Page 15 of Heat (The Royal HArlots MC, Quebec City-Canada #1)
Chapter Fourteen
One week later …
The line of motorcycles roared down the highway, their engines growling in unison, creating a deep, rumbling symphony that reverberated through the air.
Each motorcycle was a unique blend of chrome and custom paint, reflecting the individual style of its rider.
Some were sleek and sporty, others larger and imposing, with long, sweeping handlebars and exhaust pipes that made their presence known from miles away.
The road ahead stretched endlessly, with the sun casting a golden glow over the asphalt.
The riders, confident and focused, maintained a tight formation, moving as one with a synchronized rhythm.
Their eyes fixed on the horizon. The breeze whipped through their hair, and the freedom of the open road felt palpable.
The air smelled of fresh rubber and leather, mingling with the faint scent of gasoline.
The road was theirs, and together they rode, bound by a shared love for adventure and the thrill of the ride.
Diamond stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness from the long ride.
The cool wind of Port Dover bit at her face, but she welcomed it.
It felt like a jolt to her senses after hours of being cooped up in the saddle.
The campground appeared to be full, with campers and a lot of tents.
A couple of RVs hummed with life, their lights flickering through the evening light.
She turned to the chapter, motioning toward a small, weathered cabin at the far end of the lot. “I’ll go get us checked in and find out where we’re setting up for the night.”
The others nodded, already unhooking gear and pulling their jackets tighter against the chilly evening. Their time there wasn’t for pleasure. Diamond could feel the tension in the air, as everyone knew what was at stake. She scanned the area again, making sure nothing seemed out of place.
As she moved toward the cabin, her mind began to wander.
If all went as planned, they’d get the handoff, head back to Quebec City, and get the truck loaded and ready to move out south.
But something told her this wasn’t going to be as simple as it seemed.
She could never shake the feeling that something always went wrong at the worst moment.
She was glad they were only staying one night. The longer they stayed, the bigger the chance at being seen. They had a reputation to uphold, and she wasn’t about to let anything jeopardize their mission.
When she walked into the wooden building, Diamond’s gaze drifted over the room, scanning the handful of people milling around. The place had the feel of a small-town pit stop—a bit too cozy for comfort given what they were here to do. Too many distractions. Too much foot traffic.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Nova was right. There was something about this place that didn’t sit well with her. She could feel the subtle pressure creeping in, the kind of unease that always came before things went sideways.
“I’m thinking you’re right,” Diamond muttered, keeping her voice low. “But we’re already here. Can’t turn back now.”
Nova was still watching her, her expression unreadable. “You think we’re being watched?”
Diamond’s eyes flickered to the door, then to the faces of the campers, some with too much time on their hands and others moving with purpose. She didn’t like it. But she wasn’t going to show it. Not yet.
“Could be,” Diamond said, glancing over her shoulder. “Stix is handling the others, and we’ll stick to the plan. If anyone makes a move, we deal with it. Just keep your head in the game.”
Nova nodded, but Diamond could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. It was the same feeling that had crept up on Diamond the moment they pulled into the campground. The tension was palpable now. There were too many variables, too many eyes on them.
“Maybe we should have checked into a hotel a town over,” Nova said her voice a low whisper for only Diamond to hear.
As they stood near the counter, Diamond spotted the clerk—a wiry man in his late thirties with a bored expression, slowly sorting through papers behind the register. She studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions, before shifting her focus back to Nova.
“You know,” Diamond continued, “the longer we’re in here, the more I start thinking we should’ve done just that. Nothing’s ever easy, is it?”
Nova gave a slight chuckle, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nope, nothing ever is.”
Diamond could feel the weight of the moment settle in her chest. They were close. Too close. She just hoped they’d make it out of this one without any surprises. But with her gut telling her otherwise, she wasn’t about to take any chances.
“Stay sharp,” Diamond muttered, before stepping away from the counter to survey the building again.
“Can I help you ladies?”
Diamond faced the man. “We have reservations for nine tent spots.”
“Name.”
“Royal Harlots, Quebec City.” She saw the man roll his eyes. The ol’ coot had no idea who they were. But she was sure he’d heard a lot of club names since the rally had started.
“Here you are.” He pointed on the map where their spots were. “If you have any problems, let us know. Bathhouses are clearly marked on the map.”
Diamond took the map, her fingers brushing against the old paper, feeling the weight of the moment settling deeper into her.
She wasn’t sure whether the clerk’s dismissive tone was because of their club name or just a reflection of how many bikers had passed through.
Either way, she wasn’t about to let it phase her.
“Thanks,” she said curtly, folding the map carefully and slipping it into her pocket.
Nova, standing just behind her, flashed a smile at the man, but it was one of those smiles that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Diamond knew better than to let anyone think they were just another group of bikers passing through.
They had a job to do, and their reputation meant keeping their heads down, especially in a crowded place like this.
Diamond turned, motioning to Nova to lead the way. “Let’s go check the spots and get settled. We can blow off some steam while we look for the Northern Ontario Chapter.”
Walking out of the building she saw the ladies standing by the bikes waiting to load up. Twirling her finger in the air she signaled for them to load up. Sliding into the saddle she fired up her bike and pulled back on the road leading through the campground.
The place was bigger than Diamond had expected.
Rows of tents and RVs were spread out, each space marked with a faded sign, most of them already occupied.
At the back of the campground, she saw the sign for their spots.
Pulling off the road, she rolled into the area they’d call home for the next twenty-four hours.
The sound of the other bikes pulling up behind her, she shut hers off. She heard Nova giving orders to get the camp set up. Climbing off her bike, Diamond started unpacking. They’d all brought their gear on the bikes. No cage this time. Cages brought more attention.
Working as a team, they set up the tents. When Diamond broke out a small air compressor and lugged it to the power pole, the razing started. One by one they all had to eat crow as they started pulling out their blowup mattresses.
“Tent camping doesn’t have to be uncomfortable,” Nova said laughing as she unrolled her own mattress.
“No, it doesn’t.” Diamond smirked, giving a teasing glance toward the group. “But I bet none of you thought to pack an air compressor.” She inflated her mattress with ease, watching the others struggle with their own air pumps.
Nova rolled her eyes, still chuckling. “You’re always the prepared one. I should’ve known.”
“I like comfort.” Diamond shrugged, setting her mattress down in the tent. “Nothing wrong with being a little extra.”
The others laughed, some pretending to be annoyed, while others were clearly relieved to have their own mattresses inflated without too much effort.
As the camp began to take shape, tents set up, bikes lined up, the smell of campfire smoke starting to fill the air. The group settled into a more relaxed vibe. The long road ride was behind them, and now it was time to unwind.
“Who’s cooking tonight?” one of the girls asked, looking over at Nova, who was already unpacking a cooler full of food.
Nova grinned, tossing a bag of hot dogs at her. “We’re keeping it simple tonight.”
Diamond nodded in agreement, sitting back on her mattress and letting out a contented sigh. “Hotdogs? Did anyone bring a can of chili?”
The laughter relaxed everyone. They all settled around the fire, letting the night take over, the bikes quiet now, and the only sound was the crackling of the flames. A perfect end to the day.