Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I was breathless again, remembering it all because that biker stared right at us, as if he could see into the backseat and right through me. Shane King. AKA Ghost. AKA the guy I did not want to see during this trip.
The guy now struggling back to his feet was the opposite. He was the reason we were on this journey in the first place.
“Whoa. Tell me you know them, Kali.” Harper fanned himself with his Mike & Ike bag. “The blond is hot. Holy shit indeed. You said it, Aly.”
“Do you?” Aly sounded breathless too.
They hadn’t recognized Shane.
I couldn’t blame them, but I didn’t answer—not right away.
We kept driving.
The bikers watched us as we passed.
It wasn’t until we saw the sign telling us we were entering Frisco, population 372, that I spoke.
“That was Shane.”
As we drove through Frisco, it felt like something out of a movie—where outsiders rolled into a town of serial killers. Except our windows were up, because it was hot. We had the air conditioner on, so no wind made our hair move through air in slow motion. And no one stepped out of their homes or buildings because they sensed the new prey. Though I did see two prospects outside the biker bar, eyeing us as we went past.
A shiver moved down my back, and I tried to ignore a tickling at the back of my throat. It didn’t matter what I was feeling. Claudia was here, and I’d told Ruby I’d bring her back.
I needed to try, or move to California.
“There’s nowhere I feel safe stopping,” Aly commented.
No one argued.
I wasn’t just willing to bet money that my sister was at the biker bar. She was there. That tickling feeling turned into dread. That’s how sure I was, but Aly kept driving. And I didn’t stop her.
There was a diner when I looked up again. I’d missed the other buildings, but it seemed you just blinked, and you were through Frisco.
Aly kept driving.
“Oh, look at that. They have their own nursing home.” Harper sounded like he was cooing at a puppy.
“Pull up the map,” Aly said. “There’s no place to stay, and I’m not asking the nursing home if they have an extra room for us. We need to set up somewhere and have a meeting before going back.”
“Right.” Harper pulled out his phone, sounding businesslike now, but he twisted back to me first. “You think there’s any gay members in there? Did Shane say anything about that when you saw him?”
“I have no idea, but no matter his orientation, he’s a Red Demon. Are you insane?”
Harper frowned at my tone. “What?” He shrugged. “It’s not like I’m going to shack up with the guy and be his cute butt.”
Aly snorted and started giggling.
She’d been driving for the last five hours. We’d made one gas-and-pee stop, but I was pretty sure she was delirious. Maybe not, but she’d definitely been through the emotional wringer. Harper had laid into her about fucking her fireman again. He wanted all the details.
“It’s sweet butt, and don’t say that again because you don’t know what that term means.”
He shot me a grin. “I can google it.”
Aly started giggling even louder. “Let’s learn all the biker language.”
“I’m on it!”
I needed to pick my battles with these guys. I noted a sign that said Fallen Crest was thirty-two miles away. “Harper, look up Fallen Crest. See if that town has a hotel or motel.”
Turns out, it did.
Turns out, Fallen Crest was the complete opposite of Frisco.
I hit call on my phone.
“Kalista Calliope Michaels. I did not receive a call last night.”
I groaned. “I know. I’m sorry, Dad.”
I told him about the rest of the trip. I didn’t leave any of it out.
“That’s not right, Kali. You shouldn’t have messaged JustinBanana behind Harper’s back.”
My mouth dropped. “Dad! He wants to marry him.”
“That don’t matter. Your mother wanted to marry me, and see how that turned out. And don’t start because we would’ve had you no matter if we were married or not. You were destined to be in our lives and we’re all the more blessed because of it. Still do not think it was cool you messaged JustinBanana behind Harper’s back.”
“His name is Justin, not JustinBanana.”
“You told me it was JustinBanana. Why would you tell me it was JustinBanana if his name is not JustinBanana? A man has a name for a reason. I’m of a mind to refer to him as the name he was given.”
“His last name is not Banana.”
“Then why would you say his name was JustinBanana if Banana is not a last name? Some folk have unique last names. It’s not my place to judge. I still get a kick of everyone who’s got a last name of Johnson. That shit is funny. Johnson because it makes me think of a johnson. Can you imagine the name of Dick Johnson? Wait. Do we know any?”