I furrowed my brow, eyes shifting between Dom’s broad back and her motorcycle, still tucked away in the brush. “But your bike…”
“I’ll come back and get it later.”
Still, the blood on the ground made my stomach turn. The odds that someone came down this desolate road at this time of night were low. But the mess my captors had left wasn’t inconspicuous, and if they connected it to Dom’s bike, we’d all be in a world of pain.
Before I could think better of it, I trotted forward, setting a hand over the driver’s door to stop Dom from swinging it open. “Let me drive.”
Her icy blue gaze flicked from my hand blocking her path up to my eyes. Even my saviors shifted nervously at the rage that pulsed behind her expression. “Have you lost your mind?”
6
KIERA
“Absolutely not.”Dom lifted her hand to mine, ready to rip it off the handle, but I held strong, shifting my body in front of the door.
“Think about this for five seconds. You guys are fucking scary?—”
“I’ll show you just how scary I am if you?—”
“Let me finish.” I saw Leo tense out of the corner of my eye, preparing to throw herself between me and Dom if shit went south. “If this girl wakes up drunk and high in a car with you, she’s going to freak out. No offense. But sending her with someone who looks less like a tattooed criminal and more like some girl she met in the bar bathroom might make her feel less like she’s being kidnapped. Less likely to run.”
My chest rose and fell hard as my eyes flicked from Leo and Spencer up to Dom’s, waiting for her verdict. Stepping between her and the car had been a bold move — clearly, she didn’t take kindly to being told no.
Before she could exact my penance, Spencer stepped forward. “She’s got a point, Dom…”
“No.” Her nostrils flared as she growled at Spencer over her shoulder, never taking her eyes off of me.
The ice in her gaze was cracking — and from the set of her jaw, it was clear that she hoped the glare would send me running. But I couldn’t. Not knowing what was on the line.
“The Oracle wants me involved. This is me, getting involved.” I stepped forward, lowering her voice so that just the two of us could hear it, “Please… let me help.”
I held out my hand for the keys, preparing myself to have it slapped away or worse.
To my surprise, Dom simply scrubbed a palm over her face. “Fine.”
She fished the keys from her pocket, not trying to hide her frustration as she slammed the jagged tangle into my palm. “Follow Leo’s bike. Spencer and I will keep an eye on the back.”
“Got it,” I murmured.
But before I could pull my hand away, Dom’s fingers tightened around mine. “Kiera…Don’t try anything stupid.”
I lifted my eyes to hers, trying to read the flicker of emotion there. There was a tenderness. Fear, even. But her gaze froze over as quickly as it had thawed. “My bike is faster than his car. Don’t make me prove it.”
“Yeah, whatever.” I dropped my gaze to the ground, turning my attention to the car instead of the heat creeping up my neck.
I popped the door open as Dom stalked off to her bike. But before I could dip into the driver’s seat, Spencer jogged over, catching me off guard with a soft kiss on the lips.
I blinked hard as I pulled away, “What was that for?”
“Be safe.” She whispered as she brushed a finger over my cheek. Dom’s gaze might have been an icy, impenetrable wall, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to read the worry all over Spencer’s.
Leo’s bike rumbled as she pulled up beside us, lifting her visor to lock eyes with me. Her shoulders never looked broader than when she was clutching the handles of her bike, ready to kick things into full gear. And the sight of her solid frame was a comfort in itself. “Stick close, Princess. I’ll make sure we get there just fine.”
“Roger that, Major.” I feigned a salute as Spencer gave me one last kiss on the temple, and then I ducked into the sedan.
The interior of the car was disgusting. Our perp had been using one of the cupholders as an ashtray, and the entire car reeked of cigarettes and weed. Kicking around the passenger footwell were all types of takeout wrappers and a couple of water bottles filled with amber piss.
“Jesus,” I shuddered as I shoved the key into the ignition, reluctant to even touch the steering wheel. But as I adjusted the mirrors, catching sight of the girl in the backseat, I knew that it didn’t matter what I had to do.She’s getting home safe tonight.
