“You always carry proper emergency gear?”I asked, cranking the jack with more force than necessary.
“My brother insisted.He likes to be prepared for everything.”She laughed softly.“Knight’s overprotective.”
“Knight’s smart,” I corrected, loosening the lug nuts while the tire still had some pressure against the ground.The tire came off with a final twist of the last nut.I set it aside and grabbed the spare from where she’d rolled it.The whole time I tried my best to keep the figure in sight.He’d definitely moved, circling to get a better vantage point.
“You keep looking across the road,” Ada said suddenly.Observant.“Something wrong?”
“No,” I lied automatically.Then thought better of it, shaking my head slightly.“Maybe.Not sure yet.”
Her eyes followed mine to the tree line, narrowing slightly.“Someone there?”I nodded once, aligning the spare and threading the first lug nut.“Someone you know?”she asked, voice low.
“Maybe.”I worked the tire into place with practiced movements.“From before.”
“Before prison?”She didn’t shy away from naming it.Most people danced around the word like it was contagious.
“Yeah.”I probably should have elaborated, but I didn’t want to.I kept remembering her words from a couple weeks ago.That it wasn’t paranoia I was feeling.This?This was different.This wasn’t paranoia or PTSD or whatever she was talking about.I knew because she had been absolutely right about me being paranoid.What I felt now wasn’t in the same league as paranoid.It was much, much worse.We were in danger.I just didn’t know if it was immediate or if someone was forming a plan.Given the fact they’d been ahead of me and I hadn’t been on a planned route, I was going with the assumption this was a chance meeting…
Or maybe someone was watching Ada.
The spare secured, I lowered the jack and packed everything away.When I looked back to the tree line, the figure had disappeared.My muscles tensed involuntarily.Disappearing meant either leaving or repositioning.
“We should go,” I said, gathering up her tools.“You good to drive?”
Ada nodded, taking the jack from my hands.“Yeah.Thank you for stopping.”She studied my face for a moment.“You would’ve stopped even if you didn’t recognize my car, wouldn’t you?”
The question caught me off guard.Would I have?Two weeks ago, fresh out, I might’ve kept riding.Now?
“Yeah,” I answered honestly.“Woman alone on the road.Bad situation waiting to happen.”
She smiled, a genuine expression that transformed her face.“You’re a good man, Jagger Kross.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that.No one had seen good in me for a long time, least of all myself.Instead, I turned back to my bike, scanning the tree line one last time.The figure was back, but farther down, moving parallel to the road.Watching.Waiting.My gut tightened with certainty.Someone was trying to follow us.Maybe not for long unless they had transportation close by I couldn’t see.But they were definitely wanting a better look at us.
I grabbed Ada’s arm gently but firmly, steering her toward her car.“We need to leave.Now.”My voice came out low and steady, not showing the urgency I felt, but letting her know this wasn’t up for debate.I glanced back at the tree line one more time, confirming what my instincts already knew.“You drive first.I’ll follow behind.Lead the way straight to the clubhouse.”
Ada’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t pull away or question my grip on her arm.“What’s going on, Jag?”
“Someone’s watching us.”I nodded toward the trees, keeping my body between her and the potential threat.“Been there since before I pulled up.”
I scanned the tree line again while she climbed into the driver’s seat.“How fast is your car, Ada?”I asked, leaning down to the open window.
“Fast enough.”
I nodded.“Good.Stay ahead but within sight.I’ll watch your back.If I flash my lights, it means trouble and you haul ass back to the club.No matter how fast your car is, you can’t outrun a motorcycle with purpose.Don’t pull over.Don’t stop.”
She turned the key, the engine coming to life.“You think they’ll follow us?”
“Don’t know.”I hesitated, then added, “Drop one of those safety pin things so Knight knows where you are.”
Her eyebrows furrowed momentarily before understanding dawned.“You mean drop a pin?Share my location?”
Fuck.Technology had changed too much during my time inside.“Yeah, that.So Knight can use any camera in the vicinity and see what he finds.”
Instead of laughing at my mistake or questioning why, Ada already had her phone out, thumbs moving quickly across the screen.“Done.”
Her instant compliance caught me off guard.She hadn’t questioned why I thought we were in danger.Hadn’t demanded proof.Just trusted my assessment and acted.
I shook my head.“Just go.If a bike pulls out in front of you for any reason, you pretend you didn’t see it and hit the son of a bitch.Get me?”Her eyes widened, and she nodded her head slightly.“Go.”
