Page 35 of Powerless
She didn't have to specify. I hated that she got the blunt end of Reaper's silent treatment not once, but twice. She was too good of a woman for his butthurt reactions.
"He'll be back." I tucked a finger under her chin. "And he's going to be happy as hell to see you. In the meantime," I flashed her a grin. "I'll do my best."
"Thanks, Jandro." A soft blush heated her cheeks as her eyelashes fluttered. "You're already helping a lot."
"Anything to see that smile," I dropped my hand reluctantly, "and to see Reaper squirm."
She chuckled as she threw a leg over my bike, securing her helmet in place for the ride. I doubled-checked everything just as Shadow walked up.
"All the weapons and loot from the armory is secure," he reported. "They are heavy on the bikes, though," he added.
"It's tough having one less bike with Gunner gone," I said, rubbing my chin. We'll keep a moderate pace to not burn fuel too fast. Thanks, man."
"Good morning, Shadow!" Mari piped up.
I knelt next to my front tire to hide my laugh, where I could see Shadow's hand clench into a fist. His eyes slid down to me with a scowl.
"Say it," I mouthed.
"Good morning," he grunted out before turning and high-tailing it back to his bike.
"Wow," I said, rising up to standing. "That's two more words than I'veeverheard him say to a woman. The next two might be marry me."
"Shut up." Her eyes rolled under her visor. "Why doesn't he talk to women?"
"That's a long, horrendously sad story that isn't mine to tell." My gaze lifted to my big silent friend sitting astride his bike, waiting to go.
"How did you two meet?"
"Through my job before the Collapse." I needed to be on my bike, too, but I didn't want to stop looking at her or talking to her. "I don't mean to be vague but he's uncomfortable with people knowing about his past, so I try to respect that."
"You're a good friend." Her smile was hidden by the helmet but I saw it in the corners of her eyes anyway.
"Thanks, Mari." I threw a leg over my steed, knowing I'd be sitting out here forever if I didn't get moving. "Ready to ride?"
"I'm ready." Her hands slid around my abdomen with more confidence and assuredness than the first time she rode with me.
I almost sighed at her touch on me. And thought for the hundredth time that day how much of an idiot Reaper was.
The roar of his engine suddenly cut through the quiet desert morning. The Steel Demons answered with the growls and revs of our bikes, like a pack of wolves answering their alpha's call. Mari's fingers curled around the edges of my cut.
Hades let out a long, chilling howl before he darted out from the back of the pack. He looked thrilled to run again, jaws open in a wide smile with his tongue lolling out the side.
Reaper followed after him seconds later, his tires kicking up dirt and sand. Damn, I was going to be cleaning the chrome on these steeds until I was stooped over and grey.
We followed after him in our usual procession. Feeling my bike move underneath me was like returning home already. Sure, I had a home base, but the road was where I belonged.
As the Sandia Mountain outpost became a distant speck in my mirrors, I had to remember not to get too comfortable on the journey.
We still had a traitor among us. And it could be any one of these men riding alongside me.
Fourteen
MARIPOSA
Iforgot how comfortable it was to ride with Jandro.
Something about his tires or the design of his bike made it seem like a relaxing train ride rather than a bumpy desert highway. Even the chickens didn't seem distressed, despite being surrounded by rumbling engines.
