Page 95 of Ride or Die

“You change out all the tires like I asked?”

“Sure did,” Rick says. “But it wasn’t the heat of the road that caused the blow out,” he continues. “Looked like a faulty stem on the back right.”

My brows knit together at that piece of information. “A faulty stem?”

“Yeah.” Rick grunts. “Wreck coulda been a helluva lot worse than what it was had she been drivin’ full speed.”

I sigh, shaking my head, trying not to imagine the worst. Clara drove that car all the way from West fucking Virginia with a faulty stem? They’re lucky they even made it to Texas. My gut roils at the thought. “Okay, thanks Rick. I’ll head down soon to collect it.”

I pull into the driveway of the house, grinning at the sight in front of me. Tom and Billie are next to each other, lazin’ on a blanket in the grass. Tom’s reading and Billie’s playing with Curly and a couple of Barbie dolls. Clara’s perched on our favorite porch step, a mug of something clasped in her hands. The way my heart skitters in my chest would’ve once been a warning, but now, it serves as a reminder: I’m not just in love with Clara, I love those two kids, too.

“Mommy, it’s our car!” Billie squeals, jumping up from the blanket and running to me the second I hop out.

I grunt at the force of her small yet mighty body launching at me, heaving her up into my arms. “Howdy, Miss Billie.”

“You brought our car back.” She beams at me.

“I sure did.”

Clara stands then, and I catch the look in her eyes as her gaze flits from me to the car and back again. I knew she’d be pissed. But too bad. This was a non-negotiable.

I let Billie down and she goes back to her brother whose proffered fist I bump with my own on my way past, meeting Clara by the porch.

“Ma’am,” I sass, keeping my voice low. Leaning in, I press a kiss to her cheek, pulling back to gauge her. Yeah, she’s pissed, but there’s a hint of a smile on her lips.

“How much?” Clara sighs, cocking her head in that no-bullshit way she’s mastered.

I hold my hands up in defense. “I got a good deal.”

She deadpans. “I didn’t ask that.”

Placing my hands on her waist, I pull her closer. She lifts her chin, meeting my eyes and I offer her a steady look. “Just say thank you, baby,” I whisper.

Lips pursed, Clara rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Fine. Thank you.”

I flash her my attempt at an innocent grin. “You’re welcome.”

“But I’m paying you back,” she adds quickly.

I lean in again, ghosting her lips with mine. “You can do whatever you want, darlin’.”

“You staying for dinner?” She arches a brow.

Teasingly, I pepper kisses across her cheek, stopping by her ear, to whisper, “And dessert?”

She shivers from my words, from the way my breath skates across the shell of her ear, and fuck I love that I can affect her so easily. My cock twitches in my jeans with the need for round two with the love of my life.

CHAPTER 36

CLARA

Istartle, torn from sleep, my eyes snapping open. Breathless, my heart races in a way that isn’t normal. I search the darkness, unsure for a moment where I am, terrified to think that the last few weeks had all been a dream. But when I feel the warm body next to me shift and hear the sleepy sigh, I turn my head, relieved to see Cole lying there, dead asleep. Moonlight cuts across his face, illuminating the curve of his cheekbone, highlighting the dimple in his chin.

Safe, I remind myself.You’re safe here.

But the thick rope wound around my chest won’t seem to loosen. Something doesn’t feel right and I sit up slowly. The digital clock on the nightstand glows 3:17 in angry red numbers, and the room feels different—too quiet, too stretched out, like the walls are farther apart than they should be.

Then I hear it.