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Marco caught his breath.
The security guard limping toward him was slender and short.
Abruptly stepping forward, Marco grabbed his arm and flipped up the helmet’s mud-splattered visor.
“Steph…!”
Chapter 32
Staring up at Marco’s shocked, confused eyes, Steph wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.
“Are you hurt?” he demanded, his voice a hushed, angry whisper.
“Maybe twisted my ankle,” she shakily replied as a sharp pain stabbed the joint, “and banged up my shoulder.”
“Steph? What are you doing here?” Brent asked, looking aghast as he hurried over.
“Uh, it’s a long story.”
“One we don’t have to time for right now,” Marco retorted. “Brent, get that bike up and check it out. If it’s okay Joe will ride back with you. Speaking of Joe, where is he?”
“Right here,” Joe declared, stepping out from behind a bush. “Sorry, nature called.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, fine, I was off before we went down.”
As Brent stepped to the bike and raised it up, Steph hobbled a few steps to the nearest tree and leaned against it.
“Did you know?” Marco inquired, crouching next to Brent looking over the Harley. “Did she talk you into letting her come here with you?”
“Absolutely not, sir!” Brent replied vehemently. “When I ran out to the motor court I thought it was Stu waiting at the gate to leave. There was no reason to think it was anyone else. If I’d known—”
“I believe you,” Marco said briskly. “We need to leave. Is the bike okay?”
Climbing on board, Brent started it up, rode it in a small circle, then stopped.
“Yes, sir, it seems to be fine,” he replied, “but you should take the other one just in case, and you might want to wear this,” he continued, opening the saddle bag and retrieving a helmet. “You’ll be stopped if you don’t.”
“What about Joe?” Marco asked, accepting it and pulling it over his head.
“There’s an extra one with my bike. I’ll get it right now.”
Watching and listening, Steph prayed fervently Marco would forgive her when she explained why she’d taken such drastic action.
“Pay attention,” Marco exclaimed as Brent returned and handed the helmet to Joe. “That includes you, Steph. Come closer.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, limping forward and perching on the edge of the bike’s saddle.
“We don’t know what we’ll find when we get back to the compound,” Marco began. “When we reach the end of the block, I’ll pull over and check in with Benny. Brent, you keep going and do a drive-by. Look for anything out of the ordinary. Even if things look okay, don’t approach the gate. I know we’re anxious to get home, but take it easy. We don’t need a cop pulling us over.”
“I’ll make sure I don’t go over the limit,” Brent assured him.
“See you there. Steph, take my arm for support.”
“Marco, please,” she said urgently as they walked the short distance to the motorcycle Brent had been riding. “I know you’re furious, but—”
“Furious?” he retorted, cutting her off. “You think I’m furious? Furious doesn’t begin to describe how I feel.”
