to love it now, but when the pipes roared, and the machine vibrated, coming to life, and then they were in the wind, the exhilaration was instantaneous.
She pressed her body tightly against his and let the wind take away everything the way it had always done. They were leaving in the early morning hours to go find Zane. She couldn’t do a thing about it until then. They had a plan. She wasn’t alone, and she had a much better chance at getting her son back then she’d had before. There was something about Torpedo Ink that inspired confidence and for the first time since Zane was taken, she really believed she would get him back. Because of them. Torpedo Ink.
The moment Steele, Breezy and the bike moved together, she felt whole. She knew, because she’d had multiple talks with Delia, that needing someone wasn’t healthy. Wanting them in one’s life was okay, but she said Breezy needed to stand on her own feet. She’d done that until her father had kidnapped Zane, but she’d never felt whole. It was as if a huge piece of her was missing. Riding with Steele completed her.
Maybe it was because she was as screwed up as he was. She was a victim of abuse and knew no other life. Steele was the same way. He was complete by being in Torpedo Ink, and she was certain he would always need them. It was just possible she would always need Steele.
He didn’t turn back down the road leading to the compound but took them up to the highway. She didn’t ask. She didn’t even care. She wanted to ride. They had a lot of hours to kill before they started out and she just wanted to ride for a while to stop feeling so afraid for her son and to breathe again.
She knew Steele had already mapped out the shortest route from Caspar to New Orleans. He planned to go right through New Mexico and stop by her apartment to pick up the items on her list—mainly the earlier pictures of Zane. She had told him, during the meeting, that she could live without the photographs if they all believed someone was watching her apartment, but Steele had insisted, he couldn’t live without them.
The members of Torpedo Ink had exchanged looks, ones she couldn’t read. At the time it had felt significant, now she just didn’t care. She would when they were in New Mexico, but going down the highway, she let the roar of the pipes and the wind carry away every problem.
She blanked her mind against the images of Zane with Bridges or Junk. She had to believe he was in the hands of a woman who cared enough to try to protect a toddler. She refused to think about the pain and humiliation of Steele throwing her out or discovering him with other women. She simply allowed herself to enjoy every second on the motorcycle.
He took them to the little village overlooking the ocean. Sea Haven extended from the highway to the headlands, spreading out with numerous cute little shops and historical homes. Old water towers rose into the air, making the town quaint and authentic.
He parked the bike in front of the local market. Maestro and Keys parked right beside them and took a careful look around. She saw their gazes sweep the buildings and rooftops, the cars and street. Steele took her hand once she removed the helmet and she didn’t fight that either. She wasn’t going to allow anything to ruin the joy she got from riding.
If she wasn’t lying to herself, she had always been proud walking with him like that. Close. Hand in hand. Steele liked to touch her. When he’d been with her, he’d almost always been touching her. She’d liked that. It had made her feel cared for. Now, she knew, that was just part of who he was. It had nothing to do with her. She hoped he’d always be that way with Zane and that it gave her son that same feeling of being cherished as it had her. She wanted that for their child, especially if Steele insisted on being in his life permanently.
“Inez,” Steele greeted as they entered the grocery store.
The older woman behind the counter broke into a smile. “Steele, Maestro, Keys, good to see you.”
Her gaze went to Breezy and then dropped to their linked hands. Immediately, for reasons she was uncertain of, Breezy tried to let go