The guys all started their bikes, another round of groans leaving Thorne and Kane. I glanced over my shoulder, catching a wicked gleam in Rafe's eyes, his hands seconds from pulling down his helmet. He flashed me a wink and drew it down, my smile wide as I grabbed my own and slid it into place.
Then we shot forward.
It took us an hour to weave through the traffic of the city and out into wider, more vacant roads, but when we did, our speeds ticked up without an ounce of hesitation. Kane pumped a fist in the air twice before leaning into the ride and kicking up into the hundreds. I followed behind Thorne, Rafe at my side, and it occurred to me then that we werefree. We could gowherever we wanted, do whatever we wanted. It almost seemed like that was what the Buyer wanted.
We rode until we hit a rest stop, the four of us pulling off our helmets with loud laughs and bright smiles.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to ever drive anything else after that," Thorne said.
Kane rumaged in the pack attached to the side of his bike, his eyes blowing wide. "Fuck."
We crowded him, peering down, and my pulse rocketed. Money. Lots of it. Hundreds wrapped in stacks.
"Good thing this was locked tight during the ride," Kane muttered, picking up a stack and running his fingers over the top.
Rafe was the only one who looked angry, his arms folded and his glare on the money.
What?I asked him.
His jaw flickered with tension.Money? Bikes? A penthouse? What game is this Buyer playing? We're missing something.
Maybe, Kane returned with a shrug.Or maybe we lucked out and someone finally felt bad enough for us they're giving us a break.
Creed doesn't get breaks, Rafe snapped, his signs precise. He gestured to all of us.I'm not trying to ruin the fun. Trust me, I want it just as badly, but we can't just be sitting ducks either. Did any of you even bring your weapons?
Shit. I'd been so excited that I hadn't grabbed my lighter or my gun. Based on Thorne's and Kane's frowns, it was obvious they hadn't brought their guns or knives.
Rafe reached down to his ankle, his gun holstered there.You're telling me this is all the ammo we have?
We're not defensless without weapons, Kane argued.I can beat the shit out of just about anyone.
I'm just saying that we've barely thought about what any of this means,Rafe explained. He shook his head.I think we should go back to the penthouse.
"C'mon, man," Thorne muttered. He let loose a sigh and signed,Whoever this Buyer is gave us these bikes. We have a better chance at getting away from them out here, on the road, then we do by going back to that penthouse.
I nodded.Thorne's right. To an extent.I grimaced.I'm sure these bikes have tracking devices, and if we stray from them, then we have the devices in our necks to worry about.
So what I'm hearing, Kane said and held up a stack of hundreds,is we may as well go crazy, because we're fucked either way. I say we ride until dawn, pig out at a diner, and then head back. Maybe we can let Arden do some shopping, or for fuck's sake, take your girl out on a proper date, Rafe.
Rafe straightened, his cheeks staining red, clearly embarrassed that he hadn't thought to do so.
I took his hand into mine and squeezed it gently.It's fine, I signed with my other.I don't need anything, but I agree we should enjoy this as much as we can. Maybe we could even stash some of that money somewhere in the city, so if we can figure out a way to run, we have that as backup.
Smart, Thorne noted.I'm sure we could find someone to get us passports, too. We can make go-bags and stash them.
Rafe?I asked and tugged on his hand.Does that sound good?
He still looked worried, but he managed a small dip of his chin in agreement.
"Alright. Then let's go," Kane announced, putting his helmet back on.
I picked up my own. Then I thought better of it. It could be another hour or two before we stopped again.I'm just going to use the bathroom first, I told them,hooking my helmet under my arm and heading toward the building in the center of the rest stop. Rafe hesitated but settled back on his bike, his eyes never leaving me as I gave him a small wave and a reassuring smile. He didn't look away, even as I pushed in the door.I love you, I signed.
His scowl lifted slightly.I love you, too, Mrs. Creed.
My stomach flipped, my cheeks staining when Thorne did a double-take watching us. I ducked into the bathroom with a shake of my head, the door thumping closed behind me. The lights above the line of sinks flickered with a soft buzzing noise, the stalls relatively dark. I sat my helmet on the counter and pushed into a stall, humming softly to myself as I took care of business, making it quick. I zipped my pants, freezing when I heard the rumble of the bikes starting back up. Frowning, I flushed and stepped out the stall.
My helmet was gone.
