Page 61 of Riding Hard

Dare doesn’t answer immediately. He’s been looking straight ahead, but then his gaze shifts over to meet mine. “What happens when one of our guys does a job somewhere other than Boulder City and gets caught on an arson charge?” he counters.

That’s a fair question, and the way he asks it makes me think he’s been thinking about this for a while. He’s probably played out a dozen scenarios in his head over and over, knowing that even if this whole thing isn’t ideal, it’s also the only way we can make it work.

“I trust you,” I state. “Let’s do this.”

I mean everything I’m saying. I do trust him. I always have. Known him my whole life. He’s only two years older than me. He’s my brother, my friend, and my president. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and if anyone is going to lead us, I’m damn glad it’s him.

“Let’s go talk to some Russians,” Wrath growls.

We start our engines and, one by one, ride our bikes out of the parking lot, following one another and heading straight for the fanciest fucking neighborhood I’ve ever set my eyes on.

Mansion after mansion lines the streets. There’s a lake, too, and some of them have fucking lakefront properties with boat ramps and everything. I couldn’t imagine living like this, and it’s at this moment that I wonder if working with them is going to be such a bad deal after all.

CHAPTER

FIFTY

JULIETTE

After cleaning the strip club, I walk out into the parking lot and look around. A chill slides down my back because I know I’m being watched, and I know it isn’t Slade. He’s gone out of town and asked me to pick up Cade from school since he won’t be back in time.

A meeting.

That’s all he told me, and I didn’t ask for any more details. Maybe I should have. There’s a feeling of impending doom hanging over me, and it’s heavy, almost as if it’s pressing against my chest.

That, along with the feeling of being watched, is making me feel sick to my stomach. All I need to do is get into the car, drive to the school, gather Cade, and drive back to Slade’s house.

Easy peasy.

“You good?” Alex calls out.

Shifting my focus to the club’s front door, I watch as he locks it, then checks it, before making his way toward me. I am not good. I don’t know what I am, but it’s not good. I can’t tell him any of that without sounding a little unhinged, though, so I don’t.

Flashing him a smile, I shrug a shoulder. “I’ll be fine,” I say as my response.

Because how can I not be? I don’t have a choice but to be fine, just like always, and this is no different. I just need to get through whatever this is. Maybe it’s my anxiety, maybe it’s actually someone watching me, but it doesn’t matter. And I repeat that to myself over and over.

“Seriously, if you need something, we’re family, Juliette.”

Alex is sweet, and I believe his words, which is why I’m not telling him a freaking thing, because I don’t want him to get hurt. If Victor is out there somewhere watching me, then I want to make sure I’m the only one he goes after.

Then something causes my heart to race. Cade. If I’m not being paranoid or anxious, if he’s really out there, I can’t have Cade get hurt.

“You know what? I do need something.” My words come out in a rush.

Alex presses his lips into a straight line, his brows snapping together, and concern immediately consumes his face. He takes one step toward me, then another. He’s close enough that I can whisper and he’ll hear me.

I’m not going to tell him anything about Victor, though. He already knows about him, and maybe he’ll figure it out, but I’m not offering shit because I don’t want him to get caught in the crosshairs.

“Can you pick Cade up from school and take him to the clubhouse for me?”

He nods once, but then his body freezes. “The clubhouse?” he asks.

“Maybe get him something to eat. I can give you some money.”

My fingers tremble as I reach for my little purse, where I have a little money shoved into the side pocket. Alex reaches out, his fingers curling around my wrist to stop me. His grip tightens, and I lift my gaze to meet his. He’s got about a dozen questions swirling around in his eyes, but not a single one of them is one I’m going to answer.

“Please,” I rasp.