Page 23 of The Vows We Keep

Switch laughs, and Neva fights against his hold. “Despite the way this one is behaving, they’re still women. We need to treat them with a little bit more respect than you are capable of showing them, Bates.”

Halo has his nose pressed up against the glass, looking out down the driveway. “I’m thinking that even if we don’t take them to the clubhouse, we’re going to need to get out of here. We’ll have drawn some attention on the ride in.”

“Do a search for weapons, then we’ll take them back to the clubhouse,” King says.

“We have some things to pack,” Catalina says.

King turns her way, his intense glare focused on her. “I don’t give a shit about yourthings. All I care about is getting to the bottom of why you are here and understanding the exposure to our club. When you’re done, depending on what you say, you can come back here and get your stuff then.”

“You can stay with me,” I say. “I’ll loan you a T-shirt.”

King’s stare leaves her and finds me. “She’s staying with no one until we understand what’s going on. Remember, she came looking for me. Not you.”

“I’m taking responsibility for her,” I say.

“She’s not a lollipop you licked, Niro,” Vex says.

My eyes meet Catalina’s. “Yet. I haven’t licked heryet.”

Catalina takes a deep breath; I assume to calm herself. “I don’t need to be anybody’s responsibility. We’ll come with you.” But I see her discretely grab the drawings and stuff them into her back pocket.

“Can you control yourselves enough to ride safely?” King asks.

“Of course,” Catalina says.

“Fine. Let’s go,” King instructs.

“There is no way in hell I’m letting someone else ride my bike,” Catalina says when I climb onto her bike, which I picked out based on the description she gave me earlier. Spark hands me my cut and my leather jacket.

“Considering you kidnapped me and brought me here without my bike, I think it’s only fair that you let me ride back on yours,” I say.

“Fine. But I’ll ride it and you can be my passenger.”

Vex laughs. “Don’t let him ride up front, Cat.”

“Fuck that,” Spark says. “Niro, ride the bike, in case she gets any ideas of driving off mid-column, and so we won’t have to ride after to you. Nothing says staying under the police radar like a highway chase.”

“Stop bickering like a bunch of old women. Cat, get on the back of the fucking bike. Switch, take Neva,” King says.

“Well, this is going to be utterly joyful. If I end up off the road in a ditch somewhere, you’ll know why,” Switch complains.

Bates suddenly lifts Neva up and puts her on the back of Switch’s bike. “Hold on here.” He taps the back of the seat.

“Wait. That’s unsafe,” Neva says.

“Better sit still and not cause any drama then,” Switch says.

“Halo, if Catalina won’t get on with Niro, you take her on your bike.”

Halo grins at me. “My pleasure.”

I throw a punch at Halo, who ducks and manages to dodge the worst of the throw seeing I’m seated. “Fuck you. I’ll take Cat. On her bike.”

“Fuck me,” King mutters.

I lean the bike toward her. “Hop on, cariño.”

“Unless you want me to back up that request with a gun, I suggest you do as the man says,” Spark says. I hadn’t realized he’d come to stand next to me.