the others stayed out on the street—taking up the whole area.
Every single member slowed to a stop. As Priest got off Paco's Harley, the rest of them revved their engines. Paco held Josie tight. A shiver went through her. Or maybe it was him.
He was feeling odd, not quite himself.
Priest approached him. Paco stepped out from behind Josie, keeping his arm around her and clasped his president's hand.
"I had Banks give your motorcycle a tune-up and filled the tank for you." Priest's gaze intensified, and he reached into his inner vest pocket and pulled out an envelope. "You missed payday."
He took the money owed him. "Thanks...for everything."
"Wish I could've kept shit from happening the way it had." Priest glanced at Josie. "For both of you."
He'd gone around and around with himself, trying to find someone to blame for allowing Josie to step foot on the reservation. He wanted to spare her the pain of dealing with her past while protecting her.
He never planned on getting ambushed the way he had or getting shot before he could get back to Josie.
Someday, he'd deal with Whip for supporting Josie in her fight to save him, and allowing her to go to the reservation.
"She saved my life, prez," he said.
Josie shook her head. "He saved mine. Twice."
He refused to talk to her about what she'd done. Not sure he could handle how fucking scared he was when she'd walked into the room. He thought he'd lost her, and that couldn't happen.
She was his life.
"Take it easy." Priest dipped his chin and walked over to the group. Frank got off Priest's Harley and doubled up with Aaron.
Paco continued to stand in the driveway. Together with Josie, he watched his club ride off, wishing he was in the middle.
It took several minutes until the roar of the motorcycles ceased to exist. When they were gone, he led Josie over to his Harley. He limped, knowing it was the longest he'd stood on his leg since before the torture he'd lived through.
He wrapped his hand around the handlebar and let go of Josie. Holding his breath, he swung his leg up. It took two tries, and he finally straddled the seat. Setting his ass down, he exhaled.
He was home.
Reaching behind him, he took his helmet and looked at Josie. She frowned, watching him closely. There was nothing to worry about. His leg could handle hugging the bike. It was supporting his weight while walking that sucked.
"Grab the extra helmet in the house and lock the door on your way out." He reached behind him and pushed the footpeg down. "We're going for a ride."
"Paco." She moved closer. "I don't think—"
"Now."
She studied him and backed away. He nodded. Everything was going to be okay. She had nothing to worry about.
Her gaze warmed, and she turned around, going back inside the house. Several minutes later, she came out.
He rolled his shoulders. The tightness of his leather vest a familiar comfort.
Josie slid on behind him, hugging his waist. "Are you okay?"
"Right as rain, sweetheart." He started the Harley and rode away from the house.
At least he hoped he was making the right decision. What he had to tell Josie could change everything.
Chapter 35
Josie
The sides of the canyon came up out of the ground and surrounded them. Josie brought her gaze back to ground level and the maze of boulders littering the mountain's floor.
Paco had ridden his Harley off-road as far as his motorcycle could go before nature's obstacles blocked his path. He took off his helmet.
She removed her protection as well.
The call of an eagle echoed. She looked up again, squinting against the glare of the sun, and spotted the bird gliding with the thermal.
"Sweetheart?"
She leaned against his back. "Hm?"
"Get in front of me, so I can see your face."
She slid off and hesitated. To sit facing him, she'd need to put her legs on top of his.
"You're not going to hurt me." He scooted back and patted the small section of leather behind the gas tank.
Carefully climbing on, she wrapped her legs around his hips. The added height under her butt put her at eye level with him.
She cupped his face and kissed him lightly. "Tired?"
"I'm good."
The scars beneath her hands numbed part of his face, but he always welcomed her touch. She made him feel loved. Scars and all.
He looked off into the distance. "I come here when I need to think."
"It's a beautiful place." She gazed around. "Quiet. Peaceful."
He sniffed and gathered her hands in his.