Page 24 of The Vipers' Vow

“Don’t do anything crazy,” I warn Saint as I gather my things.

A look crosses his face, and it chills my blood. It’s a look that doesn’t reassure me on the crazy front at all.

Just what the hell is he up to?

9

ZANE

Iarrived out front early, waited twenty minutes, until the time we’re supposed to meet arrives and passes. It’s now ten minutes beyond that. Where the fuck is she?

I stare out at the land surrounding the college, toward the boundary and beyond, as I shift my weight from one foot to the other. For a while, I zone out, thinking about all the ways this could go very wrong. The sounds of students in the halls of the building behind me, and the birds in the trees in front of me, soothe me, and I could almost fall asleep. Almost. But my adrenaline is too high for that.

Glancing down at my phone, I notice the time. She’s categorically late now, so I press my contacts, about to ring Vani.

“You ready?”

I turn at Vani’s sweet voice and nod in relief. We need to get going, and I’m about to ask what held her up, when I get totally sidetracked by how she appears. She’s dressed in her biker leathers and looks hot as fuck.

The crunch of feet on gravel signals Saint’s arrival. He’s right behind her and looks flushed.

“You guys ready to leave?” he asks.

Vani steps from foot to foot and adjusts the back of her leathers as if they’re bothering her. Saint huffs out a soft laugh.What the hell?

A strange look passes between them, but then Vani focuses on me, distracting me from their odd moment. “We need to get going. Sorry I was late. I got stressed about it all in my room and needed a moment.”

I nod in understanding and turn to the parking lot with a jerk of my head.

I hold up my car keys, but Vani shakes her head.

“We have to take my bike.”

Why?I sign to her.

“Because my dad’s MC won’t take us seriously if we turn up in a fucking car, no matter how nice that car might be.”

“Is the bike even in a good enough state to ride?” Saint asks. “It’s a long journey.”

She shrugs. “It’s a little battered, but it still runs perfectly.”

I eye up the machine. I’ve been on a bike a few times in my life, but I’m not a brilliant rider.

“What’s the weather forecast?” Saint asks. His brow is furrowed. He glances up at the sky. “Is your bike safe if it rains?”

Vani goes to Saint, stands on tiptoes, and throws her arms around him. “I’ll be safe,” she says. “We’llbe safe.”

He hesitates for a moment, and then he seems to fold into her, as though he’s finally letting go of everything. All his defenses. All his pretenses. All his barriers. He buries his face into the side of her neck, and his arms wrap around her. I know he’ll be breathing her in, imprinting her to memory for when he misses her the most. I’m a little envious of their closeness for a moment, but then I remember I get her to myself for however long this takes.

I’m owed as much, because Saint, the fucker, has been sneaking into her damn room alone, when she’s sleeping. I’ve still not unpacked how I feel about it, but now isn’t the time to bring it up. Right now, we need to focus on getting Lex back, but I can’t help but look forward to this bit of time with her to myself.

Well, not quite to myself. I’ll also have her father and the rest of his motorcycle club to deal with.

I’m trying not to think about that for the moment.

Vani peels herself away from Saint, gives him a lingering kiss goodbye, then goes to her bike. She swings her leg over the seat and takes hold of the handlebars. Then she jerks her head in my direction.

“You ready to ride, big guy?”

---