Page 9 of Crush & Byte
“Point taken.”
We both settled down after that.I dozed while Byte did… whatever he did to relax.Creepy fucker.
There’s a weird feeling you get when you’re on the edge of something big.It’s like being in a fight where you haven’t thrown the first punch, but you know it’s coming.My pulse thudded in my neck, my palms were a little clammy, and my thoughts kept circling back to River.Not just the woman herself, but the way she’d looked at me.The challenge in her eyes when she said she was in on this little adventure.
Once the plane landed and we taxied down the runway to the terminal, Byte spoke again.“You think she’ll bolt?”Byte asked.
I shook my head.“No way.You heard her.She’s too curious and willing to do whatever Maggie tells her.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I looked at him.“What then?”
He leaned in, a rare moment of genuine intensity if a little annoyance at my being deliberately obtuse.“You think she’ll run from us?”
I didn’t answer.Because I didn’t know.I simply to God didn’t fucking know.
Chapter Four
Byte
The moment I laid eyes on River Brooks in person, I realized the magnitude of the shitstorm about to hit me and my brother would be epic.All that bravado and nervous energy from the video call had somehow transformed into something else entirely.And, oh my holy God, the woman stirred something inside me I hadn’t even known existed.
She looked smaller than she had on the video call.More fragile.Her light brown pixie-cut hair caught the late afternoon sun, giving her an almost ethereal glow.Those wide, uncertain eyes held the same spark of defiance I’d noticed before, though.She wore a simple tank top and jeans conforming to her body to show off her curves, making me want to peel them from her body one slow inch at a time.
“Fuckin’ hell.That’s her,” I muttered to Crush as we dismounted our borrowed bikes.Not only did Wylde and Sting set up our meet with the Castle Rock chapter of Iron Tzars, they’d managed to secure us something other than a cage for the ride to their compound.The note said they knew being cooped up in a plane for a million hours would give us road rage and told us to ride it out.We hadn’t, of course.We’d come straight here.And Christ Almighty, that had been the best decision we’d ever made.There was nothing flashy about her and she didn’t do anything to attract the eye, but I’d never seen a woman who so instantly commanded my attention.
“No shit, Sherlock.”The tight note to Crush’s voice told me he felt the same pull I did.
As we approached the doorway to the large clubhouse, a large man in his mid-forties came down the three steps to greet us.He held out his hand and Crush took it immediately.Even though I didn’t really like touching people much, I took his hand briefly when he offered.
“I’m Boon, president of Iron Tzars.Sting from our Evansville chapter sends his regards.He also said there was a running bet as to whether you guys made it to Vancouver, Washington instead of Vancouver, British Columbia.”The humor in his eyes made my teeth ache.
“Yeah, well, here we are,” I groused.Then I stilled.“What was the pot up to?”
“We appreciate your help in collecting River.”Crush’s tone conveyed his respect and deference when he skipped the stupid questions and got straight to the meat.How he managed without being too submissive, I’d never know.Never mastered it myself, but diplomacy had always been Crush’s strong suit.“She give you any trouble?”Crush asked.
Surprisingly, one corner of Boon’s lips lifted in genuine humor when he didn’t seem like the type to let his guard down in front of strangers, especially people from another MC.“Nah, man.She’s good.Asks a lot of questions.”His knowing look said he knew this wasn’t an emergency, but for whatever reason he was playing along.By the look on his face, he knew we’d be in trouble when she found out this was all an elaborate adventure orchestrated by my grandmother.Maggie loved mind games.She poured her heart into loving her family, and that’s why Crush and I went along with her scavenger hunt or whatever the hell this was.
“Gotta say,” Crush gave a little shake of his head, “I wasn’t sure you’d be all right with this whole situation.”
Boon shrugged.“Let’s just say I owe your grandmother more than I can ever repay.If this is what she requires of me, I’ll gladly button down the club and play along.”Again, he flashed a genuine smile.“But only for Ms.Maggie.”His features went hard.“Not for you, or even the girl.”
“Understood.”Crush nodded.
“River.”Boon motioned for her to come to our little group.“This is Crush and Byte.I believe you’ve spoken with them before.”
“Yes.”River didn’t sound as confident as she had before.In fact, now she looked like she realized she might be in over her head.“I’m sorry to cause so much trouble.”
“Honey.”Crush stepped forward and held out his hand to shake hers.“You ain’t causin’ no trouble.That’s all on our grandmother.”
That got a small smile from her.“I admit, I’m not sure I expected you to show up.And I have no idea how I talked myself into going with you in the first Goddamned place.”
“We’re not gonna leave you hangin’, girl.”The gruff tone of Crush’s voice didn’t sit well with me.
“Crush.”I couldn’t disguise my displeasure, but my brother didn’t take offense.
“Relax, man.”He cleared his throat.“Little hard to tone it down.”Yeah.I got it.
