“And Legend needs to hear it before half the county does.”
Oaks looks at me, then at Amelia again. “You riding with them?”
I look toward Widowmaker. Then toward the tow rig. Then at August, whose eyes are starting to droop again.
I hate the answer before I give it. “I’ll follow.”
Oaks smiles faintly. “Look at you making responsible choices.”
“Tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”
“Already forgot.”
When I walk back to Amelia, she has one arm around August, who is half asleep against her shoulder now that he’s out of the booster. She looks too small holding him. Not physically. She’s got curves and spine and that mouth that keeps making trouble in my head. But there’s a way a woman looks when she’s been carrying too much alone. Like even standing still costs her.
“Wildcat’s taking your truck,” I say. “You and August ride in the tow rig with him. Oaks is behind you. I’ll follow on Widowmaker.”
She looks at my bike. “Widowmaker?”
“That’s her name.”
“That’s not comforting either.”
“She wasn’t built to comfort.”
“What was she built to do?”
“Survive stupid men.”
Her mouth almost curves. “Does she?”
“Depends on the man.”
August lifts his head. “Can I ride dragon?”
“No,” Amelia and I say together.
He sighs and drops his face back against her shoulder. “Rude.”
I stare at the kid. Then at Amelia. She looks as surprised as I feel. The chuckle erupts from me before I can hold it back. Amelia looks away fast, but I see her mouth soften.
Wildcat opens the passenger door of the tow rig. “Ma’am.”
She looks at him. “If every biker calls me ma’am tonight, I’m walking.”
“Amelia,” I say.
Her eyes come to me.
“There ain’t no walking on Hell Road.”
The joke dies before it lands. Because it’s true.
She looks back at Dead Man’s Curve. “Why is it called Hell Road?”
Oaks lets out a low sound like he’d rather I not answer.
Too bad.