Page 52 of Bride for the Bikers

He's right. We scramble through the ducts, checking the grates as we go. At the fifth, the lights are low, but someone’s in the bed, and her long brown hair looks very familiar. Her curls are a mess, something I never had and always envied a little. There's an IV drip set up next to her, but it doesn't look to be connected. Everything looks quiet. Steady. Tears spring to my eyes, probably leaving wet trails through the dust on my cheeks.

“It’s her.”

He doesn't question, just presses his way up next to me like last time. This time he's the one who surprises me with a quick kiss. In the faint light seeping in from the room, he grins and gives the grate a shove that pulls the screws right out of the walls. It drops, but falls onto a chair, and it doesn't make much noise.

“C'mon.” Outlaw pulls himself out, somehow flipping himself around and landing on his feet. That's some core strength. Then he holds up his arms and helps me down, too.

While Outlaw makes sure the room is clear, I walk around to the other side so I can see her face. She's asleep, peaceful. Her color looks good, better than last time I saw her. God, I don’t know if I should be happy that she’s recovering so well or upset that it means she might be aware of everything that’s been happening.

“Is it her?”

I nod, then quickly comb my fingers through my hair to hopefully get the worst of the cobwebs out, before I put my hand on her shoulder. “Mom?”

Her eyes flutter.

“Mom!”

And they pop open. It takes her a moment to focus before she recognizes me. “Harper! Oh thank God!”

“I'm getting you out of here. Can you walk?”

“Yes, but not far. What’s going on? I don't understand. I kept asking to talk to you but—”

“We don't have a lot of time,” says Outlaw. “They're gonna be making rounds.”

“God, there isn't enough time to explain. You're not safe here and it’s all my fault.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I found my father.”

Her eyes go wide. “You what? How?”

“Mom, later. Please. I'll tell you the whole story. I understand now why you didn't tell me, but I wish you'd warned me. Now Vincent knows about me, knows about you, and he’s obsessed. I don't even understand everything that's going on, or what his plan is, but we're going to get you out of here, and somewhere you can finish recovering.” I know I'm rambling, but there's so much to explain and so little time to do it in. We really, really, really have to get out of here. “Please, just trust me.”

Mom draws a deep breath, and nods. “Of course. I'll always trust you.”

I hold out my hands to help her sit up, and she does. It makes me smile despite it all. “You're looking so much better than you were.”

She lets out a weak chuckle. “I've definitely been better, but also a lot worse. Where are we? Nobody would tell me.”

Outlaw opens the door from the room carefully. It's thick and solid, but it opens. I was half worried she’d be locked in. “Looks clear,” he says.

Mom nudges me. “Who’s he?”

“You have no idea how complicated this question is. Let's save it until we're out, okay, Mom?” I'll need a whole night just to explain the whole biker thing to her, never mind everything else. “He's here to help us, that's the most important part.”

When I help her up from the bed, she's weak, needing me for support. Outlaw sees and comes to help. He slips off his gun and hands it to me. “Do you remember the rules?”

This is for real. I nod, even though I’m terrified I’ll screw up.

“You can do it.” He sweeps her off her feet, grunting slightly from the pain. In a fair world, he’d still be resting and recovering from being shot, not rescuing my mother.

I nod. I can. I have to. If he can keep going, so can I.

“Oh, well isn’t this sweet.” Standing right outside Mom’s room, is Vincent, Devin—my ex-fake fiancé—and a small army of security guards.

Just once, some day, I want things to work out in our favor.

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