Page 14 of Rear View
I called bullshit. Her hand was locked over her stomach as she rolled to her side, facing me. Several strands of her hair fell over her face, and I extended a calloused finger, brushing them back. Her long lashes skimmed her pink cheeks when she blinked up at me again.
Alec pulled away as other cars slowed, drivers rubber-neckin’ when they passed. People hovered around, watching.
I didn’t know shit about first aid, but I’d had my fair share of crashes, so I knew enough about injuries. Checking her pupils, I asked, “You hit your head?”
“Yeah. I don’t think it was bad, though.” She tried to sit up, then sucked in a hiss and flinched.
I gripped her shoulder, holding her steady. “Easy, now,” I told her and brushed another strand of hair away. “What’s your name, darlin’?”
Her gaze flicked over my face, and she bit that full lip. “Ryah.”
Pretty name. Different too. Suited her. “Know where you are, Ryah?”
“Yes.”
I waited for her to elaborate, and when nothing came, the corner of my mouth arced up. “Care to share with the class?”
“On campus.” Those copper eyes took in everything around her before they came back to me. “On the ground.” Her arm tightened over her stomach, and she winced. “Is that idiot okay?”
I huffed a low laugh. “He’ll live.” Stare flicking up, my brow furrowed when I scanned the area for the fucker who’d done it.
He shook himself off a few steps away as he climbed to his feet, head darting around. He spotted Ryah on the ground, then my rage-filled glare. I was a big guy. Six-four, broad shouldered, larger than usual for a rally driver—or any driver aiming to go pro. Intimidating by any standard. He must’ve thought the same, ’cause his eyes flicked to his bike.
“Don’t do it, son,” I said through my teeth.
“Hey, asshole,” Alec said, closing in from the lot to our left. “You can’t leave.”
Ryah followed my line of sight.
The guy bolted.
Nah. Not gonna fly, dickhead.
I exploded to my feet and ran. He was halfway through throwing his leg over that bike when I dived and tackled him from the side. He grunted as I knocked him free and slammed him to the ground.
“Get off me, dude!” he said as his elbow sliced my way, swinging for my head.
I blocked the hit, and pinned him with a knee before I threw a fist straight at his face. He grunted again and I latched on to his collar, then lifted and shoved him back down. “You’re gonna stick around, yeah?”
He swallowed hard, stare shifting to Alec where he loomed at my side. “Yeah.”
“Watch this piece of shit,” I told Alec.
Folding his arms over his chest, he gave a sharp nod. “On it!”
Rolling my shoulders, I rose and headed back for Ryah.
Another girl moved in, hands over her mouth as she scurried closer. “Oh my God, Ry.” The girl gripped her knees as she hovered over her. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Ryah said, shivering against the ice-covered cement.
“You don’t look it.” The girl frowned. “What’s my name?”
My dream girl pursed that full mouth. “I know your name, Zoya.”
Campus security rolled up.
Alec jerked the cyclist to his feet, then dragged him toward the officer. He eyed the guy’s name tag. “He’s your problem, Stan,” he said, then gave him a rundown of what’d happened before he passed him over.
