Page 49 of Savagely Scarred

“It was in my hand when I put the case of energy drinks in there.” He grins from ear to ear.

“Maybe the energy drinks are your problem.”

“Naaaah.” He grabs his black helmet off the counter, tucking it under his arm. The screech of his boots continues to the door where he stops to pick up his leather jacket.

“Dude, you sound like a fucking walking squeaky toy.”

He laughs. “Sadie would love it!” I nod, because she would. “They’re new. It will eventually stop.”

We leave the apartment and while he’s locking up, the door next to him creaks open. Mrs. Ilgenfritz peeks out of the door, before opening it wider. Her eyes bulge behind her thick-framed glasses, making them appear four times larger. She clutches the literal pearls at her neck.

“Michael! You have a motorcycle?” she asks in astonishment.

He steps towards her smiling. “Yes, ma’am. Going to go pick it up right now.”

“Don’t you go dying on me,” she scolds him, her face in a scowl. Dorian beams like she just told him she loved him. She steps back inside the apartment. “No one will bring me my mail.”

And with that… she slams the door in his face.

His face falls and I burst out laughing, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder. He looks at me with sad puppy dog eyes, and it makes me laugh even harder. We turn and walk to the elevator.

“I thought she cared about me for a second there,” he says as the metal doors close.

“She’s warming up to you.” I snicker and push the button for the lobby.

He nods. “I’ll win her over one of these days.”

When we arrive at the mechanic in Jersey, Dorian’s legs are bouncing with excitement in the passenger seat. He’s been waiting for this for weeks. The bike was in the impound lot when he bought it, so it took some extra steps to get it in his hands. It also needed some work done because it was scratched to hell from crashing in a high-speed chase.

He bolts out of the car as soon as I throw my Charger in park. I scroll through my phone while waiting on him when a text comes through from Roberts.

I need you in Riverside Park ASAP

My body instantly tenses up, my grip tightening on my phone. When he drops the location, I exit the car and walk over to Dorian. He’s standing next to the black sports bike, pulling on his helmet.

“Hey man, I can’t follow you back to the house. Roberts needs to see me.” I point to my phone.

“What for?” he asks, buckling the strap under his chin.

“Promotion?” I allude to.

Dorian gives me an incredulous look. He swings his leg over the bike and inserts the key.

Because it’s our day off.

And a Sunday.

I wouldn’t believe it either.

“Not sure what he wants. But it must be important.” I swallow hard and start to turn away from him, but then stop as dread creeps up my spine. “Do me a favor though. Liv should be home soon if she’s not already. Can you just hang out with her ‘til I get home?”

“Yeah, no problem.” He slams his visor down and starts the bike.

Back in the car, I toss my phone on the seat and turn the key. The engine roars to life and mimics my racing heart. I speed out of the parking lot, gravel flying up behind me. My car fishtails when I turn the corner too fast, and then I race towards the Lincoln tunnel.

That park is so close to where Liv runs. She could have easily ran that way to escape. Or he could have forced her there. Liv wouldn’t have willingly gone that way because of Sadie.

I grab my phone off the seat and call her once I’m through the tunnel. It just rings. I swerve around traffic in a futile attempt to get there faster.