Page 305 of Rogue Riders Duet

He doesn’t move.

Doesn’t pull out.

Doesn’t let go.

He just holds me.

Like letting go was never even a fucking option.

He’s my nobody, and maybe that’s exactly why this feels like everything.

TWENTY-THREE

“I’m not gonna do it,” Dane snaps.

I never thought this would be my brother’s line, but here we are.

My unwrapped fingers shake as I wave the duct tape at him with a glare. “Well, I can’t fucking do it myself.”

Our standoff is happening right outside the bus, the gentle light filtering through the trees is no match for our angry energy. I’m already in my gear, helmet strapped to my bike, gloves loose in my pocket, fingers throbbing badly enough to make me want to scream because the painkillers haven’t fully kicked in yet.

But qualifying starts in twenty minutes, and I am not sitting this one out.

“The fact that you can’t do it yourself…” Dane says slowly, like he’s explaining something to a toddler, “… should tell you how bad of a fucking idea it is.”

“I can’t ride like this,” I hiss. “I can’t hold on.”

He crosses his arms. “Then maybe, just maybe, you shouldn’t fucking ride.”

“Fine. If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone who will.”

He snorts. “And who’s gonna do that, huh?”

I clutch the duct tape to my chest like the treasure it is and march away, calling one name over my shoulder. “Luc.”

Dane’s footfalls thud after mine. “Even that crazy motherfucker wouldn’t risk you like that.”

“You confident about that?” I ask, upping my pace to the gondola station.

Mason, Luc, and Otis are all in various stages of gearing up at the gondola station while Piper stands by with Toulouse in her palm.

Luc looks up first, sees the fury storming across my face, and lifts a brow. “Somebody’s in a mood today.”

I chuck my duct tape at him, and he catches it midair with a frown. “What the hell is this?”

I stop right in front of him with my bike, then lay my fingers across the grip. “Tape my hand on, please.”

“Okay.” Luc tilts his head. “Say more words but make them make sense this time.”

I huff impatiently. “I can’t grip properly, so tape me down. I’ll handle the rest.”

To his credit, he looks like he’s actually considering it when Mason snatches the tape from him. “Hell no. Are you fucking insane?”

I throw my good hand in the air. “I told you, I can’t hold on. I need something.”

“Not a death wish.”

I snatch the roll back from him and point it at Otis. “Will you?”