“No problem. I like the view from behind anyway.”
“Pig.”
He playfully oinked in my direction before jogging over to his own bike. I didn’t wait for him to get his helmet on and mount his bike. I was sure he’d catch up. So, I shifted into gear and twisted the throttle, leading the bike out of the parking lot. There wasn’t a ton of traffic on this street, which I was sure appealed to Outlaw Souls when they obtained this building, so I didn’t have to wait at all before pulling out onto the road.
The wind whipped around me as I sped up, shifting into a higher gear. I felt powerful and free like this, and the bike was like an extension of my own body. It was so easy to control.
It took no time at all for Blade to catch up to me, falling into formation by riding behind me in the other side of the lane. We’d only ever be side-by-side during stops at stop signs or traffic lights. It had been a while since I rode, but it all came back to me easily. I found that I was operating the motorcycle without even thinking about it. It was like my body remembered what to do without the need for input from my brain.
I didn’t have a destination in mind. I just wanted togo.So, I wound my way through La Playa randomly, traveling familiar roads. I wasn’t thinking.
Then, I passed a trio of riders going in the opposite direction. I immediately recognized the lead rider as my dad. Dread crept up my spine, and I pulled off the road right after they passed. What if my dad recognized me? It might not be likely because I was wearing a full-face helmet, but it was possible. I looked over at Blade as he pulled up alongside me.
Shit.
Damn Blade and the stupid patch he was wearing on the back of his jacket. If my dad recognized meandsaw that, it was going to cause a problem.
“What’s wrong?” Blade asked as he pulled off his helmet. “Why’d we stop?”
“That was my dad we passed.Fuck.”
“So?”
“So?” I repeated, shaking my head. “Look at what you’re wearing.”
Blade frowned. “Is this another Outlaw Souls thing?”
“Of course it is. My relationship with him is rocky enough without him thinking that I’m involved with Outlaw Souls.”
“You know what? That’s pretty fucking sad if you ask me. Why should you have to worry about what he thinks? What’s he done to deserve such devotion?”
“He’s my dad,” I said defensively. I didn’t want him to know that he made a good point. It didn’t change anything.
“Yeah, well, dad’s aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be.”
“It’s called loyalty, Blade. Maybe they don’t care about that in Outlaw Souls, but Las Balas takes that seriously.”
“Whatever, Kat.” Blade looked pissed, and I hated that it bothered me. “I’m out of here.”
I watched him ride away, trying not to feel too guilty. I knew that I’d hurt his feelings, but I knew my dad would be angry if I were fraternizing with the enemy. When Blade was out of sight, I pulled my helmet back on and pointed my new bike toward home. Somehow, the thrill of the ride had left me.
Twenty-Two
Blade
I was back at Luca’s street fighting ring. I knew it was a back idea, with Outlaw Souls trying to find the weapons and force him out of town. Also, I hadn’t harassed Raymond Groves’s widow the way that Luca asked me to. I wasn’t sure how I would talk my way out of that.
But I always went a little nuts on the anniversary of my brother’s death, which happened to be today. For some reason, knowing that it happened on this date brought all the dark shit I tried to keep buried right to the surface.
I needed an outlet, and fighting was as good as it got. Of course, I’d used sex as a distraction in the past, but my relationship with Kat was complicated—if I could even call it a relationship at all—and I wasn’t interested in sleeping with anyone else. I supposed that Icouldsince we’d agreed to have emotionless, casual sex, but I hadn’t found anyone else attractive since that first night I spent with her. She was too good in bed.
Shockingly, luck was on my side tonight, and Luca was absent again. I had no idea what he was up to, but I didn’t care. I was just happy that I didn’t have to act like I was interested in getting paid to do his dirty work. I wasn’t sure I had it in me to even pretend tonight.
Alex was also absent, but that was because I didn’t invite him. He was my cousin, so he knew exactly what today was, and I didn’t want to have to see his pity-filled gaze. He’d probably try to get me to talk about my feelings too.
No, thank you.
I had already participated in one fight this evening, and my opponent was a tough motherfucker. I’d won in the end, pummeling his face a couple more times than I needed to as a way to release some aggression, but I’d also taken a knee to the kidneys and was surely sporting a black eye.
