Page 55 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)

And after he tossed me a wink, he led the men inside. Leaving Joanna and myself standing just outside of the front door.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

I waited until the last of the Dragon Riders walked inside before I said something.

“I’m not sure, JoJo, but I think it has something to do with the Red Pythons.”

“Who?” she asked.

I snickered. “Come on inside. Let’s get a drink and we can talk.”

With our fingers intertwined, I led her inside. The two of us ordered a drink at the bar before we sat in a booth off in the corner. I didn’t want anyone hearing us, mostly because I was sure I knew information I wasn’t supposed to know. But after eavesdropping on the guys more than once on the road, I had pretty much pieced together what was going on.

“All right. Hit me with it. What’s going on?” JoJo asked.

I leaned forward. “How familiar are you with the plan that just failed?”

“Only what Link has told me. Which is slim to none.”

“Okay. Here’s the jist of what happened: I went with the guys so Bowser could keep me protected during this sting operation with Skeleton. The plan was to use girls as bait to draw Skeleton out of hiding, then do something with him. Probably take him out.”

“Wonderful. Good to know the love of my life is a killer.”

“I’m telling you this because I know you can handle it. But if I’m wrong—”

She waved her hand in the air. “Just keep going. I’m good.”

I sipped my drink. “Okay. Well, the plan went to pot. I was taken by Skeleton in a diversion. There were traps all along the way. It was bad. Like he was—”

“—one step in front of you guys the whole time.”

“Yep. And I think the guys are meeting because Link’s figured out why.”

She paused. “Why?”

I leaned forward. “The Golden Jags—Skeleton’s crew? —they don’t just traffic women. They also deal drugs. And the two sides of their businesses clashed.”

“I’m still not following.”

I sighed. “Okay, okay. The Golden Jags have a drug side, right? They also have a trafficking side. Those two sides of their businesses clashed during this operation, and Link thinks it’s because one of the Red Python girls—”

“The girls that helped with the plan as bait?”

“Now you’ve got it. He believes one of those girls is friendly with one of the Golden Jags and was feeding them information the entire time.”

She blinked. “That makes more sense.”

“Get it now?”

She leaned back. “What does that mean for us? I mean, are we safe?”

“Have you ever felt unsafe with Link around?”

“No. I haven’t.”

“Then, there’s your answer.”

She held her hand up to me. “Look at what happened to you, though.”

I sighed. “And I love you. But worse has happened to me at Skeleton’s hand. Believe it or not, this is small news compared to the kind of things I used to endure. I promise you, I’m okay. And it’s because of Bowser that I’m alive and all right.”

She shook her head. “I can’t handle anymore right now. I just want to spend some time with you. Is that okay?”

I offered my hand to her. “It’s more than okay.”

And when she slipped her hand into mine, the rest of my world fell into place. I had my sister, I had the love of my life, and I had a family. Finally, I had all of the components I’d ever wanted in my life. Even if it came with a bit of danger and risk. I mean, I was no stranger to it. I enjoyed the thrill of living on the edge.

But living it with JoJo and Bowser?

That was my definition of perfect.