Helpless (Steel Demons MC #5) - Crystal Ash Page 0,70

no time.” His palms were clammy as he removed my hands by the wrists. “Blake could still be looking for us.”

“I’d feel a lot better if you weren’t riding,” I frowned, noticing how heavily he leaned against his bike. I wondered if he could even fully stand. “I know you’ve got manly pride or whatever, but can’t you link up with one of the guys?”

“And leave my bike here? We have no way to haul it.”

“Mari, we’ve got to go!” Larkan hollered over the revving of his machine.

Shadow flung a hand weakly in his direction. “Get going. I’ll be fine.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

“Okay, well just take this.” I grabbed my bottle of prescription-strength ibuprofen and handed him two tablets. “They should help with the fever and muscle stiffness.”

“Thanks.” He didn’t smile, but his gaze was warm. “You can take care of me all you want when we’re home.”

“Oh, good. Because you don’t have a choice in that matter.” I squeezed his hand around the pills before backing away. “Please ride safe. I’ll be watching you in the mirrors.”

“I’ll guard your back,” he said softly. “Always.”

I left his side with a sinking feeling in my gut. We’re not going to make it home, my thoughts whispered. He really needed more rest and proper care, but we couldn’t stay here. We had no other option but to ride hard to safety.

After securing Freyja in my backpack, I climbed on behind Larkan and immediately checked his mirrors. Shadow had none of his usual grace and confidence as he sat astride his bike. He moved slowly, painfully. Even if his brain couldn’t feel it, his body was reacting to the damage he took. My stomach knotted even tighter as we took off.

We took a different route home, T-Bone leading the way through a mix of forests and open fields. Kyrie clung to his waist, her blonde hair streamed out behind her like a comet. The landscape was pretty, but I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy it. My thoughts were only on the injured man riding in the rear.

Shadow seemed to be holding on fine, much to my surprise. I had to remind myself how strong and capable he was. He had already survived so much. As hours passed, I started to relax. We weren’t stopping, so I couldn’t physically check on him, but every mile he stayed on that bike was a good sign.

When late afternoon turned the landscape golden and striped with long shadows, my stomach was cramping from hunger. My thighs and butt ached like they did when I first started riding. T-Bone’s bike began to slow, and buildings started popping up on either side of the road. I lifted the visor on my helmet and blinked several times, certain that it had to be a mirage.

“I know this place,” Larkan yelled to me over his shoulder. “We’re way off-course from Four Corners, but this town is Toquerville. It’s neutral territory, so nobody owns it yet. We’ll be safe to stop here.”

T-Bone seemed to have the same idea as he slowly rolled through on the dirt road. He pointed out things to Kyrie, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Hope soared within me when I saw an apothecary sign on one of the buildings. It was dusty and didn’t seem to be open at the moment, but I might be able to treat Shadow’s infection here.

My eyes slid back to Larkan’s mirror. Now that we were moving slower and the bikes were closer together, I could see Shadow clearly. He was bent low and forward over his handlebars, pale as a ghost and grimacing. His hair was slick with sweat, clinging to his forehead, and his breathing looked labored.

Holy shit! How was he able to ride for the past eight hours like that? Panic gripped my chest, but before I could say anything Larkan suddenly picked up speed, following T-Bone’s acceleration through the town.

I patted Lark’s shoulder. “Where are we going?”

“I dunno. Just following T’s signal.”

“We need to stop. Shadow looks really sick.”

He turned a corner, following the bikes in front along a side street, and I lost sight of Shadow.

“Lark, slow down! He can’t see us anymore.”

Thankfully he slowed, and I twisted in my seat to look behind me.

The whole world seemed to slow down as Shadow came around the corner, his bike turning too sharply.

The motorcycle spun off in one direction, his body flying lifelessly the other way, and