Page 18 of Feral Heart
“When was the confrontation?”
“Just now. Few minutes ago.” Chopper shifted his weight, already calculating his exit strategy. Bad news delivered. Mission accomplished. Time to make himself scarce before Matias decided to shoot the messenger.
“Take Lucio and Raphael.” Matias’s command stopped him mid-step. “Check the alley. Look for anything they might have left behind. Scents, cigarette butts. Anything.”
Fuck. So much for that quick exit. “Sure thing, jefe.”
Matias was already turning away.
“Cesar owes me big time for this shit,” Chopper muttered, heading back toward the bar to round up the others for their little scavenger hunt in a nasty-ass alley.
Chapter Six
Ten minutes into their ride, Cesar took a back road, enjoying the tranquility. Jamie had sobered up enough to know who Cesar was but still snickered every time they hit a bump. The road curved through dense woods, moonlight filtering through the trees in scattered silver patches.
A flicker of movement caught Cesar’s eye. Checking his side mirror, he spotted headlights several car lengths back. At first, he thought nothing of it. Just another vehicle on the back road. But when the car maintained the exact same distance through three turns, his instincts flared.
Whoever was following them wasn’t being subtle about it.
“Shit,” he muttered, accelerating slightly. Jamie’s body swayed forward then back against his chest. The headlights stayed with them, matching their speed. Cesar scanned the surroundings. Empty fields on either side of the narrow road. No streetlights out here, just darkness and the pale glow of stars overhead. Perfect place for an ambush.
“Jamie, I need you to hold on tight,” he said, voice steady despite the adrenaline beginning to pump through his system.
His mate twisted slightly, looking up at him. “What’s wrong, honey bunny?”
“Someone’s following us.” Cesar opened the throttle, the bike surging forward with a throaty growl. “Grab the handlebars. Not too tight.”
The road ahead stretched dark and empty, wind whipping harder against them as the speedometer climbed. Cesar took another turn, hoping to lose their tail, but a quick glance in the mirror confirmed his suspicions. The headlights swung around the bend right behind them, keeping pace.
“Is it—is it Grant?”
“Don’t know yet.” Cesar kept his tone calm even though rage was building in his chest. He leaned closer to his mate’s ear so he could hear over the roar of the engine and wind. “Need you to do something for me, colibrí. Very carefully, reach into my jacket pocket and get my phone.”
Jamie nodded, his body tensing as he slowly worked one hand between them, fingers slipping inside Cesar’s leather jacket. The warmth of those fingertips against his chest momentarily distracted him before his mate pulled back with the phone clutched in his hand. Then nearly dropped it before gripping it tightly.
“Text Matias for me.” Cesar took another turn, faster this time, eyes flicking between the road ahead and the mirror. “Tell him: Little lamb and big bad wolf huffing and puffing. Need some oxygen. Pronto.”
“What does that even mean?” Jamie asked, typing with one hand while holding onto Cesar with the other.
Cesar guided the bike around a tight curve, feeling Jamie’s body tense against him.
“It’s code. He’ll understand.” He glanced back again. The headlights were gaining. “After you send it, share our location.”
Jamie nodded, his hair tickling Cesar’s chin as he worked the phone. “Sent both.”
“Good boy,” Cesar murmured.
The car behind them suddenly accelerated, closing the gap. Headlights flooded the mirrors, momentarily blinding him.
A crack split the night air, followed by a metallic ping as something ricocheted off the guardrail beside them.
“What was—”
“Get down!” Cesar hunched forward, forcing Jamie to curl against the tank. Another shot pinged off the pavement.
“Holy cow!” his mate yelped. “They’re shooting at us! With bullets.” He started to count backward from twelve but was botching it, either from fear or the fact he was still drunk.
“I’ve got you,” Cesar promised, voice fierce as he pushed the bike faster.
