We're not clear yet."

Sandy falls back slightly, phone pressed to her ear.Even through the helmet, I can see tension in her shoulders.Whatever she hears makes her whole body go rigid.

"Problem?" I ask when she pulls even with me again.

"Nothing I can't handle." But her voice lacks conviction."We should make Albuquerque by dawn.Fresh start tomorrow."

She's hiding something. The realization sits heavy in my gut, warring with the memory of her lips on mine.It was stupidbefore to let her walk away without pushing for answers.Not this time.

"Sandy." I keep my voice low."Whatever's going on, whatever you're mixed up in... I can help."

She laughs, but there's no humor in it."No, Reaper. You really can't."

"Try me."

"You want to help?" Her voice hardens."Then trust me when I say we need to change course.Take the northern route through Colorado."

"That adds two days to the trip."

"Better than not making it at all."

The conviction in her voice sends chills down my spine.She knows something--something big enough to risk exposing whatever game she's playing.

"Alright." The word tastes like surrender."Your route. But this conversation isn't over."

"It never is with you." Her tone softens slightly."That's what I loved most about you.What still scares me about you."

Before I can respond, she guns her engine, pulling ahead to lead us onto a different highway.I follow because that's the only thing I can do for now.Follow her lead while trying to ignore how easily she still owns pieces of my soul.

I will be getting answers before she walks away again though, willingly ornot.It's time to demand answers about why she really left, why she's reallyhere.

Time to find out if that kiss meant as much to her as it did tome.

First, though, we need to survive whatever storm she seescoming.Because Sandy Mitchell never runs withoutreason.

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