Page 62 of The Riders’ Reign

Holy shit. I’ve been shot.

27

ROOK

I see Ace go down, a bullet hole tearing into the back of his cut. I turn, spotting the man who’s just shot him. He widens his eyes, as though he’s realized he’s just made a terrible mistake, and dives back behind the huge container he’s been hiding behind, but not before I manage to get a bullet in his shoulder.

A scream sounds, and then Camile sprints over to Ace, her hair flying, her arms pumping.

Ghost, who’s been weirdly nonchalant until now, takes off after her.

She shouldn’t have left the car. I shout her name, but she doesn’t even look at me, She’s focused entirely on Ace on the ground.

Her face is white, her dark eyes filled with terror.

“Ace, oh, God, Ace!”

Still lying on the ground, Ace lets out a groan and rolls onto his back.

“Holy shit, that hurt. Good thing we all decided to wear these body armor things.” He grins up at us.

Camile bursts out laughing, which then turns into a sob as she hits the ground, her knees surely hurting with the impact.

“Goddamn it, Ace.” She berates him as she bends over him, crying into his chest.

Our men are slowly gathering around us

I bark out an order. “Secure this area.”

We are sitting ducks out here for any stragglers remaining from Hector’s little gang. I don’t know how many got on that plane. There are some bodies strewn around, but I haven’t exactly done a headcount.

Four of the club members do as I say and, with weapons raised, scout the area.

“Fuck me, Ghost. I assume that was down to you.” Ace speaks over Camile’s shoulder, from where he’s still on his back on the ground, Camile sniffling into his cut.

Ghost shrugs as though it was nothing. “They made the mistake of taking their eye off me.”

Ace chuckles and stroke’s Camile’s hair. “Come on, Princess. Let me up. I’m okay.” He gently moves her off him and sits, shaking his head. “I’d really hate to know how that feels without a vest.”

Camile pushes to her feet, holds her hand out to Ace, and helps him up. “You are in so much trouble for scaring me like that.” She pouts.

Ace barks out a laugh. “Princess, you have no idea. Your stunt tonight, demanding you stayed until you saw Hector dead? Oh, boy, when I tell Jack.”

“Why?” she demands. “What was wrong with that?”

“I can’t focus on the gunfight when I’m freaking out about you still being in harm’s way.” He points out what should be obvious.

“Oh.” Her face falls a little.

“Yeah.” Ace nudges her gently. “Don’t worry. I’ll enjoy thinking of an appropriate punishment.”

Ghost is rubbing his arms where they were bound. Camile springs from Ace’s side and runs up to him, and as if no one else is here, she throws her arms around him and kisses him. Not a soft kiss, no, she kisses him like she’s auditioning for a passionate role in a sexy movie. It is intense and involves lots of tongue, from what I can see.

Damn, Ghost is a lucky man. For someone so stoic, I half expect him to gently push her away, but he doesn’t. He pulls her into him and wraps his arms around her as he groans into her mouth.

Phoenix clears his throat as though to remind the pair of them that they have an audience. Ghost and Camile pull apart, and she places her hand to his cheek.

“I’m so happy you’re okay.”