Page 113 of The Price of Love

CHAPTER 41

STORM

After Shadow split off and rode on to the Steel Graces’ clubhouse, Dimples and I found a gas station to fuel up. We didn’t need much gas. We just needed something to do.

Now we’re sitting sideways on our bike seats in the Wilton Mall parking lot, waiting for Shadow. The big mall lights come on as the sun sets.

Dimples is doing her best to make small talk, but I’m only hearing half of what she’s been saying.

“How long has she been gone?” I ask.

“Five minutes longer than the last time you asked,” Dimples says.

“What do you think is happening? What do you think she’s gonna do?”

Dimples gives me a concerned smile. “I don’t know, Storm. She’s got a tough decision.”

I look down at my scuffed boots and kick at a piece of mud on my foot peg. “Even if she never talks to me again, I’ll never renounce her.” I put my hand over my face. “Fuck. I wanted to walk in Aces’ footsteps—just not like this.”

“I know.” Dimples’ voice is soft. “You’ll know soon.”

“Will I?” Since Shadow rode off on her own, I’ve wondered. If she’s threatened with expulsion, would she risk talking to me again or disappear?

“She’s better than that,” Dimples says. “She won’t just leave us sitting out here.”

I pull my phone from my pocket. “But she might text.” Nothing. I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. “Did you hear that?”

Dimples smiles. “You’ve been jumping at every bike we’ve heard since we got here.”

“But listen. I think it might be a Shovelhead.”

“Which you’ve already said four times. I doubt there are that many around Saratoga.”

I watch as a bike approaches the stoplight. The rider is small. It could be a woman. “I think that’s her.”

Dimples stands and cranes her neck. “You might be right.”

My heart races. It must be a good sign that she’s coming. Or she’s going to let me down in person. It’d be perfect retribution for Wiz.

It’s Shadow, still wearing her aviator glasses, even though the light is fading.

She pulls up next to me. I want to jump off my bike and rush to her, but I hold back.

“Follow me home,” she says. “I don’t wanna talk here.”

The fuck. I want to know now, but she likely wants to get her bearings.

Dimples hops on her Indian and fires it up, so there’s nothing to do but follow suit.

When we pull into Shadow’s apartment complex, I’ve convinced myself that she’s going to send me packing, but I still hold on to a tiny thread of hope. It’s all I have left.

I expect Shadow to invite us upstairs, but she doesn’t. She takes off her helmet and lays it on her seat. Then she takes off her jacket.

“Notice anything different?” she asks.

“They took your patch,” Dimples says.

Shadow shakes her head. “No, I turned it in.”