Page 15 of Vengeance

"There were,” he insisted.

"What changed?" she asked.

"They called for reinforcements." He swung onto the bike in front of her. "Hold on." The engine roared to life, and instead of heading back toward the road, he shot deeper into the woods. Branches slapped against her arms as the motorcycle bounced over roots and rocks.

"Where are we going?" she shouted over the engine.

"The road's compromised,” he said.

"You can ride through the forest?" she asked.

"I can ride just about anywhere,” he assured. She almost laughed—almost.

Another set of headlights flashed behind them. "They're boxing us in!"

"I know,” he growled. The motorcycle fishtailed before climbing a steep embankment. Chloe wrapped both arms tightly around his waist. She didn't even realize she'd done it until she felt his body tense beneath her. For a split second, he relaxed just before they went airborne. The Harley launched over a fallen tree before crashing back onto the ground, and she screamed.

His hand reached back without looking. "You okay?"

"I think so,” she stuttered. She wasn’t, but there was no way that she’d admit that to him.

"Good." He sped up, and within minutes, they burst from the tree line onto an abandoned gravel service road. Vengeance finally eased off the throttle as the headlights behind them had disappeared. He pulled beneath an old railroad bridge and killed the engine. The silence was almost painful, and neither of them moved. Chloe slowly loosened her grip around his waist.

"I thought—” Her voice shook. "I thought we were going to die."

"That’s what they were hoping for, but we’re not going to allow that to happen," he said, sounding so sure of himself. He nodded toward the woods they'd just left. "I doubled back twice and led them on a goose chase."

"You did?" she asked. She had her eyes closed for most of the ride, just trying to hang onto him and stay on the back of the bike. She didn’t realize that they were running in circles.

"They're looking in the wrong direction now, so I think that we’re safe,” he said. She climbed off the bike, her legs tremblingso badly she nearly fell, but Vengeance caught her elbow before she hit the ground.

"I've got you." The words slipped out so naturally that they both froze. He slowly released her. "Sorry."

"No need to be sorry,” she said, rubbing her legs, “I appreciate the help. Thank you.” For several long moments, they simply stood beneath the bridge. The only sounds they could hear were crickets chirping and the ticking of the motorcycle's cooling engine.

"I think that someone betrayed my family." The words tasted bitter as she said them out loud.

Vengeance didn't answer immediately. "I hope not."

"But you don't believe that,” she said.

"No,” he said. “I don’t believe that.”

She closed her eyes. "My dad trusts those men with his life."

"I know,” Vengeance said.

"They're family,” she continued. "They helped raise me."

"I know,” Vengeance whispered.

She looked at him. "Then why would they betray my family?” she asked.

His expression hardened. "Because money makes people do terrible things."

"You don't know the Royal Bastards,” she insisted.

"No,” he said, “but I know the Black Veil Syndicate." His certainty frightened her. "They don't attack unless they already know they'll win."