Page 21 of Riding Through Life

“Fine.” Knight releases a deep sigh. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this.”

I get in on the passenger side of his maroon Dodge Charger and Knight slides into the driver’s side. He fires it up and the engine barks before settling into a steady purr. He pulls out of his parking spot and the gates slide open, allowing us through. Once we hit the gravel road, Knight guns the gas, shooting us onto the road.

“Where are we going?” Knight asks, shifting gears.

“Keep driving and I’ll tell you where to turn.” If I tell him now, he will turn this bitch around and that’s the last thing I want to do.

We head south on the PCH and I tell him to exit. Giving him a few directions, we pull into Nadia’s dance studio. It’s locked up tight, but I lifted the key from Nadia before I left and I know the passcode.

Knight parks the car and looks at me with a quirked eyebrow. “What are we doing here?”

I climb out, “Stay out here I’ll only be a minute.” I slam the door on a curse flowing from Knight's lips and jog to the door. Once I reach the door, I enter the passcode and unlock the front door. Walking inside, silence greets me, putting me on edge. I make sure to lock the door behind me so Knight can’t get in.

I step quietly into the plush carpet and head down the hallway toward the dance floor. Once that is clear, I check every room that branches off until I’m satisfied no one is here with me. Then I make my way back down the hallway toward the locker rooms. Since Lynn doesn’t have an office and only a locker, I head into the locker room. I don’t know which one is hers, but from what Aftermath told me, she should be near the door. At least I hope her locker is.

I check the room to make sure no one is in here and then I begin looking through each locker. For the ones that are locked, I pick the lock and rummage through. I have to be quick but thorough because if Red is alerted someone is here, it’ll be a matter of moments before he tells Aftermath and Aftermath comes to get me.

Searching each locker in here in every row, I come up empty handed. Well, shit. Maybe Nadia fired her and she took all her shit. If that’s the case, I’ll never find her. I slam the last locker shut and lean against it. This was a wasteful trip.

“Shit.” I hit my palm on the locker door and it echoes through the open room. I exit and head to the front door. Standing in front of the door in all his menacing glory is the man who makes my heart skip a beat and desire to thrum through my body. I shiver when his dark gaze lands on me.

“Shit,” I whisper under my breath. Aftermath must have known what I said because he smirks and crooks his finger. I unlock the door and lock it up behind me, playing it casually. “What’s up, Aftermath?” I ask, leaning against the door. Even though my heart is pounding against my rib cage, I appear relaxed on the outside, like this is an everyday occurrence.

“What’s up?” Aftermath’s deep voice grows deeper and more menacing with every word he takes. “What’s up? How about I get an alert on my phone that your ass left the property but that couldn’t be true. You promised you’d stay put and not go anywhere alone.”

“I’m not alone,” I straighten my spine. “I have Knight with me.”

Aftermath’s deadly smirk raises the hair on my arm. “Oh, he’ll be dealt with.” Aftermath steps closer, caging my body against the door. His nose trails down the side of my face to the column of my neck. His hot breath whispers across my skin, making me lose my train of thought. “Get your sexy ass on the back of my bike, Tiger. You have a punishment coming your way.” His tongue snakes out, as his plump lips suck on the spot that drives me wild.

“Wait,” I say holding up my hands. Aftermath steps back but not enough to let me think straight, just enough where I can look into his dark gaze. “It’s not Knight’s fault. I refused to tell him where I wanted to go.”

“Tiger, Knight knew the moment he took off with you, he’d be in trouble, no matter what you think you told him to do.” Aftermath’s hot breath fans across my neck making me shiver. “Since he had Trigger’s permission, I’ll go easy on him, but he isn’t getting away with leaving with you.”

Aftermath kisses his way from my neck up to my lips. Once his lips land on mine, I don’t hold back. I kiss him with everything I have. When we break apart, I’m crazy with desire and can’t control my filter. “I’m sorry, Aftermath. I wanted…”

Aftermath kisses me again, halting my rambling. He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine. “I know what you wanted to do, Tiger, but you can’t always ride off to save the day. Trust me when I say this bitch will get what’s coming to her. We’ve got it handled.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What if something happened to you? What if that chick was in there and you locked your only form of protection out? What if she killed you while you were playing detective? Then I’d be either sitting in prison or a grave right next to you.” Aftermath cups my cheeks. “You are more important than that bitch. Your life means so much more than hers. Please, for the love of God and all that is holy, stop getting yourself into these situations. One of these days, I’m afraid I won’t make it to you in time.”

“Shit, I didn’t think of it that way. Now I really feel like shit.” I’d slap my forehead if Aftermath wasn’t crowding my space.

“I wasn’t telling you this to make you stop being who you are, Kensi. I’m telling you this so you are aware of what could happen. I don’t want you to change, just be more cautious of the decisions you make. You’re the only woman who flips my world upside down and can bring me peace.”

“You say the sweetest things.” I lean in and press my lips to Aftermath’s. “I’ll try to be better at my decisions.”

“That’s all I ask. I don’t have any helmets so we’re riding illegally for a while.” Aftermath picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist, his hardness pressing into my core and I moan. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.”

“Nah, I’ll be your saving grace,” I respond.

Aftermath sets me on his bike and then climbs on in front of me. He fires his girl up and the rumble is soothing. “Hang tight and don’t let go.”

I rest my head on Aftermath’s back and tightly wrap my arms around his waist. “I’ll never let you go again,” I vow.

Chapter

Sixteen

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