Page 24 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
He paused. “No.”
“Do you want someone like that running your crew?”
“Like I said, she’s not—”
“Then, place your personal promises aside when you make this decision. Because if you use promises you’ve made to my sister to guide this crew? You’re letting her control these men. And I know you better than that.”
He grinned. “You do, huh?”
“I know all of you better than you think. Because while Joanna is the talker, I’m the watcher. I know more than you think, and I always will.”
I took a few steps back from him before I drew in a deep breath.
“You guys can go ahead and vote,” I said.
Link shook his head. “I still don’t like this plan. I don’t like using the person we’ve promised to protect as a means to the plan’s own end.”
I shrugged. “Then, good luck convincing a bunch of random girls to dress up like sluts and dangle themselves in front of a man like Skeleton. I’m sure that will go over well, especially with Ash. I’m sure big and intimidating men are a thing of the past now.”
Link rolled his eyes. “I get it, Hope.”
“Do you really, though?”
He glared at me. “Are you done?”
“That depends. Are you going to veto this decision still?”
His eyes panned over my shoulder before he heaved a heavy sigh.
“You’re the one who’s going to handle—”
I held up my hand. “I’ll deal with my sister. Whatever fallout there might be. You have my word.”
Link nodded. “Then, I guess Ash’s alteration to the plan is approved.”
The guys clapped their hands behind me as a smile crossed my face. Link still didn’t look amused, but I didn’t give a shit. I turned and found Bowser, who leaned against the kitchen counter. With his broad arms crossed over his chest and his smile growing across his cheeks, my heart skipped a beat. Finally, I’d have my chance. A chance to redeem myself. A chance to show how strong I really was. A chance to get out of this fucking place and make a difference.
A chance to change my life for the better.
“Good goin’,” Ash said as he patted me on the shoulder.
Sly pointed at me. “Don’t screw it up.”
I snickered. “I won’t. You have my word.”
Knuckles nodded. “You’re riding with Bowser, I take it?”
My eyes found his. “Yeah. I am.”
Knuckles pointed to Sly. “You owe me twenty bucks.”
Sly rolled his eyes. “Fucking hell, you couldn’t have lied to the man?”
Ash barked with laughter again. “Now I wish I would’ve gotten in on the bet.”
While the guys exchanged money, I moved away from the crowd. I walked up to Bowser before I stood beside him, leaning against the kitchen counter. I crossed my arms over my chest. My eyes found Link’s before the man shook his head. I scooted a bit closer to Bowser, just to test the limits. Just to see what he’d do in front of the guys.
And to my shock, he moved closer to me, too.
Until our thighs touched.9BowserI shoved the last of my things into my bag before zipping it shut. Motorcycles rumbled outside, growing closer by the second as the guys lined up outside of my place, right across from the Iron Horse. I threw the bag over my shoulder and peeked out the window, taking one last look at the place that had sustained my lifestyle for years now. I took a good, long, hard look at it, committing it to memory.
You know, just in case I didn’t make it back.
“Bowser?”
Hope’s voice pulled me from my trance as I heard her soft footsteps pitter-pattering up the stairs. A grin slid across my face as my front door burst open, and in walked Ash with Hope at his side. Her eyes danced around my studio apartment as she dropped her own bag at her side. Why she hoofed it up those steps, I’d never know. A lot of the things she did or said, I never understood.
It didn’t impact how I felt about her, though.
Hope nodded. “Nice place you got here.”
I snickered. “It keeps me safe.”
“I mean, that’s really the only point to a home. Right?”
I shrugged. “There are many points to a home. Sleeping. Eating. Loving. Growing a family. All depends on what someone’s looking for out of it.”
“I mean, I didn’t realize you were so serious about things right now. But I dig it.”
Ash chuckled. “I like her.”
I shot him a look. “I’m glad you do.”
Ash held up his hands in mock surrender before backing down the steps. He trolloped along with his lumbering footsteps before sloshing through the wrought iron door at the bottom of the steps. Leaving Hope and I alone to stare at one another while her presence filled my living room.
Damn it, she had never looked so beautiful.
“So, how are you feeling?” Hope asked.
I sighed. “Ready for all of this to be over.”
