“What have you found out?”
My chest became tight and I swallowed. “I’ve been here like a week, Fang! They haven’t completely opened up to me.”
“They’re housing you and they haven’t told you shit?? You haven’t seen shit?”
“Housing me and telling me their secrets aren’t the same!”
“Have you gotten close to Damien? He’s the one you need to kill.”
“Kill? You didn’t tell me anything like that!”
“Either you need to get him and his little wife alone where we can take them out, or you have to do it!”
I closed my eyes and blew out a breath. “I need more time.”
“You better get your ass in gear. You don’t want me to decide that I don’t need you or your mom around,” he snapped before hanging up.
I winced but set the phone down, taking a deep breath as I shoved the phone into my pocket and started for the door. I needed some fresh air. Fang was getting to me and I couldn’t afford to break and blow my cover.
It had just stopped raining and the sky was a beautiful mix of reds, oranges, and purples. Despite the fact that I’d spent quite a bit of time in Tennessee, I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the scenery. It would always be breathtaking to me.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
The sudden voice behind me made me jump. I spun around, wide eyed and ready to fight. Ryder stood just behind me and cocked his brow. “You’re always ready to throw a punch,” he mused.
“Yeah. Got picked on a lot when I was young,” I said.
“I can’t see why,” he said, staring at me in a way that made me nervous.
“I was a weird kid. Quiet, kind of kept to myself,” I said, looking up at him.
He nodded and stuck his hands in my pocket. “I guess I can see that,” he said softly.
I nodded and fell silent, unsure of what to say next. Luckily he broke the silence. “You want to see something cool?”
I blinked but nodded. “Sure,” I answered.
He chuckled and nodded for me to follow him. “Come on.”
He brought me to his garage and pointed toward a bike. “You see that?”
It was a beautiful piece of art. All of the metal was chrome and everything else was matte black. I’d never really learned to ride bikes, but I could still appreciate their beauty.
“Oh wow! Is that yours?”
“Yeah. That’s Athena.”
“Athena. Like the goddess of war?”
“She sees a lot of fights. I figured giving her a powerful name couldn’t hurt,” he said with a grin.
I nodded and reached out to touch the leather seat. “I really like it.”
“You want to go for a ride?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I said, my fear of bikes nearly edging out the excitement of being pressed up against him on the back.
He grinned and grabbed my hand. “Come on. Get on.”