Page 54 of Heron's Flame

“You let it happen this way, or she dies.” His bold stare held my panicked gaze. “Don’t fucking test me on this.” His voice cracked. “Don’t do it, Heron. Let it fucking happen this way. It’s your choice that decides which path she takes.” He swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “Life or death.”

“I could kill you for this.”

His expression faltered. “I know. I saw it.”

What?

“Never mind that. Just listen to me. You’ll be okay, and so will Rebel. I swear it.”

“I don’t want to,” I admitted.

“I know, brother.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Sometimes pain yields surrender.”

Huh?

With a sigh, I finally agreed. “Alright.”

Carrion nodded, turned to the west, and walked toward the gate. One second, he was taking steps, the next, he disappeared. Right into the fucking mist and moonlight.

Jesus Christ.

I would never get used to this shit.

Chapter 17 Rebel

“Hey, Spark,” Heron greeted me as he entered the bar. “You ready for our date?”

“Yep.”

A lazy grin stretched his lips as he slipped his arms around me. “You wearing that dress? Because it looks like it’ll fly up in the air as soon as we hit the highway.”

I’d chosen a cute little sundress, a jean jacket, and brown ankle boots. The skirt flared enough to swing but wasn’t a problem for the bike. “It’ll be fine.”

He frowned, standing back to drag his gaze over me from head to toe. “Beautiful, Babe.”

“But?”

“Don’t want anyone to see that fine ass of yours.”

“Good thing I wore more than a thong.” I lifted the dress, showing off the white shorts I wore underneath.

He snickered. “Yeah, okay. Let’s get goin’, Spark.”

For the last two weeks, Heron took me on multiple dates. We rode his Harley all over Nevada from Tonopah to Las Vegas to Henderson. He visited Hoover Dam and made out on his bike. Took a gondola ride at The Venetian. We even went back to the aquarium.

He led me outside and tugged on his sunglasses. “It’s too fucking hot out. You gonna be okay in that jacket?”

“Sure. I don’t want my shoulders to burn, and this outfit is cute together.”

“So it’s style over comfort?”

“Something like that.”

“Hey, I don’t care what you wear as long as all that pretty skin is covered.”

No surprise there.

I pulled on the helmet he handed me as I stood beside his bike. “Where are we going first?”

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