The runner nods frantically, sarcastically, as the keeper's car comes to a skidding halt at the end of the driveway. "Be good if you could hurry the fuck up."
I swing my leg over, thread my arm through the strap of my helmet, and pray that she gets settled in time as I start the engine.
Her shaking hands find my middle as I twist the throttle and we rocket toward the road.
The keeper climbs out of their car, the sweep of their arm happening in slow motion as we skid out of the driveway and hit the road, tire whipping back into line.
The discharge of the weapon sounds like a mere pop of fireworks as I push the engine to its limit, adrenaline bringing that fucking thrill of the chase back from wherever it's lain dormant these past years. We reach the others at the intersection, our formation scattered to the wind as we ride, fueled by pure need to get home.
To get safe.
"Hey!" My pillion slaps her hand against my right shoulder. She threads her left hand under my arm to shove it before my face. "You're bleeding!"
Well fuck me—so I am.
FORTY
KYRA
I nestleinto my new armchair and pull a blanket over my legs before reaching for my cup of berry tea. Half of my furniture order has arrived, but most notably, the bed was put on backorder. Which means sleeping on the air mattress a little longer.
I can cope if this is my new cozy haven.
Soft light spills over my nest from the lamp behind me, the rest of the living room dark and atmospheric save for the lamp near the kitchen. I tug the book I’m currently reading onto my lap, but no sooner have I opened to the marker than the rumble of a motorbike breaks the peaceful quiet.
They found where I live.The thought zaps into my brain, and I scramble to undo my coziness so I can check behind the temporary curtains. The fear has lain dormant in my subconscious since the alley, but it screams to the forefront now that things between Jinx and me are on pause. What if the Devil’s Breed comes after me? What if they know it was me who figured out where they take the women?
“Damn it.” I crouch down and peer into the night, cursing the lamplight that clearly indicates I’m home.
The bike pulls off to the side of the road, and at first, relief floods me when the familiar shape makes me think it’s only Jinx. But the rider has no helmet.He always rides with a helmet.
I shrink lower, only one eye able to see over the sill as the rider dismounts and the patch comes into view.
A leering skull.Thank fuck.
I place my hand to my chest to will the organ to slow, then stand and head for the front door. He’s most of the way up the path by the time I pull it open.
“What’s with the lack of safety, huh?” I point to my head to indicate his helmet.
Tired eyes find mine as he continues to approach without saying a word. Jinx crosses through the spills of moonlight, and I note the odd dark patch on the left side of his shirt.
“What happened?” The unspent fear bleeds to the surface, building into a frenzy.
“We went to the house,” he rumbles. “Can we go inside? I need to use your bathroom.”
Odd.But, “Sure.” I step aside, letting Jinx breeze past.
He stalls for a split second to look up at the enormous hole in the ceiling, and then continues to the kitchen, stopping at the sink.
“Bathroom is to the right.”
“This will do.” He turns the tap on and then strips his cut, setting it carefully on the counter to his right. “Your hunch was right,” he explains as he unbuttons his shirt. “We found six women. One of them is just a girl.”
Oh my God.It’s the news I wanted, but also the news I dreaded. “Are they okay?”
“As far as we can tell, they are physically.” He unrolls the sleeves, strips the shirt off, and then follows it with the T-shirt underneath. “Is there an exit wound?”
“Is there a what?” Did I hear him right?
