Page 86 of Wild Ride

God.

Why is he so damn sexy? And why do his words make me want to hear more from him? I want him to whisper anything to me. He could read a grocery list in my ear, and I’m pretty sure I would be wet for him.

“Let’s go.”

He takes a step backward, climbs on his bike, and I slip into the driver’s seat of the car. Starting the engine again, I follow behind him, and we make our way back to the clubhouse.

It doesn’t take us long to get there, and when we pull into the parking area, I notice that the grill is out and there are food trays on the table. We’re going to have family time, and I’m beyond excited and starving.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

DAKOTA

Briana hangsout at the back of the party. She won’t even look at me, no matter how many times I attempt to catch her eye. She even came over, got some food, and then walked back to where she stands now, her back to the wall, her plate in her hand, her eyes downcast.

Bishop keeps his hand at the small of my back the entire time. He doesn’t walk away from me for one minute.

All the guys are nice, but they watch me out of the corner of their eyes. I don’t know if they’re trying to figure me out or checking to see if I’m going to fall to pieces or not. Maybe wondering if I’m strong enough to be part of their group.

I’m probably not. So, hopefully, they don’t look too hard. Because I know without a doubt that I am not strong enough for any of this life. That has become abundantly clear, but at the same time, I’m not weak, either.

I don’t know what I am. But hopefully, I’ll be able to find out one day.

Soon.

Starting right now.

Reaching out for Bishop’s arm, I wrap my fingers around it and give him a squeeze. Instantly, he stops talking, then turns his head and dips his chin to look down at me. Slipping my tongue out of my mouth, I slide it along my bottom lip.

“I’m going to try and talk to her.”

He presses his lips together in a thin line, his gaze never leaving mine. He knows exactly what I’m saying and who I’m talking about. For a moment, we stare at one another, then he lets out an exhale.

“Fine,” he snaps. “But if I get even an inkling she’s being a cunt, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and take you to bed.”

“It’ll be fine,” I say.

He shakes his head once. “Yeah, well, I’m not changing my stance on that shit.”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and slide them across before I release them and rise to my toes. After touching my mouth to his cheek, I lower myself to my heels and take a step backward. As I turn toward Briana, I suck in a breath and hold it while I close the distance between us, stopping when I’m a few feet away from her.

Slowly, she lifts her gaze to meet mine. “You’re still with him,” she states. “I know what you saw, and you walked away. You didn’t come to me as your friend. You just walked away. I was afraid something bad had happened to you.”

I know I should feel guilty, but none of that has to do with her. She made it very clear where she stood when it came to our friendship. There was no way in hell I was going to her just to hear her tell meI told you soafter just a few hours.

“I am with him, and I know that you don’t like that. I’m not sorry, though. I’m doing this for me. It’s my mistake to make.”

“You’ll end up one of them,” she warns with a hiss. “That’s how it happens. They act like they love you, and then they whore you out.”

Shaking my head, I reach out and take Briana’s hand in mine. “I hate that they hurt you. I hate that you were so young. I wish I could change it all.”

Tears swim in her eyes, and she shakes her head a couple of times, blinking rapidly as she does, trying not to let those tears fall. She fails. They begin to stream down her cheeks. Her fingers flex around my hand and she lifts her chin, trying to keep her lips from trembling. Again, she fails.

“This is about you, Dakota,” she exhales.

“It’s about you, too,” I murmur. “Bishop wants to end the Haven for what they’re doing. He has men waiting to help him. He is ready to do this and expects nothing in return. He is not perfect. I am not perfect, either. I am throwing caution to the wind because I feel it in my gut,” I say, balling my free hand into a fist then slamming it against my belly.

“Okay, Dakota,” she whispers. “Okay.”

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