Page 71 of Owned

He smelled like grease.

I didn’t open my eyes.

“Stop rushing,” he continued in a low voice. “You have time.”

“No. I don’t.”

He hesitated like he was about to argue, but then he grabbed hold of my jacket lapels and dragged me upright. I smacked his hands away and glared at him as I tried to get my balance.

Thick clouds filled the sky, and the air was heavy with rain. The bike looked like a stunned insect lying on its side in the grass. I didn’t want to get back on. I was furious with myself—and with him.

Valen opened his mouth to say something—but then the rumble of another motorcycle tore through the air.

Bastian.

The low black bike roared through the main gate and he didn’t seem to slow down at all as he turned his bike toward us.

Fear laced through me as Valen stepped in front of me.

“Hey—”

Bastian put on the brakes at the last possible moment and he turned the bike hard to come to a stop in front of us, showering Valen’s legs in a spray of gravel.

Valen didn’t flinch.

Bastian didn’t remove his helmet, but I was sure I could feel his eyes on me. “We need to go,” he said. The helmet muffled hisvoice, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable. “Lucian’s expecting us.”

Valen didn’t move. “I’m in the middle of something.”

“Didn’t look like you were making much progress,” Bastian replied as he swung one long leg over the bike and kicked out the stand.

“I’ve got it under control.” Valen’s tone was clipped.

“Doesn’t look like it,” Bastian said, taking a step toward us. He reached up and pulled off his helmet, shaking out his blond hair. His smile was wicked as he looked at me. “Need some help?”

“I’ll manage,” I snapped. I turned on my heel and marched over to the fallen bike. My hands trembled as I gripped the handles and hauled it upright again.

Bastian let out a low whistle. “She’s got more guts than I thought.”

Anger sliced through me, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d wounded me even a little.

I turned the bike around and walked it back toward them.

Bastian dismissed me with a wave of his hand, his focus solely on Valen, who didn’t move.

The air throbbed with tension until Bastian shook his head and turned back to his bike. He kept talking as he swung himself back on and turned the key. “If you’re not coming with me, you can explain why to Lucian yourself.”

Valen looked over his shoulder at me and strode toward me. He grabbed the handlebars, pushed me aside, and swung his leg over the bike.

“Hey!”

He said nothing.

I stood there, feeling foolish and raw, as they sped off down the gravel path, leaving a trail of dust in their wake.

Pain crept into my muscles and my hands stung as I tried to figure out what the fuck had just happened.

More mysterious errands.

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