Page 41 of The Prom

“Fuck.”

I run my fingers through my hair and he adds, “Flash is so eaten up with concern he never spotted the signals. So, I repeat my question, do you have anything to tell me, soldier?”

“I like her.” I jump on the edge of the blade because it’s the honorable thing to do, and he is almost sympathetic as he smiles briefly.

“Like?”

“Really like.”

He almost smiles.

“And Imogen? Does shereallylike you, too?”

“Yes.” I swallow my fear and face him with honesty.

“We have agreed it’s not going anywhere. We can’t act on it because?—”

I break off and he huffs, “Because?”

“Because of who we are. She is one of our own and we don’t shit on our doorstep.”

Ryder surprises me by laughing softly. “So, tell me soldier, because I’m interested in your thinking. Why do you consider yourself unworthy of being with one of our own?”

If anything, I’m shocked into silence and he casts a look into the darkness where Flash disappeared. “I’ve always warned the bikers off women under our care. You are aware of that. It’s the honorable thing to do. However, that shit blows up in my face most of the time and I have learned that you can’t fight a person’s feelings, no matter how many threats are issued.”

He peers at me with a frown.

“They have a habit of going there, anyway.”

I’m speechless as he lowers his voice. “Sometimes the best weapon to launch is the one with the most to lose. If you have developed feelings for Imogen, you are the best man to keep her safe.”

Ryder never fails to leave me speechless. His mind has always worked in mysterious ways, and it’s almost as if he has planned this.

I finally find my voice and deliver it with a sigh. “I’m not sure Flash would see it in the same way.”

“He only wants what’s best for Imogen and what is better than a Reaper?”

“You make a valid point.”

For the first time, I relax and as he slaps me hard on the shoulder, he growls. “You have one mission, soldier. Keep our girls safe, whatever that leads to. Just don’t take on something you can’t finish.”

His warning isn’t lost on me. If I’m serious abut Imogen, it’s until she is done with me. I must be honorable in my intentions and accept it if it doesn’t work out.

I nod, my gratitude shown in my relieved smile.

Ryder points to my car. “I’ll be in touch.”

As I turn and walk away, I hold back my grin. Fuck Ryder King, how the hell does he do that? It’s a skill I wish I had, but the most important thing is, I no longer need to hide from my feelings for Imogen and that is the greatest gift he could have given me tonight.

TWENTY

IMOGEN

Thank God for Frankie’s brilliant flashlight as we make our way down the long, dark tunnel toward the riverbank.

It’s interesting spending time with the siblings. Summer offers Frankie none of the reverence the others do, and it amuses me to hear them bickering.

“Fuck, Frankie, can’t you install electricity down here or something? This place is creepy as fuck.”

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