Shade's Fall (The Last Riders 4)

“What did you say?” Shade questioned.

“Nothing. Sir.”

“You can go get changed.”

“Thanks. Sir.” This time her tone was a little sarcastic; his ordering her around was getting old, fast.

“Would you like a lesson I give when I believe someone is being disrespectful?” Shade snapped.

“No, Sir.” Lily rushed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She knew the most important lesson in self-defense was knowing when to run.

Chapter 7

Vida waited impatiently as she sat on the couch, watching Sawyer pace the floor while twisting a lock of her hair.

She tensed, getting to her feet when the door opened and Colton, Ice, Max and Jackal entered the hotel suite. They were in Louisville, Kentucky, staying in a hotel while Kaden was set to perform a concert there tonight with Mouth2Mouth.

Vida ran into Colton’s arms the minute she saw him. “Did you see her?” Vida looked up at her husband with watery eyes.

The door opened and closed again. Vida knew it was Kaden coming into the room; sure Colton would have called him when they were back in town. Kaden had stayed as long as he could before he had gone to the arena for a sound check.

“I saw her,” Colton answered his wife’s question.

Vida couldn’t help it; she started crying, knowing from the sounds next to her that Sawyer wasn’t able to contain her emotions any better.

“Vida, you’re breaking my heart, please stop,” Colton said, holding on to her shaking body.

“I’m sorry.” Vida managed to get herself back under control.

Colton sat down on the couch, pulling Vida down next to him.

“Was she okay?” Sawyer asked, sitting on Kaden’s lap when he sat down on a chair.

“She was fine,” he assured her.

“We want to see her, Colton,” Vida and Sawyer both spoke together.

“You two are going to have to wait. Digger’s trial comes up in two months. Once he’s sentenced and sent to prison, it will be safer for you two to approach her. But it’s not going to be easy, Vida.” Colton put the brakes on their possible reunion.

“Why?” Vida asked impatiently.

“What little information Penni would tell us about her friend is the truth. She’s prone to anxiety attacks and gets easily frightened. Plus her adopted sister is married to a member of a motorcycle club—The Last Riders.”

His grim voice had Vida searching his eyes. “Is she in any danger from them?”

“No, honey. She’s safe with them. To be honest, it relieves my mind that they watch over her as closely as they do,” Colton said, not telling her about the incident at the fair.

“She shouldn’t be in any danger from Digger. He doesn’t even know she’s alive,” Sawyer entered the conversation.

“No, he doesn’t, and I want to keep it that way. He’s not giving up any information on the women he’s kidnapped until he gets a deal. I won’t feel better about Lily’s safety until his whole operation is shut down,” Colton told them both.

“I agree,” Ice spoke up. “Don’t underestimate Digger just because he’s in prison.”

Sawyer and Vida both reluctantly nodded their heads.

“Did she look—” Vida got her voice back under control. “How did she look?”

Colton ran his thumb over Vida’s cheek, wiping away the tear that clung to her soft skin. “She’s beautiful, sweetheart, just like you said,” he said softly.

Vida’s head fell to his shoulder. “Whatever it takes, Colton, whatever we have to do, we’ll do it to keep her safe,” she vowed, seeing the same resolve in Sawyer’s eyes.

They had waited all these years; they could wait a few more months.

* * *

The week went by fairly quickly for Lily. By Friday, she had managed to get more comfortable with Shade handling her body during her defense lessons.

He refused to let her go back to her old workout outfits, instead making her put Winter’s back on after she had washed and tried to return it.

As she left Friday, she and Shade came around the corner of the house to see Kaley walking up the steps in a red leather skirt and a black halter top. Rider had his arm around her shoulders.

“I thought she was dating Train,” Lily said.

Shade didn’t say anything, silently walking her to her car.

“See you Sunday,” Lily said, getting in her car.

“Later,” Shade said, turning back to the house.

With that, Lily drove home.

Going inside the house, she saw Beth and Razer getting ready to go out to the party at the clubhouse.

“What are you doing tonight?” Beth asked as they were going out the door.

“I’m having dinner with Charles and Miranda and her husband,” Lily replied on her way upstairs to take a shower.

“When did Charles get back in town?”

“Last night,” Lily answered.

Charles had spent the last few months opening a new restaurant for his father.

“Have fun. See you tomorrow,” Beth called out, closing the front door behind them.

Lily went upstairs and took a shower. She brushed her hair then made a knot on her head. Going to her closet, she pulled out a bright yellow dress that fell softly to her knees. To finish the look, she slid a colorful strand of beads around her neck.

Sliding on her sandals, she was just coming down the steps when the doorbell rang.

She opened the door to Charles’s smiling face then let him in while she grabbed her purse and cell phone.

“Miss me?” Charles asked.

“Of course. How was the opening?”

“Really good. Dad’s already planning his next one.”

“He deserves it. Both of you have put a lot of hours into making your restaurants successful.” Lily smiled at him.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

They met Miranda and her husband at the Pink Slipper. Lily always felt uncomfortable there because they served liquor; however, they sat well away from the bar and neither Charles nor Jackson drank.

Miranda talked of her child while the men talked about the restaurant opening in Lexington.

“Who’s babysitting for you tonight?” Lily asked, playing with her silverware.

“I asked Kaley, but she was too busy. I know you work for them, and that Beth is married to Razer, but I really wish she wasn’t involved with The Last Riders. I’m getting worried about her,” Miranda confided.

Lily didn’t mention that she had seen her at the clubhouse a couple of times that week.

“She’s not even trying to find a job,” Miranda said with a worried frown. “I’ve heard rumors, too, of stuff going on out there, but when I ask her, she won’t talk to me about it.”

Lily could respect that Kaley wanted to keep her private life private. Lily didn’t like it when others tried to snoop into hers. Treepoint was a small town and most people gossiped to keep themselves occupied.

Lily changed the subject, not wanting to hear the rumors about The Last Riders. They had been kind to her, and Beth wouldn’t let herself become involved in anything that was illegal. Lily didn’t want to be disloyal to Beth by discussing them.

They went to a movie afterward, which everyone enjoyed, deciding to go to the diner for coffee and dessert once it was through. They were sitting there, laughing over the movie, when the door opened and The Last Riders came in, taking several large tables. Beth and Razer came in the door last with Razer’s arm wrapped around Beth’s shoulders and her hair windblown. They sat down at the large table. Lily noticed that Beth lost her smile when she saw her, but she still came to their table.

Lily noticed that Shade was missing from the group.

“Did you have fun at the movies?”

“Yes, it was good. I see you guys went for a ride.” Lily wondered at her sister’s bright flush.

“Yes.”

“Enjoy it while you can, winter w

ill be here soon,” Lily said as Charles paid the waitress their ticket.

“Where’s Kaley? Didn’t she go on the ride?” Miranda questioned Beth.

“No, she stayed at the clubhouse,” Beth spoke as she turned to go to her own table. “See you in the morning, Lily.”

“Okay.”