Page 211 of Override

"Waiting for him."

"Why?"

I look at the front door. "Because I think I need more people on my side."

Keaton goes very still. When I look at him, his expression has changed. Not angry. Something deeper. Something I don't understand yet.

"You have me." The words are quiet. Certain.

My throat tightens. "I know."

His fingers close more firmly around mine. Then a motorcycle roars up the driveway behind us.

Keaton closes his eyes. I stare through the back window as Wheels pulls up beside the SUV, cuts the engine, and removes his helmet.

He grins at us through the passenger window.

I look back at Keaton. "You said he wasn't coming."

"I said he'd be fine."

"That's not the same thing."

"I know."

Wheels knocks on my window and shouts through the glass. "Family field trip!"

And for the second time since we pulled through the gates, I laugh.

Chapter 44

Keaton (Skee)

I stare at Wheels through the passenger window. For one dangerously appealing second, I consider putting the SUV in reverse, backing over his motorcycle, and driving away before he can climb back on it.

It would solve several problems. Primarily the one currently waving at me through the window.

Unfortunately, running over a teammate's motorcycle tends to be frowned upon. Matt would probably call it an "abuse of company resources," and Wheels would never let me forget it.

More importantly...Maeve needs this. She needs her parents. She needs answers. She deserves to know whether the people she's spent months believing abandoned her actually did. Turning around now would only delay the inevitable. It wouldn't protect her.

It would protect me from watching whatever comes next. I don't get that luxury. With a quiet sigh, I kill the engine.

Beside me, Maeve's fingers tighten around the cuffs of her sweatshirt again as she stares toward the front door.

She's scared. I know because she's stopped moving. I reach for the handle.

"So," I mutter. "Family field trip."

Her laugh is softer this time. "I liked you better when you didn't make jokes."

"I wasn't joking."

She smiles. Good. I'll take every one I can get.

I climb out of the SUV and circle around the front just as another engine echoes up the driveway. Then another. I stop.

"...You've got to be kidding me."