“Pretty sure you’ve got me confused with someone who gives a shit.” His hand came up, one finger lifting my chin higher. “You’re just a job that went sideways.”
“You’re taking me with you,” I said again, firmer this time.
Ryder’s mouth curved into a mocking smile, dimples flashing. “And why the fuck would I do that?”
“Because you need that USB drive.”
His eyes narrowed. “I thought you didn’t know anything about it?”
“I lied.” Which was a lie, but he didn’t know that. “You help me figure out who’s after my mum, and I’ll hand it over.”
“Yeah,no. How about you just give me the USB, and maybe I won’t hurt you?” His hand slid down, curling around my throat with just enough pressure to make his point.
I forced myself to hold his gaze. “Hurting me won’t save you.”
Cedric groaned behind us, and Ryder’s grip tightened before his attention flicked over his shoulder.
“Right now, you need me just as much as I need you,” I pressed, my pulse frantic against his fingertips. “He said you’ve got a bounty on your head. That makes you just as much a target. You need the USB drive… and I need your help.”
Eyes of dark honey stared down at me, a battle of wills as I glared at him in return.
“Fuck!” he cursed, releasing me. “Fine, but we’re doing this my way.”
Stepping back, he quickly returned to Cedric to riffle through his pockets. Pulling out a phone, Ryder attempted to unlock it, but when Cedric’s face recognition didn’t work, nor his fingerprints, Ryder cursed again before shoving it in his backpack.
“Come on.” He straightened, already moving. “We need to be gone before reinforcements show up.”
Chapter 14
Violet
I think he was trying to kill me.
My arms cinched tight around his waist as he tore through the streets like traffic laws didn’t exist. The bike leaned hard into every turn, tyres screeching in protest, and my pulse kept pace with the engine’s roar.
He’d been stiff at first, so rigid I didn’t know how he handled the bike so easily. But when he cut too sharply down a side road and I squealed, humiliatingly high-pitched and wholly involuntary, something changed. His posture loosened, just a fraction. As if my panic had amused him.
Another cry escaped my throat, and oh my God, I think he was laughing at me.
I’m pretty sure I felt a chuckle vibrating through his back. Or maybe it was just the wind screaming past the helmet as I pressed my head between his shoulder blades, my eyes squeezed shut as I prayed for the ride to end before I either lost my nerve, or my grip.
I couldn’t tell you how long I was forced to press myself undignified against his back, or even where we were considering I’d had my eyes closed for the majority of the ride.
The bike finally rolled to a stop, my heart still hammering hard enough to ache against my ribs.
“You can let go of me now,” he chuckled, and I realised, completely horrified, that my fingers were still locked against his stomach. “Unless you want to make this ride more interesting?”
I shoved myself away so violently I nearly toppled off the bloody thing.
Swinging my legs down, I fumbled at the strap beneath my chin, yanked the helmet free, and shoved it into his chest with more force than strictly necessary.
“Stop being so dramatic. I wasn’t even goingthatfast.” He tucked the black helmet under one arm, smirking like the devil himself.
“You were trying to scare me.” My voice was sharper than I’d intended.
“Me? Scare you?” With a snort he leaned against his motorbike, the black and chrome monstrosity glistening.
I’d never ridden a bike before, and after tonight, I knew I never would again if I could help it.
