“You okay?” he asked her as soon as they stepped out the doors.
She nodded. “I don’t like when you fight.”
He dipped his head to light a cigarette, and then looked at her as he blew a pissed off stream of smoke out. “And I don’t like when guys overstep their bounds with you.”
Skylar swallowed and looked back into the bar. “Maybe we should just leave.”
He nodded, taking another drag off his cigarette, his eyes moving to the crowd on Bourbon Street. “So, you get enough time with your father?”
Her eyes searched his face. “It wasn’t my idea to come down here, Shades.”
His eyes came back to her. “It wasn’t mine either. And it sure as hell wasn’t my idea to see the Quarter.”
“Fine. Then let’s go.” She whirled to head for his bike, He tossed his cigarette into the street and grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“I’m sorry. I’m pissed and I’m taking it out on you.” He pulled her into his arms. She was stiff at first, but then she melted into him.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” she whispered against his chest.
He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t want to fight either. It’s just been a hell of a day.”
“Imagine how I feel.”
He tightened his hold on her, giving her a hug. “I know. You’ve had a lot thrown at you today.”
“Shades?”
“Yeah?”
“I have to pee.”
He grinned and let her go. “Okay, babe. You go pee and I’ll see if Undertaker’s ready to leave.”
“And if he’s not?”
“Then we’re leaving anyway.”
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
“You ready?” Shades asked Skylar when she returned from the restroom. She looked around. Most of the guys were already outside, mounting up on their bikes.
“Yes.”
Shades held her jacket out and she turned, slipping her arms in. He took her hand and led her out to his bike. Skylar strapped on her helmet as Shades threw his leg over the bike and lifted it off its kickstand, firing it up. He looked back at her, and she climbed on the back.
The line of bikes pulled away from the curb one by one and headed out of the Quarter, across the city and finally taking the old Pontchartrain Drive Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain. They got half way across and were stopped as the drawbridge began to raise for an approaching sailboat to pass under the low bridge.
As the drawbridge slowly raised, the boys shut off their bikes and dismounted, going to the side to watch. A full moon was reflected on the water. The running lights of the sailboat glowed, and the lights from the bridge lit the water below. A couple of the guys waved down to the captain, shouting hellos. The captain waved back as he motored his way to the bridge, his sails furled. With the bikes shut down, the only sounds were the quiet motor of the sailboat and the clanking of the bridge raising.
****
Raising the bridge was a slow process, and Undertaker lit a cigarette while they waited. Skylar, Shades and Ghost stood not far
away. Blood moved in next to Undertaker. He bent, leaning his palms on the rail, watching the sailboat, and then he turned his head toward Undertaker.
“So, what do you make of this guy?”
Undertaker blew out a stream of smoke. “Too soon to tell.”