“For me?” I turn questioningly.
“You mentioned loving motorcycles. And I stumbled onto one I thought you might like.”
“A motorcycle?” I repeat, following him outside with a combination of curiosity and confusion.
“What do you think?” Silver points, and Metal’s sitting on a gorgeous black and silver Harley-Davidson. It’s old and could probably use a little work but absolutely beautiful.
“I mean, it’s beautiful, but I can’t just take it.”
“You can. I got it in exchange for an old debt. Guy passed away, and I wasn’t going to harass his widow for five grand. She offered me the bike and I took it. But here’s the thing—the debt is from fifteen years ago. I wrote it off, never thought I’d get anything for it. The bike was a bonus. And I donotneed another one. Truly. I have seven. Even the guys are starting to call me a hoarder. So, what do you think?”
“I don’t want to owe you,” I say carefully.
He shakes his head. “It’s not like that. You’ve been taking care of my daughter twenty-four-seven for nearly two months now. I gave Daniil some money but no way it covers two months of your unlimited services. Consider it a bonus. No strings attached.”
I glance at Daniil, who followed us outside, and he shrugs. “Up to you, buddy. I’d take it. She’s a beauty.”
I stare at the motorcycle trying to suppress a feeling I can only describe as longing.
It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time and I know Daniil wouldn’t encourage me to take it if he thought there was anything nefarious about the transaction.
“Thank you,” I say, shaking his hand.
“You’re welcome.”
It doesn’t escape me that Tex isn’t here. Metal and Thunder are standing there grinning, like they’re genuinely happy for me.
“I can help you get her running better,” Metal says. “Engine’s a little twitchy.”
Rage comes out and joins us, along with Chaos and Mark. They’re fawning over the Harley, asking questions and talking about how good it’s going to look once I’ve touched up the paint.
I’m so involved in what we’re doing that I don’t notice Allora at first. She’s standing about twenty feet away watching, and there’s an expression on her face I’ve never seen before. She’s not angry but there’s a flicker of disappointment that’s hard to understand. Like I’ve somehow let her down.
“Babe, come see what your dad brought me,” I call to her.
She walks over to us slowly. It’s obvious that she’s masking whatever she’s feeling, putting on an act in front of her dad and our friends, keeping her expression neutral.
“A motorcycle?” she asks, looking at her father. “Why would you give him this?”
He explains about the debt and how he doesn’t need another bike and how I mentioned wanting one.
“I haven’t paid nearly enough for the protection he’s providing, so I thought it would be a gesture.”
“I see.” She nods. “It’ll look good with a new coat of paint, some updated chrome.”
To anyone else, she seems politely interested, like a woman who’s not really into motorcycles but is happy for her man.
I know better.
She’s notat allhappy, and I honestly don’t know what the problem is. Probably because it’s a gift from her father. But once we’re alone I’ll reassure her that there are no strings attached.
Metal turns a key and the engine comes to life, drawing my attention. Without hesitation, I swing my leg over and settle on the worn leather seat, getting a feel for having this kind of powerbeneath me again. She’ll be fun to ride, and if I can get Allora on the back, we can take a trip up the coast.
It’s exciting, and I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I forget about Allora again for a little while.
And the next time I look for her, she’s gone.
“What’s going on with Allora?” Rage asks me once Silver, Thunder, and Metal head inside with Daniil.
