Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,49

as hey, they have phones in there, and Road could buy one and sneak a call to Drummer. He might have come up with a plan that appears workable, but we still don’t trust him.

It’s not long before Road reappears. He’s wearing running shorts, a tank top framing his muscles and tats very nicely indeed—not that I should be noticing—and has on a baseball cap and sunglasses. On his feet are brand new sneakers, which he takes a moment to cover in dirt and scuff by dragging them against the ground.

“Do you run?” I ask, interested in possibly having my new partner as a running mate too.

He gives me an incredulous look. “Like fuck.”

We return to where Preacher, Thor, Rascal and Honor are still standing outside their SUV.

“Here.” Honor passes Road a tiny earpiece. “This will allow you to hear us, and for us to hear anything that goes on in the house.”

Road nods and takes the box from him. “What about bugs you want me to place?”

Honor nods and passes something else to him. “Doubt you’ll get a chance to place more than one. This is one of the smallest listening devices on the market.”

That one Road extracts from the box and puts into the pocket of his shorts.

“Don’t let them catch you, Road,” I warn. My worry is only my concern about his lack of experience.

“Here.” Snatcher has written something on a slip of paper. “Put that in your wallet. Ask to use their phone, and Swift will swing by and pick you up. Calling a girlfriend will be less suspicious than one of us putting in an appearance.”

“And Swift can give him a bit sloppy kiss to add to the illusion.”

Preacher gets my middle finger for that suggestion. But for a second I wonder what it would be like to kiss Road’s full lips, and whether they’d be as soft as they appear to be. I shake my head trying to unthink what just went through my head.

“How about I’m his sister?”

“Long as you don’t open your mouth.”

Yeah, sometimes I forget that I’ve got an accent which sticks out a mile.

“We’ll have the drone up, Road, so if they refuse you help or won’t let you call, we’ll spot you and pick you up.”

“And know if you don’t come out.” It bothers me that he’s going in alone. “Don’t be a hero, Road. We want info, not for you to try to rescue the girl on your own.”

We hang around no longer than necessary. With a quick salute toward Preacher, Snatcher puts the SUV into drive, and off we go again. It’s not far until we’re at the end of the road where we can drop Road off without being seen.

“He’ll be okay,” Snatcher tells me, looking at me in the rearview mirror as we drive away leaving Road all alone.

I hope so.

“I just hope he knows what he’s fuckin’ doing and doesn’t give the game away,” Piston complains.

I, on the other hand, am fully convinced Road understands a girl’s life is at stake. He’ll stick to the script and won’t go, as we say in England, off piste.

Road’s microphone is transmitting, and I realise he wasn’t lying when he said he doesn’t run. His breathing sounds laboured after only a short time. The drone is hovering high above the house we’re suspicious about, and it picks him up well enough to see when he’s almost outside. I get the visual of him crashing to the ground, as well as hear the screech of pain that is one hundred percent genuine.

I wince.

12

Road…

I don’t run for pleasure, as I’d told Swift, but Peg had had me on the elliptical as part of the exercise regime trying to strengthen the muscles in my bad leg, so the action wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

What I’m most in danger of is stumbling and putting my knee out before I reach the house that I’m aiming for.

I put to the back of my mind that this is going to hurt like a bitch. Normally my knee dislocates, and it’s agony while it’s out of place, but once it’s righted, the relief is immediate. This time I’ll have to suffer until Swift picks me up. My teeth are already gritted in anticipation.

I don’t expect I’ll learn anything to make it worth my while lingering in the house, if they let me in, that is. I’m conscious I mustn’t do anything to put the kid in any more danger than she is already. The most I