Page 18 of Hard Ride

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“What the fuck did you say?”Kyra waved a big-ass chef’s knife toward Van, making him rethink his plan of attack.“Go ahead.Do it again, and I’ll cut your balls off instead of kneeing them this time.”

“Ooooo-kay.”Wren plucked the polished metal from Kyra’s hand.“No more sharp objects for you.”

“Damn it,” Kyra pouted, looking extra fine despite his anger and her annoyance.“He deserves it.”

“Yeah, probably.But you’ll thank me when you’re falling asleep in your own bed instead of sharing a cell with Big Bertha.”Wren took the weapon back to the break room where a crowd had been carving up one of Devra’s creations.“Besides, I’m hungry.I need a piece of whatever this is.It looks amazing.”

“Fine.”Kyra rolled up the sleeves of the soft flannel shirt she wore open over a black tank and her favorite pair of ripped jeans.“Get me some too.I’m going to need it when I’m done with this asshole.”

“Dude.”Trevon shook his head at Van.“I felt bad for you last time, but I’m kinda thinking I’d do the same thing if you were treating me like that.”

Van winced and cupped his hands over his groin as he remembered how Kyra had taken him down.It didn’t help that he flinched just enough to catch Ollie grinning from beside and slightly behind him, as if the guy was getting off on Kyra’s bravado.

Ah, fuck it.He kind of was too.Except for one thing…

It might make Van a barbarian, but he’d do anything to keep Kyra from getting hurt.Why hadn’t she told him she’d felt threatened?His temper spiked again.“I’m willing to take a hit if it means keeping her from getting killed by some psycho.I can’t do my fucking job if I don’t know that one of my clients is in danger.”

Devra, Wren, and the guys all stared wide-eyed at Kyra then.

That was the line none of them would cross.

The Hot Rides gang had learned at least one thing from their friends the Hot Rods and the Powertools crew: they were fiercely protective of their own.When it came to looking after their by-choice family, there was no greater priority than keeping everyone whole.

Jordan shook his head.As a former special agent for the government and unofficial member of the band’s security detail, he held his hands up, palms out.“You’re on your own.I can’t argue with him there.”

Kyra’s shoulders slumped and she glared beyond Van, most likely at Ollie.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that.I told you I was going to say something if you didn’t, and I keep my word.Unlike you…” Ollie’s disappointment rang through the garage, drawing Van’s attention.

He turned to look at the other man and was surprised to see Ollie’s face was flushed.A muscle twitched in his cheek.As far as Van knew, Ollie never got pissed off.It was kind of weird to see him without his signature smile and to hear the steely accusation in his voice.

Even still, Van didn’t like anyone talking to Kyra in that tone.He pivoted toward Ollie, who put his arms up, his own fists clenched as if he’d go down swinging.

Van groaned.“I’m not going to hit you, dumbass.I just want to know what the fuck is going on.”

“Oh.Right.”Ollie stuffed his hands in the pockets of his faded black jeans and rocked back on his heels.Van was no dummy.This time Ollie had been ready, not only to absorb his blow, but to fight back.

Did Ollie feel that way about Kyra too?Sure, he’d walked away the night of their confrontation, but here they were again.Was this some elaborate scheme to steal her away now that he’d had a while to think about what he was missing out on?

Van wasn’t about to roll the dice and find out.Not when Kyra was at stake.

“So?”he growled.If he didn’t get answers soon, he might rip Ollie’s head off despite the shaky cease-fire they’d reached outside.

“Ask her.”Ollie jerked his chin toward Kyra, who cursed.

“Everyone is overreacting.It’s nothing.”She nibbled her lower lip and looked upward, as if she was thinking back on whatever had spooked her in the first place.

“Then it won’t matter if you tell us about it,” Wren interjected.“It’s not like you to be evasive.”

“Or nervous.”Devra put her hand over Kyra’s, where she was drumming her fingers furiously on her hip.The rest of their friends huddled around, as if they could defend her.

“I’m starting to think Van might have the right idea.”Quinn cracked his knuckles.“Whose ass are we kicking and why?”

His brother, Roman, was right by his side, nodding.Whatever danger Kyra faced, at least they had plenty of people to keep an eye on her.Van’s teeth unclenched, just enough for him to draw a deep breath and try to calm down.

“No one, yet.Honestly.”Kyra dropped some of her attitude and crossed to Van.She planted her palms on his chest, instantly reducing his anxiety while ratcheting up an entirely different sort of tension within him.“I’m fine.Nothing crazy has happened.I think I was already so wound up about how we slept together and where fucking around would leave us that I felt an impending sense of doom.I got startled by something dumb, okay?”

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