Easier said than done. It would slow me down; cost me precious time. That was the last thing I wanted, but getting stopped and possibly locked up was a worse alternative. I jerked the bike as I approached the next off-ramp, making my way to the denser parts of the city where I was hoping to lose the bastards in the dark.
Over the years I’d learned a trick or two. I ducked into a tunnel, knowing they’d expect me to come out the other side, especially at the speed I was going. I twisted the handlebars, smoke billowing up around me as I did a one-eighty degree turnaround. I had the element of surprise up my sleeve. I had to get them off my back before they called in reinforcements.
My blood froze in my veins. A truck was coming straight for me. Blinded by its headlights, I had seconds to respond. I leaned to the left, my body virtually scraping the ground and I kicked the bike into a higher gear. I closed my eyes, waiting . . . waiting for the impact. Waiting for the metal beast to slide out from under me, and my body to smash into the fender of the truck, crushing me to oblivion.
My head felt as if it could burst. This was it. I was going to die.
At least I fucking tried.
Chapter Thirty-Four — Jade
Everything around me was white. Even the tunnel with the bright light.
“Ryder,” I screamed, but the word didn’t leave my throat.
He stood at the end of the tunnel, holding out his hand.
Ryder was calling me.
“Jade, come to me. Come, my love. I have found a place where we can be together. Forever.”
Dressed in black, he was all I focused on.
Blood dripped from his head.
Red.
I wanted to take his hand. Be with him.
“I'm coming. Wait for me.”
I ran through the tunnel, toward Ryder.
We’ll be together at last.
Here nobody can tear us apart.
The white light faded to black.
I sank deeper and deeper into nothingness, my body heavy and weighted down.
No floating for me.
Chapter Thirty-Five — Ryder
Staggering into the emergency ward, I asked where Jade Summers was. I’d barely fucking made it alive. Somehow, through sheer luck and determination, I didn’t fly into the truck. Miraculously I’d skidded past it, just in the nick of time, and went roaring out of the tunnel seconds later.
Shaking, I still wasn’t sure I understood how I’d done it. My guardian angels must’ve lost their shit, because it was as close a call as I’d ever survived.
I must have looked so bad, all pale and shook up, that at first the E.R. staff though something was wrong with me. It took repeating myself several times to get them to understand that I was okay and that I was here for Jade.
The nurse led me through to a sterile-looking room with a few plastic chairs and a vending machine. Because Jade was still in surgery, I had to wait there. My gaze fell on a stylish blonde woman sitting on a worn-out sofa, rubbing her temples. She looked so much like Jade, just a more mature version, that I had no doubt that she was Sylvia Summers. She looked up as I approached and gave me a sad smile.
“Ryder. You came.” A barely there smile twitched at the corners of her mouth, as if she was relieved that I was here. How did she know what I looked like? A pang went through my heart as I remembered that Jade had taken a picture of me on her phone just yesterday. If only we could go back to that moment now . . .
“Hello, Sylvia.” I took her hand and held it for a minute, looking into pools of blue, swimming in tears. They were just like Jade’s. “How is Jade? I came as soon as I could.”
She slowly shook her head. “I haven’t had any news yet. Why don’t they come and tell me what’s going on? It’s driving me crazy.” Her knuckles turned white as she squeezed my hand.
“Do you know what happened? What caused it?” I raised an eyebrow, wanting answers so I was prepared when I got to see Jade.
A shadow passed over Sylvia’s eyes before she cast them downward, avoiding my intense gaze. “She had a . . . fight.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her palm. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she continued. “With Harrison. She told him she was . . . having your baby. He didn’t take it well.”
“Christ. He caused this?” I was struggling to keep my voice down. Sure, the cop had it in for me, but to go for Jade? How could he?
She wiped her red nose and nodded, watching my face. “I’m afraid they had . . . an argument. I didn’t even know she was pregnant—” Sylvia sounded tired and distressed. Something told me she really wanted this baby to survive against the odds. I knew how Jade’s family felt about bikers, so it surprised the fuck out of me. Yet she wasn’t alarmed by my appearance or hostile like I’d expected her to be.