“I’ll tell you one thing, you might be pretty, but you sure are stubborn.” I ruffled her hair and walked over to my bike. “C’mon, let’s go for a ride.”
Chapter 10
Linda
I stared at him with my arms still crossed over my chest. “What makes you think that I want to go on a ride with you? I already said I wasn’t interested in learning.”
“I’ll be the one driving so you have nothing to be afraid of. I’ve never been in an accident.” I found that hard to believe. The way he had ridden the day before made me feel like he was reckless. “Do you not trust me anymore, just because you found out that Liv is my ex-girlfriend? Jealousy really is the green-eyed monster.”
“I already told you, I’m not jealous.”
“Whatever you say.” I rolled my eyes. Of course I wasn’t jealous. Why should I be? It wasn’t like what happened between us meant anything… I just lost my head last night. That’s all. Nothing more.
Kyle started the motorcycle and it roared to life. I stepped back quickly, a bit apprehensive, but I had to admit that the sound of the bike did send a rush through my body like I was being hit with a dose of adrenaline. I couldn’t quite explain it.
“You’re really going to make me come over there?” He hopped off and came toward me with a helmet, plopping it on my head. “How do you expect to learn about the motorcycle culture if you’re afraid to get on a bike?”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Right, right. You aren’t afraid of anything.”
“Exactly.”
“So, you should have no problem getting on board and going for a spin with me.” Kyle grinned, knowing he had cornered me. Backing out now would just make me look like a hypocrite.
“Fine.”
“I knew you’d come around.” He gently adjusted the strap on my helmet and then kissed my cheek. I felt a rush of excitement run down my spine. As distant as I wanted to be toward this man, it was hard when he made me feel so alive. But I had to keep a clear head. If I was going to figure out this murder case, I needed to be in the right frame of mind. I couldn’t let myself get too drawn in.
“Where are we going anyway?”
“You love to ask that question, but the best part of going for a ride is that there’s really no destination. The roads are yours for the taking. You can end up anywhere. You let the bike guide you.”
“Isn’t that just a way of wasting gas?” I asked.
“Maybe. But people waste a lot of things in more frivolous ways.”
He had a point. I sighed and watched him as he put on his leather jacket and matching helmet. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He was so attractive. Back when I first met him, when he was wearing a prison-issued jumpsuit, he looked like any other man, but now, dressed in nothing more than tight black jeans and a leather jacket, he looked like someone that belonged on the front cover of a magazine. I gulped down my emotions, knowing I couldn’t let him figure out what I was thinking.
He looked back at me, waiting for me to get on. Mustering all my courage, I got back on the bike, very much aware of all the times I had failed to ride it that morning. As he pulled up the kickstand, I expected that excoriating grinding sound to return, but with Kyle in command, it rolled out of the open door with ease. We turned onto the street and the wind started to whip around the few strands of hair that poked out from under my helmet.
“Are you okay back there? You should really hold on.” My hands were on my thighs, but then I remembered the first time I had ridden with him. I quickly wrapped my arms around his waist, locking myself into place. I wasn’t going to fall off. I didn’t even want to think about it. With my head against his back, I started to relax. The vibrations that scuttled under my skin seemed to somehow soothe me. I could almost understand why motorcycle gangs existed. The feeling associated with being on the open road was exhilarating.
I held onto Kyle just a little bit tighter, scooting forward until our bodies were pressed together. I could feel the hardness of his muscles and it sent a tingle down to my pussy. Last night, Kyle had rocked my world and I still couldn’t get my mind off it. His naked profile haunted me and all I could do was imagine his lips on my chest. I could almost feel it…
As we turned into a backroad, Kyle pulled back on the throttle, really making us fly. My fingers tightened around the fabric of his shirt as I started to get anxious. When I closed my eyes, I was pulled back into one of the memories I had long tried to forget. A memory I had suppressed and only now remembered.
I was with a group of my friends – or at least I thought they were. We used to hang out in an alleyway, exchanging stories to pass the time. It was the place where misfits came to hang out – misfits like me.
One day, one of my closest friends came in hauling a dirt bike. He had a dirty grin on his face when he showed it to me. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I thought I’d be able to drive all the way to Canada on that thing so I persuaded him to let me take it for a spin.
Everything started off okay. The bike started to move and as I pushed it a little harder, it jerked forward. I must have locked up because the next thing I knew, I was flying down the street, heading straight for a brick wall. All I remember is smashing into it – seeing little stars in the corners of my vision. Then, the excruciating pain in my legs and chest kicked in…
Chapter 11
Kyle
“Linda, you can let go now.” She was holding onto me so tightly that I thought something was wrong. I tried to pry her fingers off my shirt, but they were rigid. “Linda,” I called out again, a little louder this time. She seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was in because she immediately loosened her grip.
