Page 58 of Vengeful Mates
Pure genius.
Dash let out a relieved breath from his large mouth. Many bikers were homophobic when it came to other men, but I didn’t share that, and could appreciate the new president’s good looks.
He knew it too. Cocky, young, the world at his feet. Waltzed around like he slept with everything that walked. Steele mentioned something about Dash’s mate, and that eliminated my judgment.
Slade’s bond rumbled with delight at the plans falling into place. Everything went according to plan. All that remained were two final calls. Reports to the emergency hotline to inform of a bomb at the grocery store and a gang fight in the main street of Lithgow. Enough to keep the cops busy and off our tails.
Dash clutched his phone and went on with the plan. “We store the delivery truck at my dad’s crushing yard, switch the license plates back, listen to the cops’ radio channels for reports, and reassess from there.”
Slade barked out a laugh and slapped Dash’s shoulder. “You’ve got a handle on this.” He tugged out his rolling paper and tobacco to have a celebratory smoke before we departed in thirty.
Stiffness in my neck backed off now that our plans came together.
Slade exhaled his smoke. “Alaric and I will accompany you, me as a rear rider, Alaric as scout up in the air.”
Safe to share this since we were amidst a bunch of shifters. A relief after years of hiding it from our brothers.
“Got it.” Even Dash’s voice came out tense.
Fuck. I remember my nerves for my first Pharaoh run. Pressure to get it right. Protect my brothers and the shipment. Get us back without arrests. A lot riding on my shoulders. Every run got easier as my confidence and skill grew. Hopefully, Dash and his men pulled through for us and took that task off our hands. Eliminated risk for Slade, Castor, Zethan, and me. Let us enjoy our family in peace and quiet for once without fucking cops, rival clubs, or sabotaging avatars.
Aaliyah’s bond undulated as another wave struck, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, then broke away from mine and Slade’s grasp, hurrying out of the room. My president glanced at me, then jerked his head, signaling for me to go with her. Protect her from men we didn’t wholeheartedly trust around our woman or with our lives yet.
Fire coursed up my throat while I waited for her outside of the toilet. My shifter instincts hit at her retches and vomiting.Nest, protect, and comfort my mate.
Worried, I thumped a fist on the door. “Angel? You want me to come in and hold your hair. Get you a wet cloth?”
“Yes, to the cloth,” came her weak reply.
Fuck. Too much work. Early mornings and late nights. She ran her immune system into the ground and came down with a stomach bug or something. Maybe it swept through Mia’s school. Colds and stomach bugs always hounded my nephew’s elementary school. Although, her shifter and healing abilities ought to take care of that. This felt like something else.
Another thought niggled at the base of my skull. I didn’t give it space to grow. Didn’t want to get my hopes up with what happened to Liz and Castor.
Somewhat familiar with the clubhouse after spending the past few weeks down here—on and off—I hunted and made the best with what I could find. Damp tissues and a glass of water. Clubhouses rarely stocked for women and their needs. During her time as Jackal’s medic, Aaliyah kept women’s supplies on hand for those very moments.
Back at the bathroom, she unlocked the door, letting me in. I did everything to soothe my mate’s pain as she vomited one more time and groaned. Moments later, she flushed the toilet, turning to me, paler and weak. Sweat moistened the hair on her forehead. Her nausea stole the vibrancy from her aqua eyes.
My hawk shrieked with distress as I dabbed sweat from her forehead.
She smiled and clasped my hand. “That feels so good.”
“Is there a bug going around Mia’s school?” I wasn’t up to date on what happened since I stayed down here the last five nights and kept in contact via phone briefly.
Aaliyah rubbed at her stomach as if it were queasy. “Not that I know of.”
“Did you eat something bad?” I guided her out to sit in the main room, letting her drape herself over me, rubbing the back of her head, neck, and back.
“I don’t think so,” she murmured into my neck. “You better go back to the meeting. I’ll wait here and see you off.”
My mate didn’t know me well enough if she thought I’d do that. She tempted me to break rank and rules for her. When I took her into my office to be alone with her after I had a PTSD episode and strangled her. Again, when I took her out of the shelter for a ride to Mount Panorama. Things I’d do again and again for her. Wear those lacy pink panties over my jeans with pride and rock Slade’s punishment.
I placed my palm on her forehead to test her temperature. “I’m not leaving you when you’re sick.”
She waved me away. “I’m fine. Really. I’ll ride home and take a nap.”
I fished her keys out of her pocket and crunched them in my fist. “Like hell you are, angel.” I leaned back and slipped my phone out of my cut pocket. “I’ll call Castor or Zethan to pick you up.”
We had thirty minutes before we needed to leave. Spaced out reports to be made to emergency services to provide diversions for us to sneak away down the back roads, away from the cops and witnesses.
