CHAPTER 22
SHADOW
There isn’t much anyone can do for my bike in the parking lot.
I just need her to get me back to Saratoga without leaving me stranded on the shoulder.
I know the smartest choice is to ride home since it’s closer, but my chest tightens.
It’ll mean my time with Storm is about to come to an end.
The disappointment hits harder than it should.
“What’s the verdict?” I ask over the prospect’s shoulder.
“She’s running hot. Real hot.” The prospect glances up at me. “Plus, she’s spitting oil.”
I tug open my saddlebag. “I always carry extra. Will it help?”
The prospect bites her lip. “Some. But she’s pretty hot.”
I sigh. The problems with my bike were getting worse last year, but I’d hoped that this year would be different.
Right, because bikes miraculously heal themselves.
Club rules are simple. To stay patched, ya need a bike.
No exceptions. I can’t afford another if this one isn’t repairable.
I can milk it awhile, but eventually, they’ll oust me.
“Hey.” Storm puts her hand on my arm. “I’m telling you. She’s a magician with a wrench. Bring your bike to our garage.”
I smile. “Aren’t you up in Cinder Ridge? I doubt if she’d make it that far.”
Storm returns my smile. “Good point. We can trailer it.”
My stomach drops. A trailer means more money I don’t have.
A slender young woman threads through the bikes with a handful of beers cradled in her arms. “I thought you ladies might need a beer.”
“Thanks, Two,” Storm says. She turns to me. “Two, I’d like you to meet Shadow. Shadow, this is Prospect Two.”
I reach out to shake her hand but realize my mistake since she’s still holding the bottles. She thrusts a beer into my hand. “I brought one for you, too.” She taps the other prospect on the shoulder. “Here you go.”
The prospect looking at my bike takes the beer. “Thanks.”
As Two is telling me about herself, cheesy circus music blares from my back pocket, and my heart sinks to my stomach. I pull my phone out, making sure it’s Margot. Of course it is since she’s the only person in my life who elicits such music.
“I have to take this.” I move several steps away from the group before I accept the call.
Before I can say hello, Margot says, “What the hell took you so long to answer?”
I don’t bother explaining. She wouldn’t listen anyway.
“My mom’s taken a turn, and she’s in the hospital. You need to come pick up the kids,” Margot says.
My heart sinks. “I’d love to, but I’m in Lake George, so it’ll take me a bit to get there.” I look at my bike, wondering if it’ll get me home to pick up my car.
“Why the hell are you in Lake George? Never mind. It doesn’t matter. You just need to get home. A car will drop them off at your apartment.”
That’s it. The call ends before I can get a word in.
I hit the call button, but Margot doesn’t answer. Shit. Now what? If I leave now, it’ll take me at least thirty minutes to get home, longer with my bike acting up. They could be there within the hour.
I hit the call button again with no answer. Fuck! I consider leaving a message, but I don’t. No sense giving her ammunition to claim I’m an awful mother. I just need to get my ass home. At least the thought of seeing my kids warms my heart.
I walk back to my bike. Storm lifts an eyebrow, but she doesn’t ask who called.
“Is it rideable?” I ask the prospect, hoping my desperation doesn’t come out in the question.
The prospect nods slowly. “It’s not cooling down like I’d like it to, but if you take it slow, you might make it through the run. No guarantees, though.”
“I need to go home,” I blurt out. “It’s about thirty miles from here. Will she make it?”
“Home? Why?” Storm says before the prospect can answer.
“That was my ex. She’s sending my kids to my apartment in a car.”
“In a car? With who?” Storm’s eyes widen. “Didn’t you say they were four and six?”
I nod, impressed that she remembered. “Probably one of her firm’s drivers. Probably.” My heartbeat quickens. “I can’t see her throwing them in a car with an Uber driver.” Or can I?
My panic grows. I need to be there when my babies arrive.
Storm puts her hand on my arm. “It’s okay. Relax. I’ll follow you and make sure you get home safe. You’ll be there when your girls get home.”
My eyes well with tears, but I blink them back. Kindness has been in short supply in my life. Something in my chest loosens, like it’s been clenched for years. Wiz won’t be happy, but she’s the one who said I needed to stick close to Storm, so she can’t hold it against me.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Absolutely. I just need to tell the crew what’s up,” Storm says.
“Yeah, I need to let Wiz know I’m leaving. Meet you back here in five?”
Storm nods. “Is there anything more you can do?” Storm asks the prospect.
“Without parts, adding oil is the best I got. You need to keep it at fifty or less,” the prospect says.
“Thank you so much.” I hold up the beer that I’ve only taken a few sips of. “Next time I see you, I owe you one of these.”
“It’s a deal,” she says with a grin.
“Move my bike up here beside Shadow’s,” Storm says to the prospects. “Some of the girls are gonna have to move their bikes because we’re packed in like sardines.”
“Yes, President,” the prospects say in unison. Then they disappear into the sea of women gathered in the lot.
“Wiz is right over there. I’ll be back soon,” I say.
Storm waves over her shoulder as she heads in the opposite direction.
I weave through the crowd, rehearsing what I’ll say to Wiz. When I draw closer, I realize she’s talking to a pair of presidents from other clubs. Protocol says that I should wait until they’re done with their conversation, but I don’t have time, so I say, “Excuse me, President, this is urgent.”
Irritation flits across Wiz’s face before she smiles at her colleagues and excuses herself. As soon as her back is to them and we’re away, she shoots me an angry glare. “What the hell is this about?”
“Sorry,” I say. “I know it’s a breach of protocol, but I have an emergency or I never would have bothered you.”
She grabs my arm and pulls me to a stop out of earshot from the others. “What did Storm pull?”
“No. Nothing like that. Margot called.”
“Oh, god. Are the girls okay?”
“The girls are fine, but Margot’s mom’s in the hospital, so she’s sending the girls to my apartment. I need to go meet them.”
Her eyes soften. “Of course, family comes first.”
I almost wish she’d kept her hard glare since I know her anger will return threefold once I tell her the rest. “Um, my bike’s been overheating, and so, uh, Storm has volunteered to follow me home.”
Wiz’s eyes flash. “What? Why?”
“She offered like it was nothing, so I couldn’t refuse.”
“What the fuck, Shadow? I can send one of the Graces with you. Tell her not to bother.”
I wrestle with my response. Should I go the manipulative route and remind Wiz she wanted me to stick close to Storm? “No,” I say with more confidence than I feel. “She was gracious enough to offer, and I accepted. I won’t back out. It’d be rude.”
Wiz gapes at me. She’s used to the compliant Shadow who makes no waves, so this is ballsy of me. “Did you just defy an order?”
“Was that an order?” I ask, knowing it’s a confrontational response.
“If it was, would you defy it?” Wiz’s penetrating gaze bores into me.
“Yes,” I say with quiet confidence.
Wiz stares at me for a beat before she says, “Lucky for you it wasn’t an order.”
I know better than to gloat, so I respond, “Do you need anything else? I should head out.”
“No, you’re excused.” Wiz flips the back of her hand at me like she’s swatting away a fly.
“Thank you,” I say and turn away.
“Hey,” Wiz calls after me. When I turn, she says, “Remember your mission. Find out what you can about Storm.”
I nod because that’s what I do. But inside, I don’t agree. What I’ve discovered about Storm so far is that she’s kind and caring, but I’m sure Wiz wouldn’t be pleased with my assessment.