Beth snorted and rolled her eyes as he plopped the helmet on her head. Once he had it in place and buckled, she smiled at him, making his damn cock twitch. She looked hot as hell astride his bike with her green eyes sparkling at him. She still wore a light layer of makeup to hide the fading bruises, but they’d mostly disappeared, giving her a fresh, bright appearance. If she were any other single woman, he’d lean in to steal a kiss. But this was Beth, and if he did that, it’d likely be the last thing he ever did.
Her effortlessly sexy smile was making it difficult to care about the consequences.
“Let’s roll,” she said.
Saint forced himself to turn away and climb on the bike. As soon as his ass hit the seat, her hands settled on his sides like two brands searing him through his clothes. It’d take nothing for her to slide them forward and cup his dick, which was growing more interested by the second.
“Fuck my life,” he muttered as he fired up the bike.
“What was that?” Beth yelled in his ear.
He shook his head. “Nothing, just thinking out loud.”
They took off, heading for Copper and Shell’s house, where Beth had been staying since she came home. Did she enjoy it there? It had to be nice to spend time with her parents and younger siblings, but after years on her own, moving back in with them couldn’t have been easy.
About five minutes into his ride, the Bluetooth on his helmet made an announcement. “You have one new message. Play message from Stillman?” the robotic feminine voice spoke in his ear.
The old friend he’d told Copper he’d contact for information about the mystery bikers in town. And that was before one of them approached Beth. Now, he didn’t just want to speak to Stillman, heneededto talk to the guy. Getting information had gone from helpful to necessary in less than an hour.
“Yes, play message,” he replied.
“Playing one new message from Stillman. Yo, Lee, long time. I’ll be out at The Barn for another twenty minutes. Get there before I leave if you want to chat.”
Shit.
He immediately pulled over to the side of the road so he could safely answer the message.
“What’s wrong?” Beth asked as he slowed the bike.
“Have to answer a text.”
“Oh, okay.”
He stared down at his phone. Twenty minutes was not enough time to drop Beth off at home and get out to The Barn, as they used to call their old hangout. Back in his late teen years and early twenties, Saint spent many nights out at the abandoned barn getting high with that crowd. Looked like not much had changed for Stillman. Even if he headed straight there, he’d be cutting it close.
“Fuck,” he muttered as he tried to puzzle through a plan.
“What’s wrong?”
He glanced over his shoulder to find her watching him with concerned eyes. “Nothing. I have to meet someone to get some information about these bikers, and I don’t have enough time to drop you off before he leaves where he’s at.”
“Oh.” She shrugged. “Easy, just bring me. I don’t have anything going on.”
“Hell no.” Over his dead body would he bring her around that crowd. They were unpredictable at best and extremely violent at worst. “It’s not safe.”
Her arms came around his waist in a hug as she settled her chin on his shoulder. “You’re being stubborn.”
“Trust me, this is not a place you want to be. Copper would peel my balls if I took you along. It’s not even a place I want to be.”
“Sure, but it doesn’t sound like you have any other options.”
“I’ll figure something out.” He stared down at his phone, but nothing came to him. He could call Gator to pick up Beth, but it’d take too long, same with returning her to the clubhouse.
“You’re wasting time,” she sing-songed with a smug hint in her voice. “Don’t think Copper will be too happy if you let this opportunity pass by.”
“Fuck.” Saint grunted. “You’re a little shit, you know that?” He was truly wedged between a rock and an incredibly hard place.
Beth squealed and wiggled behind him. She knew she had him backed into a corner. This was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. When he’d texted Stillman earlier, he’d never expected to receive a response. At least not for a few days. He tended to go off the grid and spend days at a time in a drug-induced stupor. If he didn’t make it to The Barn in time, who the hell knew when Saint would get another opportunity to pump him for information? And as of now, Saint’s former friend might be their only potential lead.