“Huh?”
“Are you okay?” I eased her off the bike and looked at her face, noticing that her skin was a little pale. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I…” She tried to move away from me, but she wobbled, nearly losing her balance. I caught her before she could topple over. Taking her into my arms, I carried her into the diner.
“Kyle –” The owner stopped mid-sentence when he saw us. I placed Linda down in a booth. It looked like she had fainted.
“Marshall, get me a wet washcloth. Now.”
The older man nodded, rushing into the back. A few seconds later, he emerged and handed me the cloth. I gently dabbed Linda’s forehead with it, hoping she would come to. Was she that afraid of motorcycles? I couldn’t understand why she was so jittery today when she had been fine the first time around.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, fluttering her eyelashes. She sat up, looking confused before she saw me. “Kyle… what happened?”
I motioned for Marshall to leave us. He moved behind the counter, wiping it down with a rag. I could tell he was trying to eavesdrop. The diner was empty. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do. “Are you okay?” I asked, grabbing her hand, holding it gently.
“I… my head feels funny.”
“You fainted. Did something happen? Did I go too fast?”
She shook her head and bit her lip. She had a habit of doing so and it drove me insane. I wanted to kiss those pouty pink lips of hers, but now wouldn’t be the best time.
“No… It’s just… When I was younger, I had a really bad accident. I think I just had a really vivid flashback and it triggered some kind of response. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to worry you.” I squeezed her hand in mine and smiled at her.
“No need to apologize. It happens to the best of us.” I beckoned Marshall over, ordering us two colas and some nachos. He nodded, disappearing into the kitchen to rouse his staff.
“Where are we anyway?”
“This is a little diner I like to come to sometimes. It’s Marshall’s Diner. Nothing too fancy, but the owner is a really good friend of mine. I thought he could help us out with something I have planned.”
“Why do I not like the sound of that?” She asked as she grabbed one of the coasters and started to pl
ay with it nervously.
“Well, you obviously still have your doubts about me.”
“Are we really on that again?”
“Of course we are. I told you I wouldn’t stop until you could look me in the eye and accept, without a doubt, that I’m not the murderer.”
“Okay. So how is this Marshall guy going to help us?” She asked, refusing to make eye contact.
“Well, for starters, this place is neutral territory. Both Blackbirds and Iron Horses come here for a good meal. He makes the best burgers and nachos in town if you didn’t know.”
“No, I don’t usually come to this part of town.” She said, still refusing to look at me.
I reached across the table and lifted her chin. “Linda.” Our eyes locked. I could see the fear and mistrust on her face and my heart tightened for a second. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“But… I fainted, just because I got on a motorcycle. That’s embarrassing.”
“You had an accident. It’s okay for you to be afraid. You don’t have to act like you’re Miss Tough all the time. I won’t judge you if you end up having a few vulnerabilities.”
She shook her head. “You just don’t understand because you’ve never been weak.”
“I’ve been weak all my life. I’m still weak now.”
“How are you weak? You’re the leader of a motorcycle club. You’re attractive. You always hold yourself like you own the entire world.”
“That’s all just an act. I can act confident all I want, but sometimes, I have my moments of fear as well. I know it didn’t look like it, but I was scared when you told me you wouldn’t defend my case. I was so sure I would end up in jail. I honestly don’t know how my gang managed to get my bail.”
“You were scared?” Linda nearly spat out the words. “How on Earth were you scared? I can’t picture you being scared of anything.”
I chuckled. “You think too highly of me. I’m human, just like everyone else.” Before I could say anything else, Marshall appeared with our food, placing it in front of us. I was relieved to see Linda grabbing a tortilla chip and eating it.
“Enjoy.” Marshall smiled at us.
“Before you go… I have a question for you.” I popped a chip into my mouth, nearly burning the roof of my mouth with the cheese. I swallowed down the bite, painfully trying not to make a fool of myself, but I heard Linda giggle. She obviously noticed my struggle. I felt embarrassed, but I straightened out my posture, trying to remain composed.
“Yes?” Marshall pulled up a chair and sat down next to us like he was going to tell a story by the campfire.
“Have you heard anything about Danny recently?”
“You mean Daniel Smith?”
“That’s the one.” I took a sip of my soda, trying to wash down a piece of tortilla that was lodged in my throat. Linda continued to giggle. I did my best to ignore her. She was having way too much fun watching me struggle.
