Page 49 of Riding Danger

I shook off the thoughts and gave each of them a glare. “What the fuck were you thinking.”

“Shi, you should’ve heard the way they were speaking to her.” Theo’s voice was tight but he never stood from the bench at the back of the cell.

“Us?” A voice came from the cell next to them. “She’s the one who stole from us.”

I took in the sight of everyone. All five men had different degrees of bruising, split lips and other assorted injuries. The Rippers did not bother me. And Theo had issues all of his own.

Instead, I focused first on Ryder, then on Jason. “You have a music video to shoot tomorrow and you have to be on screen on Friday.”

Jason was one of the professionals of Celebrity Dance off, and the first episode was due to start recording at the end of the week.

Both of them rolled their eyes.

“Makeup.” Jason replied.

“Of course, the pretty boy would use makeup.” Keith’s nose was off center. It was never straight, considering that this was not the first fight he had gotten himself into. But I had no doubt someone had broken his nose for a second time.

Jason glared to the side, even though he couldn’t see Keith. “Be glad the only thing that broke was your nose. Next time, I will put you in the hospital.”

Well, that answered that question. “I think you should all be glad that Maggie is not pressing charges. I can only imagine the damage the five of you caused.”

“I offered to pay her for the damages.” Ryder sounded like a sullen teenager.

“I knew better than to offer.” Theo sulked just as much.

He was right. Maggie wouldn’t accept his money. But he thought it went unnoticed how often he had business meetings at the Reverse Cowgirl. It wasn’t exactly conducive to a professional environment, but it was his way of helping. Still, Maggie suspected his business was dirty which was why she never accepted his money.

Speaking of the devil. The unmistakable clacking of her heels had me suppress a smile. She stormed through the doors, a rookie officer hot on her heels.

“Ma’am, you cannot be back here.”

I stepped up to Maggie. “It’s okay, Officer. I’ll escort her out.”

She glared at all five men. “All of you are banned from the bar.”

It was an empty threat, and we all knew it.

Theo was still sulking but he stood from his seat and strolled to the bars. “Until when?”

“Until I’m less angry with you.”

The Rippers were about to argue with her when the captain walked in. “Ms. Ripper, I told you not to come back here.” He unlocked the cell where Ryder, Theo and Jason were first. “You’re all lucky the lady decided not to press charges.”

One by one, all three men walked out and Ryder walked straight to me.

“Nah-ah.” I raised my hands to stop him. “I know what happens in these cells. No touching me until you’ve showered.”

He smirked as he lowered his mouth to my ear. “Or you could shower with me. I’m thinking I can get all sorts of creative with those cuffs.”

22

RYDER

We never did get a chance to use those cuffs. While we were in the shower, we got a call that Ethan wanted to come home. He’d had a bad dream and needed his mom. There wasn’t even any doubt in my mind where they would stay once we left Tess and Harry’s.

As soon as we were dry and dressed, we headed over to her parents’ place. Ethan sat at the dining table drinking hot cocoa with his grandmother fussing over him. She’d brought him out of the room since Maggie’s kids were still sleeping.

As soon as she saw him, Shiloh pulled him into her arms. “Hey baby, what happened?”

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