Page 30 of Praying for Thunder

“Shhh…” He touched her face. “That title is held high with my brothers, hence the trust it receives, but you not being one doesn’t change what I will do for you—”

“Only three days. There’s no way you feel so strongly.”

Readjusting a pillow, he teased, “Don’t you believe in love at first sight?”

Barely audible, she lied, “No.”

He smiled. “You’re a terrible liar.”

She tried to hold out but finally cracked a smile. “She told me the same.”

“She fell in love with her one-night stand, didn’t she?”

Ani rolled her eyes. “She believed so, but that angel was a romantic fool.”

“I must be a fool, also.”

“Love at first sight, huh? You know you’re a biker, right?”

“I keep telling you I’m not like the ones you knew.”

She sighed. “You taking the time to bother talking to me tells me you’re not.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere. Let’s continue with that.” Dio hoped she could hear his sincerity. “The man, the biological father, he made her heart… thunder.”

She sucked in her lip, then admitted, “Yes, that’s why you’re wrong about Niño’s name,” she petted my hair, “being that.”

Hazel eyes almost glowed. “She felt it was the magic, the connection, that created her greatest gift from—”

Ani’s mouth fell open. “Oh my God.”

Diablo lifted his ringed brow. “What?”

She rushed from the bed, digging through her backpack.

As items flung through the air, Dio asked, “Why is your bag full of—” There was one set of clothing for each of us, cash, and supplies not many women carry for everyday travels. He paled. “Aw, babe.”

Still digging, she sadly shrugged. “Always keep necessities near, just in case,” she shrugged again, “ya gotta go.”

Observing more items, he sternly asked, “Where’s your gun? Wait a minute.” He eyed me. “He didn’t know what mine was.” He looked back at her. “A bluff?”

Sheepishly, she winced. “Kind of.” She came back with a silver chain necklace. Quickly crawling back into bed, she handed it to him. “He bought it for her that night.”

Dio teased, “Damn. Jewelry on the first night? I got some making up to do.”

She smiled. “You gifted me with a tattoo.”

He drifted in thought. “That wasn’t all me.” But swiftly, he got back to the necklace. It had a big silver cross charm. The big part of the cross was a bolt of lightning. Examining the back, he read, “Redemption Ryders. Hmm. That sounds familiar. Wait, you said he bought this for her.”

Ani nodded. “And had it engraved with something she swore was important.”

“She didn’t tell you why?”

“Refused. In case—”

“In case what?”

Ani suddenly appeared young and scared. “In case our Prez was to find out she had escaped the hotel room for the day, and—”