“I haven’t seen him around these parts in quite a while… actually, since you got arrested.”
“Exactly. I have a hunch – well not really a hunch – I know he killed Ross.”
“I was thinking the same thing myself.” Marshall ran his hand through his white beard and leaned back. “So how come you were the one that got arrested?”
“I fit the bill.” I glanced over at Linda who quietly sipped her soda.
“I see. Well, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him since you got arrested. Rumor is he went into hiding, but if you really want to find out, you should ask around at Kilroy’s.”
“That’s the bar the Iron Horses always go to, isn’t it?” I knew the answer to that, but I was just being polite. I knew Marshall got a kick out of teaching people new stuff.
“That’s the one. It’s just off Route Six. You know, there’s a fork in the road? Just stick to the left, you can’t miss it.”
“Thanks, Marshall. I’ll check it out.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. The Iron Horses would spit you out alive if they thought you were the one that murdered their leader.”
“Thanks for the tip.” I smiled at him and he took the cue to leave. He stepped behind the counter and started polishing some glasses, looking a bit bored with himself. In a few hours, he would be swamped with customers. It was still early.
“What was that all about?” Linda asked, grabbing another chip. She nibbled on the end of it, looking pleased with herself. I noticed that a good quarter of the appetizer was already gone.
“Someone likes the nachos.”
“Someone’s avoiding my question.”
“I’m not avoiding anything.” I leaned back in the booth.
“Then why are you just looking at me?”
“I might’ve forgotten your question.” I chuckled. “I have a horrible memory, you know?” I told her with a straight face, even though I was lying.
“And you want me to trust you… Spill it. What’s you big plan?”
“Ah.” I put my soda down. “I’m actually going to need your help and since you’re not afraid of anything, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I don’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.”
“We need to infiltrate Iron Horses territory and figure out where they’re hiding Danny.”
“You’re nuts.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But that’s the only way we can really get to the bottom of this. We have to deal with this problem head on.”
“Or we can go through legal channels as we’re supposed to. Did you forget you kidnapped me?”
“The legal system is the thing that put me behind bars in the first place and we both know that I wasn’t guilty of anything.”
“I never said you were innocent.”
“But I’m innocent until proven guilty.”
I watched in satisfaction as she ground her teeth in frustration. “You forget I studied the classics… which means a lot of classes on Aristotelian logic and debate.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes at me.
“Anyway, are you in?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really.”
“Then I guess so.”
***
“Are these disguises really necessary?” Linda asked me the second she got off the bike. It was around midnight, just when Kilroy’s was at its busiest.
“Do you want these people to kill us? I’m the leader of a rival gang, remember?”
“Okay, you got a point. But why did I have to dress up too?”
“You would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb. Besides, you look pretty cute in a leather jacket. Especially one that fits you properly. Good thing you and Liv are the same size.” I chuckled, moving behind her and giving her ass a firm squeeze. She really did look amazing in the leather skinny jeans and matching jacket. She looked like someone who belonged on the back of a motorcycle. I feared I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her. “C’mon.”
“Are you sure we can pull this off? I mean, isn’t it dangerous?” She slapped my hand off her ass and gave me the stink eye.
“Sure, but don’t you want to know where Danny is?”
“Not really.”
“Oh?” I was a little confused by her answer. “Are you finally convinced I didn’t do it?”
“No.”
“Then what, you just want to stay with me forever?”
“No.”
“You’re a hard nut to crack, you know that, Linda?” There was a half-smile lingering on her face before she walked up to the door and pulled it open as if she had been there countless times before. I followed her, making sure to keep my head lowered and in the shadows. I couldn’t allow myself to be recognized. I had a bandana on and I had covered up all my tattoos, but it would still be easy for someone to pick me out as the leader of the Blackbirds. This was a risky mission, to say the least, but I knew it had to be done. I had to prove my innocence, one way or another.
The bar was crowded and rowdy. Men and wo
men of all shapes and sizes clung to the tables, drinking beer and having a good time. I pulled Linda close to me, noticing some wandering eyes lingering on her body for a little too long. “Whatever happens, make sure you stay close to me.”
I pulled her toward the bar and sat down in the two seats furthest from the door. I would have preferred something a little closer, in case things got messy, but the bar was too crowded. I didn’t have a choice. I kept a hand on Linda’s thigh, squeezing it slightly. She turned to look at me, her eyes blazing.
“I haven’t seen you two here before. Are you from out of town?”
Trust Me: A Bad Boy MC Romance Page 18
