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Tara leaned into me to see. “So? I don’t get it.”
My heart thumped a little harder in my chest when Hero lifted his phone to his ear. Was he calling Storm?
“Hunters are still in the area causing trouble.” I grabbed my phone. If Storm called, I’d know it was because of the possibility of danger.
Three bikers slowed as they passed the restaurant. They weren’t Knights; they were Hunters. My stomach twisted as I held my breath. They didn’t slow down or stop as they craned their necks checking out the parking lot. Maybe I was just hyper-paranoid after the recent murder. But something didn’t feel right. I squeezed my phone, watching it like a ticking time bomb. My heart raced, anticipating Storm’s face appearing on the screen. He’d call immediately if something was up.
“Dang, talk about a tense moment. Let’s get out of here and go to the nail salon.” Tara rose from her seat. “I think you both are too uptight.”
I glanced at Emilee. We held each other’s gaze a long beat, then shrugged. Maybe we were uptight. Storm had drilled into my head that the easiest way for the enemy to get to him was through me. I didn’t take his warning lightly. I’d seen what happened to Ava and Nancy. I knew about the murdered college student. Tara was oblivious. I couldn’t tell her about any of it, per Storm’s orders.
When I chose to be with Storm, I accepted the risks. Not that I wanted to be in danger. I just wanted to be with him more than I feared for my life.
I smiled, thinking of my man,Kaleb. I loved calling him by his given name when we were alone, but I also loved his road name, Storm.
Storm sounded powerful and dangerous, which my man was both. Kaleb, well, he was my one true love. Ink-free and adorable back in the day. Roll the two into one, and I had a magnificent man.
My heart fluttered, thinking of him as we strolled out to my car. I pulled up the contacts on my phone for the nail salon Tara and I went for pedicures. It wasn’t easy to do with the afternoon sun glaring down on us.
“What’s up?” Hero stalked toward me.
I lifted my eyes to his. “We wanted to get our nails done. You okay with that? Sit inside an air-conditioned building.”
A pained expression crossed Hero’s face. “Your nails?” He wiped sweat off his brow.
“Yeah. They give massages there. Maybe you can get one.” I smiled wide, hoping to entice him. If he rejected the idea, Tara would probably have a fit.
“Not really feeling a massage…” he mumbled.
“What? Bikers don’t get back rubs? Too cool for that, are you?” Tara pushed her hip out, resting her hands on it. She was giving him an attitude, just as I thought she would.
“Roja, I’ll agree if you sit on my lap and rub against me.” He winked, sporting a shit-eating grin. With her, he never skipped a beat.
“You wish!” She made a gagging face.
AJ, Emilee, and I laughed, while I found the phone number.
“Storm won’t go for it, Angel.” Despite joking around seconds ago, Hero was back to his serious self. “He wants you home for supper.”
“Honestly, it won’t be long, an hour maybe,” Tara said before I could answer. “Let the prisoner have a little fun.”
Okay, prisoner? Not cool, Tara.I was exactly where I wanted to be with the man I loved. Gah, she could be such a brat when she wanted.
“It’s not safe, Roja. Let me try Storm again.” Hero turned toward me. “Did you see the bikers pass?”
“Yes.” I fiddled with my phone. “What do you mean call Stormagain?” Something felt off. Was Storm not answering his phone? That wasn’t like him.
“I got voicemail a few minutes ago. Then I called Raul. He said to bring you and Emilee home once you were done eating. Only Storm can overrule him.” He put his phone to his ear. “I didn’t tell you right away because I didn’t want you to worry. But he’s not called or texted me back.”
Guilt crashed over me. I shouldn’t have suggested getting our nails done. What if Storm wasn’t alright?
Tara looked disappointed. Emilee appeared off since the Hunters rode by.
There we were like a gaggle of teenagers in the parking lot. Distracted by my stupid nail suggestion. Hero grumbled about Storm still not answering. Emilee’s eyes darted around as if waiting for something to happen. AJ seemed to be keeping an eye out, too, while Tara went on about me being a prisoner.
Why did I mention our freaking nails?
The sound of screeching tires and the smell of burning rubber made me whip my head to the side. A white van with blacked-out windows barreled toward me. I screamed, thinking it was going to hit me, but it didn’t. Thank God, it stopped.
