I connect the headset to hers, and as it crackles to life, I hear her heavy breathing. "Careful of that pipe down there." I point to the exhaust. "It gets really hot and can burn your skin off."
"Okay," she breathes out, as she glances down to where I'm pointing.
"You ready to go, Dragonfly?" I ask her.
"Yeah," she says, her tone mixed with worry and excitement.
Chapter Sixty
My hands are locked tight around his stomach, and my legs are tense with how tight I have them locked against his thighs. Despite how nervous I am at being on the back of his bike, this is actually the first time that I have felt relaxed in weeks. I feel free.
He weaves in and out of traffic, and I'm finally getting to grips with leaning where he leans and not trying to lean in the opposite direction. I know he's going a little faster than is legal, but I also know that it's not too fast that we lose sight of the cars. I'm desperate to know that the car is still behind us with my little brother in, but I don't feel secure enough to fully glance behind me.
Max places his hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze and running it up and down. I love the way he knows when I need comfort. I love every touch. I find myself seeking out his touch when I don't feel it.
"You okay, baby?" he asks.
I had been so surprised when he'd first spoken to me through the headset—I didn't know you could do that. "Yeah. I'm good," I tell him. And I mean it. Apart from the few aches that I have from the injuries, I feel really good.
"We're almost there, baby. Fifteen more minutes and then you can get off the bike," he tells me, giving my leg another squeeze.
I don't say anything, I just kind of nod, not even sure if he can see me or not. I will be pleased to get off the bike and have a walk around, but I don't want this ride to end at the same time, and I'm so nervous about meeting his dad.
As we ride down a long driveway, I realise we're surrounded by trees and woodland. It's so peaceful and quiet here, I can see why his dad chooses to stay this far out. He brings his bike to a stop at the end of the driveway. As I climb off the bike and remove my helmet, my eyes scan the area and the house. It's an old brick two-story building, with a larger than normal black front door, with two large bay windows either side of it.
The crunch of gravel has me turning to see the car pulling down the long driveway. I give my aching body a bit of a stretch while I wait for Mason and the others to get out of the car.
"Buddy, are you okay?" I ask as Mason emerges, his skin a pale grey colour. He walks toward me and gives a small half nod.
"We had to stop about twenty minutes ago, he needed a little air and some water. I think he might need a nap," Georgia tells me with a sad smile. She gives Mason’s shoulder a squeeze and then walks toward the door as it opens. Her dad emerges, and he's tall and wide, his muscles bulging out of his T-shirt. He's an older version of Max.
I watch as he wraps Georgia in a tight hug at the door. His eyes scan over the top of her head as he takes in the people around him, then they settle on Max and he gives him a smile. I watch him say something into Georgia's ear, to which she nods and then heads into the house.
Max grabs my hand and leads me and Mason toward his dad as the sound of gravel has us all turning back toward the driveaway. I feel tension ripple through me at the unknown car, but I relax as Max bends down and whispers in my ear, "Arthur’s men."
I had forgotten they were coming with us too. We’d talked about it in Church, and then again before the other brothers arrived at the clubhouse this morning. We hadn't told Mason though, we'd decided not to give him anything to be worried about, but as he looks toward the car, I feel him tense beside me and step around the back of me. I look up to Max and then indicate to Mason. Max shakes his head, letting me know not to say anything. I get why he might not want to, but as I feel the fear emanating from my little brother, I find myself wanting to tell him.
"Mase, buddy," Max calls to him, grabbing him and spinning him to face his dad. "This is my dad, Max Snr."
His dad looks down at Mason and smiles. "Hey, buddy, you can call me Rock."
Mason looks up at him and smiles. "Hi," he says, barely in a whisper.
I see the concern in Max's dad’s face, but before I even have a chance to say anything, Max beats me to it. "He gets travel sick, Pop, he just needs water and rest."
"Ah, come on then, let’s get you a drink," he says, placing a hand on Mason’s shoulder and guiding him inside.
Once Mason was sorted with a drink, Georgia took him upstairs to one of the rooms so he could rest for a bit. Tongue had gone with them, but as they had started up the stairs, he seemed to be in a rush to beat them to the top. Max had said that Tongue probably wanted to make sure that the house was secure before they got up there. Apparently, he does that whenever they enter a new building, he's always the first to check it out.
"Dad, this is Nova," Max tells his dad as we stand in the large, light kitchen-dining room. His dad walks up to me, placing his hands on my shoulders and scanning my face. He gives me a warm smile.
"It's nice to finally meet you, sweetheart," he tells me, pulling me into a quick hug. "Let me get you guys a drink. Nova, would you like tea, coffee, or something stronger?" he asks.
I blink back at him. "Could I please just have a glass of water?"
"Of course." He turns and grabs me a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Thank you." I take the bottle from him and down a quarter of it within seconds. Who knew riding was such thirsty work?
