Page 41 of Wicked Oath

“Yeah. I’m okay,” he says. “I tried to get us away from them without throwing us off the mountain. I didn’t really have a choice but to lay us down. If they had hit us, they would have run us into the guardrail.”

“You reacted quicker than I would have,” I say. “I’m sore.”

“Where?” Viper asks.

“Is she okay?” Torch asks.

“Seems to be. I got us into the grass pretty fast,” Talon says.

“I don’t hurt,” I say. “I’m just sore from being thrown off a bike at sixty miles an hour. Can I get up?”

“Yeah,” Talon says as he stands up. He and Viper help stand me up and everyone is here now. “Why is everyone here?”

“What do you remember?” Talon asks me, raising an eyebrow.

“We went down, and you grabbed me. I think I went into shock because I just remember laying here thinking I was dead.”

“They shot at us, love,” Talon says, cupping my face. They started coming over and I saw the gun in the window right as Ilaid us down. When I grabbed you, I was trying to keep you from getting shot. They sped off then the others arrived.”

“They stopped?” I ask.

“Yeah, for about five seconds until they heard all of the bikes coming at them,” he tells me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks me, and I nod. “I am so sorry, Delaney. I…”

“It’s not your fault, Talon,” I say. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”

“I did my best,” he says with a sigh as he wraps me in a tight hug.

“Are you sure you are okay?” I ask quietly.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” he says softly. “That just scared the hell out of me. When you wouldn’t respond… I thought I was losing you.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” I say sweetly, kissing him softly. “How bad is the bike?”

“Uh… It’s bad,” he says. “It flipped and hit the guardrail, so it’s far past being able to be repaired.”

“Oh shit. I’m sorry, honey. That sucks,” I say.

“I’d rather have you than the bike,” he says.

“You can hit me later,” Viper says as he steals me away from Talon to wrap me in a tight hug. He is trembling, despite hiscalm voice. He is holding me tightly and I look up to give Talon a concerned look as I wrap my arms around Viper.

“Hey, Jude, I’m okay,” I say. “You hear me?”

“You scared the shit out of us, Delaney,” Viper mutters into my neck.

“I’m right here, Jude,” I say softly. “I’m like a cat. I have a few lives left.”

“At least seven,” Torch chuckles.

“Not funny,” Knox says with a frown.

“He’s not swinging on anyone. Lemme hug her,” Rogue says as he pulls me to him so he can hug me next.

“What is this, pass Laney around like a joint?” I ask, making Talon laugh. “Guys, I’m okay.”

“I know that,” Rogue says, squeezing me. “I know you’ll live to brat another day.”

“You’re just bitter that you can’t do anything about it,” I laugh and turn to let Torch hug me. Knox hugs me next before I move back to stand with Talon. “I don’t know if y’all know this, guys, but Talon isn’t going to murder you for hugging me.”

---