Page 36 of Bride for the Bikers

“Fine. I’ve got it in the car. Just a warning, I swapped out your SIM with a new one in case Mesner or any of his people try to contact you.”

“Sounds like you want to be the one tracking her,” Thunder says darkly.

Carnell doesn’t look remotely apologetic. “Better me than him, don’t you think?”

While they handle exchanging information, I step to the side and start looking for somewhere to hole up for the night. It’s a long ride back to the compound even in good shape, and I don’t want Outlaw to keel over. Somewhere halfway maybe. Where we can head in either direction depending on how the wind blows. The moment our interests don't align, I don’t trust Carnell not to dick us around again and I’d rather be closer to home than not.

“This is your mother?” Carnell asks in a tone that has me looking up. His brows are deeply furrowed as he examines what I’m assuming is a picture on Harper’s phone.

Harper nods. “Um, yeah? Why? Have you heard or seen something about her?”

“Simmons?” He shakes his head slightly, dismissively. But I can tell there’s something he’s not saying. “She just reminds me of someone. I'll do everything in my power to find her. I promise.”

Harper doesn’t look convinced, but none of us have a lot of options right now. We all watch him drive away.

“I don't fucking trust him,” Outlaw says, and we all nod together, even Harper. “Back all your shit up and bury that phone. Who the fuck knows what he’s put on there.”

“Agreed.” I start walking to my bike. “But if there's one thing I do know. It's way too fucking hot to be standing out here. And Vegas is nothing but trouble for us right now. It’s time to put a little distance between us, Mesner,andCarnell. I booked a room for us in the mountains. We’ll crash overnight and if we don’t hear anything, I’d rather wait this out inside the walls of the clubhouse.”

“You and me both,” says Thunder.

“Is there a pool?” Lightning asks, like a fucking kid.

“You gonna skinny-dip?”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t want to deal with more cops because you want to swing your dick in public,” Outlaw grumbles.

Lighting grins. “Bet you’d change your mind if Harper joined me.”

21

HARPER

I ridebehind Shadow on his sleek, black motorcycle. The engine purrs like a big cat, something that might stalk you in a jungle before pouncing and killing you in one snap of its massive jaws. It suits him.

I mean, he's eaten me, and it was pretty amazing.

I giggle at the thought. I don't know if he can feel it against his back, but I'm clinging to him pretty tightly, so maybe.

Outlaw's riding to our left. The others seem to be careful about making sure he stays where they can see him. I’m still awed by how he’s able to function with such a major injury. I’m not scared by the tattoos, piercings and grumpy attitude anymore. He reminds me of Garfield, the cat we found when I was little. It was a big, orange tabby who’d probably been living on the street for a long time. At first all he did was hide under the couch or the bed, growling if I tried to pet him.

I must’ve been about five, and I cried about it to Mom because I wanted a cat like I saw in the cute cat videos. She sat me down and explained that sometimes, when someone has been scaredand alone for a long time, it takes time, but they deserve the chance, because when they do learn to trust, they will trust you with their whole heart.

She was right back then, and when I see Outlaw with the others—men he trusts with his life—I see the man who put himself in the line of a bullet for me.

The hotel is nicer than I expected for being along the highway. It's tied to a little casino, like it ran away from Las Vegas and ran out of juice here. I suppose once you're in Nevada, any stop is a gambling opportunity. But as long as it has a functioning shower, I'm happy. I’d be a lot happier if I still had my luggage, but we never made it back to the little motel.

My wedding dress is probably either for sale online or shoved into a lost and found box. I won’t miss it, but I would kill for those silk pajamas.

Shadow taps the keycard on the latch and opens the door. I’m the first one in. “Wow! This is nice.”

It's a small suite on the tenth floor, with not only two queen size beds, but a little side room with a sitting area, a big TV and a pretty nice view of the town. To turn on the lights, there’s a little screen with a color wheel that I can touch to adjust the lightning. I put us firmly in the red light district before finding something a little more natural, with just a hint of purple from a strip of lights hidden near the crown molding. Neat.

Shadow chuckles. “Just because we’re bikers doesn’t mean we’re poor, baby girl. I thought we could all do with the chance to stretch out a little.”

Outlaw does exactly that, carefully stretching out on the bed with a soft breathing hiss.

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