Page 37 of Abra's Acquisition
Max shrugs in capitulation. “Fine. She’s safe, and that’s all that matters. Backup should be here soon. Where are you guys headed? Back to the clubhouse?”
“That’s the plan,” Abra says.
Max chews on his lip before speaking again. “You wouldn’t want to run by the pawn shop and let Rey take a look inside, would you?”
I look at him in surprise. Does he know that it was me who wanted to go into the pawn shop?
“I guess, why?” Abra asks.
“This asshole was pawning something,” Max says, holding up an evidence bag with a slip of paper inside. “Looks like jewelry. I’m guessing it belongs to Rey. If the asshole sees me pull up, he might dispose of the goods before I can see them. I figure if you two went inside…”
“He wouldn’t freak out. Good idea. What do you say, babe? Want to take a ride over to the pawn shop?”
“You’re going to take your bike?” Max asks.
“Of course, why?”
“Is it safe? I mean, considering Rey’s condition?”
I suck in a breath when Dontel whips his head around to glare at me. “What the fuck does that mean? What condition?”
I give Max an incredulous look and receive an apologetic one in return.
“She was scared when you shot at her,” Abra says smoothly. “Rey’s fine. She knows she’s safe with me.”
I bob my head quickly, avoiding making eye contact with Dontel. I don’t want him to see the worry in my eyes. There is no reason for him to jump to the conclusion that I’m pregnant with his child, but I don’t want to risk it. Hopefully, he’ll accept Abra’s comment and move on.
Three black and whites pull up behind Max’s vehicle. Five cops get out and join us.
“What’s going on, Detective?” the oldest of uniformed officers asks.
“I need you to take these three back to the station and book them,” Max says quickly. “Book this guy on suspicion of breaking and entering and killing a cop. Book the others as accessories. I’ll be in to question them later.”
Dontel and his friends howl and curse as the cops lead them to their respective squad cars and strap them into the backseats.
“Shit, Rey, I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Max says, moving my side and sliding a hand down my arm. “Do you think he suspects?”
We glance at the patrol car with Dontel fuming inside. Dontel is glaring at us. His expression reads as furious rather than speculative. I just hope he doesn’t remember Max’s comment and what it could mean.
“I don’t know,” I answer Max. “It’s too late to do anything about it. How long do you think he’ll be in jail?”
“I can keep him for seventy-two hours before I have to charge him. However, I’m hoping this gun is a match for the ballisticson the bullet that killed Officer Ryan. If it is, we can charge him and toss him in a cell until he dies of old age.”
“That would be ideal,” Abra says. “In the meantime, we’ll head to the pawn shop and see if there is more evidence for you there. We’ll call you if we find anything.”
“Good deal,” Max says, leaning forward to kiss me on my cheek. “Take care of yourself. I don’t like you riding on his bike. It’s dangerous for the baby.”
“Abra will take care of me. The baby is safe inside me. I probably won’t be riding once I start showing,” I assure him.
“Is it just the two of you?” Max asks as the sound of revving engines fills the air. Cicero and Levi follow Hex and the others down the road.
“I’m going with them,” Zip says, joining us.
Abra and Zip shake hands with Max before Abra leads me to his bike. As we pull away, I spot a tow truck and a dark SUV heading past us toward Max and Dontel’s vehicle. I know Max is strong enough to take care of himself, but I can’t deny that I’m relieved he won’t be alone on the deserted road. Dontel doesn’t have many friends, but the two assholes with him today aren’t his only ones.
I relax into the drive and enjoy the exhilaration of the wind whipping around our connected bodies. Wrapping around the hardness of Abra’s body just adds to the thrill. I breathe in the fresh air along with the scent that is all Abra. Leather, oil, musk, and a hint of spice. He’s intoxicating.
When Abra pulls up in front of the pawn shop, I disembark and hand him my helmet.
