Page 16 of Biker Daddies

Bane crushes the beer can in his hand and tosses it on the floor. “I know you’re not trying to rationalize this. I know you don’t sound like you’re about to have this make sense, because it doesn’t. Shut up. Keep your thoughts to yourself. And whatever ideas you think you’re having, forget them. Whatever dream you’re thinking of, forget it. That isn’t just some girl. We’ve known her for her entire life. We’ve been friends with her father, his entire life. This isn’t a decision you rationalize. It isn’t even a decision. That thought, is the greatest act of betrayal. Fucking forget it.”

I let Alto’s words play in my mind and for some damn reason, I agree with him, even though Bane makes a fair point. “Wouldn’t Grizzly want her protected? Who better than us?”

He gives me a look that slashes regret in my chest. “You have got to be kidding. Do you hear yourself? She’s Prez’s daughter. He’s our friend. You can’t be serious.”

“I’m not. I mean, I am, but I know nothing will come of it. I’m just talking, Bane.” Alto slumps on the bed again.

I sit at the bottom of the bed and Harlow rolls to her side. Her feet hit my thigh and my hand lands on her upper leg. It feels natural. I move my hand away as if touching her burns.

“Then stop talking. You’re a fucking idiot if you think this won’t ever get back to Prez. It’s time we go. The longer we hang around here, the cloudier our judgment becomes. You’ve lost it, the both of you.”

Harlow groans in that instant and bolts forward, tangling herself in the sheets so she can’t get up, and she throws up again. The sheets are ruined, but I don’t care about that.

“Harlow!” Alto yanks the sheets off and I gather them, safely rolling the blankets together to put them on the floor.

“I really don’t feel well, Alto.” She heaves again and I place the pot under her, but nothing happens.

“Maybe she has alcohol poisoning. If that’s the case, we have to call Prez and take her to the hospital,” I suggest.

“No, I’m fine,” she says, a bit more clearly and less drunk. “I’m sorry.” She passes out again and Bane checks her pulse.

“She’s going to take ten years off my fucking life if she keeps getting sick.”

“I say we take her to the hospital,” Alto suggests, like I did moments ago.

Bane picks her up in his arms and chuffs a disagreement. “Why bother? We have everything we need at the house. Our house,” he clarifies. “Then, we don’t have to tell Prez much. We can say we did our rounds, she texted us from a party, and we thought the safest place was with us.”

No one says anything.

“Well? We don’t have time to fucking waste, do we? Instead of sitting around with our thumbs up our asses, at least this is us doing something. Now, I can’t put her on my bike, so I’m grabbing her car keys. I suppose my bike will be left.”

“And if someone sees it?” Alto asks.

“Then I guess we’re going to have to come up with another lie,” he growls in disapproval and snags her car keys from the top of her dresser.

This isn’t good.

Lies are just like cracks in a foundation. The more pressure you put on them, the more they spread.

And I have the feeling this is only the beginning.

5

HARLOW

I’m horrified.

No, I’m more than that. I’m beyond embarrassed.

I want to crawl into a hole and never be seen again. Of course I’ll get drunk, only the second time in my life, text the three men I want more than anything, and make a fool out of myself.

I know a lot of people say this, but I mean it.

I’m. Never. Drinking. Again.

Ever.

Nope.

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