Knox's Stand (The Last Riders 3)

“None. Even the Ohio branch of The Last Riders is calm right now,” Viper answered her question with one of his own. “Any idea who could be behind the call?”

“No, but I think the reason they called the state police is they were worried someone would recognize their voice,” Diamond stated; after the sheriff had mentioned it, she had become certain that this was the case.

The men all stared at each other.

Diamond shifted on her feet. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going home. It’s been a long day, Viper.”

Their attention turned to her. “Thanks, Ms. Richards,” Viper said.

Diamond nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”

Diamond left the men talking, going to her car which she had left in the sheriff’s parking lot. Opening her car door, she noticed The Last Riders had also parked their bikes not far from her car. She put the key in the ignition and it took a second before she realized her car wouldn’t start. Turning the key again, silence was the car’s only response.

Diamond picked up her cell phone, but a knock on her window had her turning toward the sound to find Knox was staring back at her.

Opening her door, he looked pointedly at the dead instrument panel. “Car won’t start?”

“No. I’m calling a tow truck.”

“Open the hood; we’ll take a look,” Knox said, stepping back from her car.

“That’s all right; I can call—”Diamond tried to put him off.

“Open the hood.” Knox didn’t wait for her answer, going to the front of her car with Viper and Rider following. Reluctantly, Diamond pressed the lever, releasing the hood to her car, and then stepped out to stand beside the men who were all staring down at her engine.

Rider examined her engine several minutes before rising from the motor to look at her. “It’s the alternator. Leave it here tonight. In the morning I’ll go to the auto store and pick you up a new one.”

“That’s okay. I can handle it.” Diamond could already tell she was going to lose the battle, though. Men had an abundance of testosterone on two subjects, women and cars. Giving up, Diamond went to her car and got her briefcase as well as her purse out.

“How much does the alternator cost?” Diamond pulled her wallet out of her purse.

“Don’t worry about it,” Rider said, closing the hood of her car. “I’ll pay for it and you can pay me back.”

Diamond nodded her agreement. “All right.” Diamond locked her car. Scrolling her phone for taxis, she was about to call one when Knox spoke.

“I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No thanks, I’m calling a cab,” Diamond refused.

“Don’t be stupid. I can have you home before you can get someone here.” Diamond paused; she was tired and not feeling well. She was beginning to feel nauseous; having a feeling that she was coming down with her secretary’s virus. She just wanted to go home and climb into her bed.

“How?”

“Razer brought my bike. Beth picked him up already,” Knox answered, pointing to his bike.

She was not enthusiastic about getting on the back of a bike, but Diamond was feeling worse by the moment.

“Let’s go,” Diamond caved.

All three men looked at her in surprise at her easy capitulation.

“Are you all right?” Knox asked warily.

“I’m fine. It’s been a long day,” Diamond responded, trying to keep her heaving stomach calm a few more minutes.

“You’re telling me,” Knox said sarcastically, bringing back the vision of him barely covered in the sheet. Diamond almost changed her mind, but her heaving stomach had her climbing on the back of Knox’s bike and taking his helmet as he tied her briefcase onto the back of his bike.

Knox got on then turned on the bike, waving at Rider and Viper as he pulled out. Diamond remembered that she hadn’t told him where she lived, but wasn’t surprised when he drove in the direction of her apartment. Thankfully for Diamond’s stomach, she was able to make it there. As soon as Knox pulled to a stop in her parking lot, she jumped off his bike.

“Thanks.” Diamond took off at a run for her apartment.

When shaking fingers kept her from being able to unlock her door, a hand reached out, taking the keys from her and inserting them in the lock. As soon as the door was opened she took off again, dropping her purse on the floor by the door. She barely managed to slam the bathroom door shut and reach the toilet basin before she lost the contents of her stomach.

It was terrible. Her heaving stomach didn’t have much to expel as she had begun feeling unwell before lunch and hadn’t eaten. Diamond’s shaking hand reached out to brush her fallen hair back from her hot check.

“Diamond?” Knox’s voice could be heard through the closed door.

“Don’t call me that.” She might be down, but she wasn’t out. She hated that name.

“Are you all right?” Diamond didn’t want to hear the concern in his voice.

“I’m fine. You can go. It’s a stomach virus I caught off my secretary. I hope you don’t catch it.”

“I don’t get sick,” Knox answered. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. Just lock the door on your way out.” Diamond sat on her butt by the toilet, still afraid to move.

Just as Diamond heard him move away from the door then her outside door closing, her stomach began heaving again. She clung to the basin, thankful she was OCD about keeping a clean bathroom as she lost what little was left in her stomach. As sweat broke out across her body, Diamond tried to pull off her jacket, however she couldn’t stop heaving long enough to do so.

When the bathroom door opened and she felt a wet cloth brush her forehead, Diamond whimpered in relief. Her jacket was pulled off one side and she quickly grabbed the wet rag as he maneuvered her jacket completely off.

“You’re burning up,” Knox said, hanging her jacket on a hook on the wall.

Diamond began shaking harder.

“You’re sure this is a virus and not food poisoning?” Knox asked, squatting down beside her.

Diamond nodded her head. “My secretary has been out two days with it.” Brushing her hair back again, Diamond didn’t want to imagine what she looked like with her fallen hair hanging over a toilet.

“You have anything for nausea in your cabinets?”

“No.”

“I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

“Knox, I’ll be fine. Just go home.”

He ignored her, leaving the bathroom, then Diamond heard her front door open and close. Relieved that he had finally left, Diamond managed to rewet the washcloth in the sink and wash her face, however she found out that brushing her teeth was a huge mistake when she was once again over the toilet when Knox returned.

Diamond looked up at him in frustration. “I told you, I’ll be all right.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Knox handed her the familiar pink medicine with a spoon. Diamond didn’t resist taking a dose of the medicine as well as the cool liquid to swallow after it.

Her stomach finally empty, she tried to rise to her feet as Knox helped her up. Grasping the sink basin for support, she again washed her face and brushed her teeth, this time with better results.

Diamond turned from the sink to see Knox leaning against the doorframe. “Better?”

Diamond nodded her head, walking forward. Knox moved from the doorway, watching as she moved into her living room and then sunk down onto her couch where she laid her spinning head back.

Knox sat down in a chair, surveying the room. Diamond ignored the man who refused to leave.

“You got something against color?”

Diamond lifted her head weakly. “I like a calm environment.”

“Any more calm and you’d be dead.”

“Very funny. Maybe I should get mismatched furniture and put a bar in the corner, would that suit you better?” She refused to feel like a bitch about putting down the furniture at The Last Rider clubhouse when he was being so rude about her own d

ecor.

“At least it would look like someone actually lived here.”

“You can go anytime.” Diamond lay back again weakly. “I’m over the worst of it.” She watched as Knox stood to his feet.