Page 105 of Ride or Die

“Kristi!” Riley stepped forward as Kristi shoved her laptop into her bag and stood up.

“I’ll text you,” she said, clipped and professional. Her walls slammed shut.

Riley’s heart began to pound, and her throat got tight. “Kristi, wait.” She reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t shut me out.”

Kristi pulled away and continued packing.

“I’m sorry,” Riley said. She didn’t like this. She didn’t want this. She just wanted everyone to get off her fucking case and let her make some choices. “I’m sorry for what I said. It wasn’t fair—”

Kristi turned to her, bag bulky under her arm, ponytail swinging golden in the overhead light. Her nostrils flared, staring at Riley’s face, expression unreadable.

“Don’t ever apologize to me.”

Kristi’s voice was low, and before Riley could do anything but blink in surprise, Kristi stepped into her space and kissed her, right on the lips, hard and demanding. She pulled back just as fast, eyes snapping.

Riley blinked several times.

“Don’t think that I only care about me. Because what I want is not happening.”

Kristi’s voice fractured, and she strode out the door. Her heels clicked down the hall.

What the actual fuck was that supposed to mean?

The door beeped, and Riley slowly turned the deadbolt over, lips throbbing.

A torn laugh choked her and turned into a cough. She swiped a hand over her mouth and took a sip of water before dropping into the small chair.

She pulled up the browser on her phone and started searching online for anything related to custom bikes, or shops in Cascadia, or even just Saint.

But she didn’t get any further than Kristi had. She didn’t even know his last name.

Chapter 33

Riley

The mascara wand hovered in front of the mirror next to Riley’s reflection in the streaky bar bathroom mirror. The person looking back didn’t look like someone who worked for a criminal and was dating someone close to the bikers. Her grey eyes were rimmed in black, and her cheeks looked hollowed out from the shitty lighting. Beaut.

“You’re overthinking it. Let’s go out, dance it off, and he’ll call in the morning.”

Kristi stood at the next sink. Thick eyeliner and a backcombed ponytail gave her an edge that parted crowds and drew attention wherever they went. The noise from the bar was distant, the bathroom mercifully empty despite the chaos outside. Some sports game was playing, and everyone was excited about it.

“What happened to my compromised judgment and all the red flags I was missing?” Riley knew she was about to start a fight she’d promised herself she wouldn’t.

Kristi lined her lower lip before answering. “Having a scary boyfriend that’s obsessed with you might be helpful, you never know. Too bad he’s MIA.”

What? Riley narrowed her eyes. “Are you kidding me right now? Also, he’s not MIA. He’s helping Wheeler with… something.” And he was out of cell service, and she didn’t know when he’d be done. He’s not MIA.

They’d talk when he got back.

“Potato, tomato,” Kristi said as she swiped deep red onto her lips. “Aaron also left town.”

Riley shoved the mascara into her small clutch.

“Are we going to talk about it? What happened the other night? When you kissed me and stormed out?”

Kristi’s jaw twitched before she put her lipstick away and gave Riley a smirk. “What’s there to talk about?”

A growl forced its way up Riley’s throat. “Don’t give me that shit, Kristi. You can’t pretend everything’s fine.” Riley pressed her shoulder blades down her back, and the sequinned dress glimmered in the mirror.