Page 69 of Joy Ride

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They made it to Middletown in record time, with Walker signaling Dane to pull up behind his favorite burger restaurant.Great, now they were going to cause a scene and he’d be banned for life, no more quarter pounds of greasy heaven for him.

They cut their engines more than a block away and rolled into the alley near the dumpsters, but nobody from Wildfire would be fooled by that stunt.If there were club members around, they knew Walker and Dane had arrived.

So they couldn’t be subtle.There was nothing for it but to bust in and see what was up.

Walker and Dane marched together, looking every direction possible.They fell into their old routines, ones they’d learned from Wildfire and perfected in their time in the service.

When they reached a window, Dane ducked low and surveyed the restaurant.There, in the back corner, he saw Joy’s familiar silhouette.The person across from her was one he didn’t recognize, though.With long obsidian hair, manicured nails, and some seriously glossy lipstick, the woman sharing the booth with Joy was beautiful and high maintenance.

Couldthatbe Rivet?No fucking way.

“It’s clear,” he told Walker when he finished scanning the restaurant and saw nothing alarming.At least not for the moment.They had to get Joy, whoever the fuck she was meeting with, and get the hell out before they were trapped inside and innocent people got hurt.

“Let’s go.”Walker gestured with his head toward the front door.

Walker and Dane stormed into the restaurant, drawing a number of stares when they nearly caused the door to rip off its hinges in their urgency.Dane followed two steps behind as Walker barreled down the aisle and dropped into the booth beside Joy.With only one place to sit, he took the empty spot next to…

The woman turned toward him and he nearly swallowed his tongue.“Rivet?Is that really you?”

She smiled before tossing long gently curled tresses over her shoulder.“Hey, Dane.I figured the best disguise would be to come in full-on woman-mode.They’re not looking for that.Maybe you’d better call me Sevan instead, just in case.How do you like my wig?”

Holy fucking shit.It really was him.No,her, he thought.If he hadn’t known, he never in a million years would have guessed that Rivet was hiding under all that hair and makeup.“It’s…uh…kind of hot.Am I supposed to admit that?”

Joy laughed.The warm, ringing peal was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.Maybe she didn’t hate him and Walker after all?

“Sure, thanks.”Was Sevan seriously about to blush?His mind was blown.How the hell had he known this woman since she was pretty much still a girl and never once suspected that the merciless biker-in-training wasn’t who he’d been led to believe she was?

“How’s the reunion going?”Walker asked Joy.

“You trust my opinion?”Joy asked with an arched brow.

Dane kicked Walker under the table.He couldn’t be allowed to fuck this up again.They might already be out of chances.

“Yes, I do.”Walker turned to her and lowered his voice.“I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise.It’s always been my own judgment that I question.Lusting after a woman who’s supposed to be my sister, betraying my best friend with my desires, allowing you to be hurt by my father and the people he exposed you to… It’smeI’m ashamed of,meI don’t trust, not you.Never you.That’s why I’m afraid to call Arden my own—because I’m damn sure I don’t deserve to be her dad.”

Joy stared in shock.She didn’t say anything, but Sevan did.“Whoa.That was heavy.And…pretty damn heartfelt.When the hell did you learn to get in touch with your feelings and shit?Angus would have a coronary if he heard you talking to your old lady like that.”

“I guess becoming part of the Hot Rides family has made me weak.”Walker shrugged.Dane knew it was exactly the opposite.“Now, can we please take this back to the shop where we can catch up in private, with a hell of a lot more precautions against unwanted visitors in place?”

The bell on the door rang and Dane’s face fell.“Too late.”

He and Walker shot to their feet at the same time, but there was nowhere to run.They were stuck in the booth at the back corner of the restaurant while Clive and two other guys he recognized from Wildfire approached, flanking the bastard.

It figured they’d sent the sergeant-at-arms to retrieve their rogue member.

“Isn’t this a cozy double date?”The guy smirked, scanning first Joy and then Sevan head to toe.“Our intel didn’t say anything about the three of you being here, but it makes sense now.When is Rivet supposed to show?Soon, I hope.Mind if I pull up a chair and wait with you all?”

Dane clenched his fists.He didn’t give a fuck if his fingers were already bruised and cut.They were still capable of doing plenty of damage.Anything it took to give Joy and Sevan a chance to escape.

But first, he would try to talk his way out of the impending disaster.Maybe they’d get lucky and Clive would be smart enough not to start shit in such a public place.“As you can see, you’re interrupting.Better wise up and head out of town.”

Clive laughed.“I don’t think Walker’s father would like that very much.He’s pissed enough that Joy and her spawn are still roaming loose.If I lose Rivet too, well, I’d be better off not going back.Where is that fucker anyway?I thought he would have been here by now.”

“Guess he got cold feet.”Dane shrugged.If Clive didn’t recognize the woman in her natural state, he sure as fuck wasn’t about to tip the guy off.“Or maybe he’s just late.”

Walker tried to reason with Clive.“What are you getting out of this?Aren’t you tired of doing Angus’s dirty work?Maybe you should start thinking about the long term.”

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