Page 161 of Ride or Die

Saint remained quiet. Listening.

“Not because they’re going to stop, but because we can handle it. Between you and Aaron and Wheeler, and even Dante, you can take ’em.”

His laugh was eaten up by the night. “I would very much like to avoid that. And not because you’re wrong. But stability is what’s best for the city. And right now the bikers serve a purpose. They keep everyone else in line, and if Cooper needs to feel big to keep that stability, I can live with that. He knows what Dante did.”

“But he doesn’t know why Dante did it.”

“I’m not sure anyone really knows why he does anything. It’s never a straight trade with him. He always gets more than he gives.”

“I’d very much like to avoid anything with the Eighty-Sixers. Even Ryan.” Riley was probably going to need a therapist, again. The nightmares had kicked back up, but they were more manageable than they’d been before. Saint was always there.

“We will. Dante’s gone, and Cooper’ll settle down.”

“You seem fairly confident for someone who was almost killed by the guy less than a month ago.”

“You’d have been safe.”

“Saint.” She pushed up on her elbow to look at him as pale moonlight trickled over his features. He brushed a thumb over her cheek.

“What happened to the confidence, ‘you can take ’em?’ Huh?”

She scowled at him. “I don’t care how good a shot Aaron is. You still could have died.”

Saint’s eyes shone in the moonlight. “Aaron’s a really good shot.”

“Unbelievable,” she muttered. He pulled her down onto his chest, and she resisted for a moment before collapsing with a huff.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, and she melted against him. “You’re it. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered and brushed her lips against his.

Despite everything, she believed he’d do anything in his power to stay with her, and that was all she could ask for.

What else mattered? Nothing was guaranteed.

She dropped her mouth to his and captured his groan, drinking it in. She might continue to deal with the consequences of her actions, but she was going to fight with everything she had. No more pretending.

Saint moved under her as they kissed, his fingers pushing down the waistband of her leggings. He found her core and teased her until she was grinding into his hand and couldn’t wait anymore. She tugged on his sweats with a sound of impatience, and he laughed against her lips as he took them off. She braced her hands on his chest as he lined them up. She sank down slowly, rocking her hips until he filled her completely, bathed in moonlight. She memorized the expression of rapture on his face and tucked it next to her heart.

They moved together, slow and deep, until they couldn’t anymore, and then they slept until the sun rose.

Saint made coffee in silence and they sat on the tailgate while Cookie wandered around the campsite. The coffee was dark and bitter, with a smoky taste from the fire.

Cascadia stood in the distance, buildings jutting into the sky like fingers.

It wasn’t going anywhere.

two Days Later

Saint

Saint woke out of a dead sleep. He left his eyes closed and listened to Riley’s soft breath brush his arm.

Cookie’s subvocal growl vibrated against his leg.

He opened his eyes to darkness. A red light at the back of his computer blinked slowly, just as it should. The soft glow of the streetlamps pushed through the crack in the curtains, giving off just enough light to make all the shadows a deep navy. He breathed silently.

The curtain fluttered in the breeze, the lightest touch of heavy fabric against the floor. The early summer heat had finally broken, and the night air tasted of sun-warmed foliage, still lingering.