Chapter 10
A little over a month later
Ryan
It had beenabout a month since we took out the Sinners once and for all, and no retaliation or blowback had landed on the charters. Vilas was finally getting back to normal, and life seemed downright boringagain.
I swigged from my nearly empty(?) beer bottle after stretching out myback.
“Oil change?” Ryder asked as he walked up behindme.
“What in the fuck are you doing here, man?” I wiped the grease off my hand before shakinghis.
“Holt found some of Abel’s old stuff and he thought Buck would like it. The old man is better at running shit back home than I am so I offered to bring it over myself.” Ryder took a seat in a folding chair and put his boots up on the back of my bike where it stood behindme.
“That’s good of you. What kind of stuff?” I started cleaning up the mess I had made from changing the oil in theBronco.
“Old pictures, the blueprints for y’all’s barn, just shit like that. Took us a while, but we finally got around to cleaning out Abel’s office. I don’t think that man threw one damn thing away in his entire fuckinglife.”
“Sounds about right—Buck is the same fucking way. Might be a good thing though, but man, is it frustrating.” I tossed a beer over tohim.
He gripped it for a second before setting the bottle down on the ground. “Got anything a little stronger thanthat?”
I shook my head. “To abar?”
He got to his feet. “Sounds like a plan to me. It was a longride.”
I didn’t know how Ryder did the seventeen-hour ride on his bike in one shot. Even though we were just about the same age, I didn’t have the vigor for that shit like hedid.
I washed up quickly before leading Ryder into town. We parked our bikes in front of one of my favorite watering holes, and I was about to take my helmet off when a sight across the street stopped medead.
“What is it, Ax?” Ryder lightly punched myshoulder.
I tossed my helmet at him and trotted across the street. Thankfully, Ryder just let me be. I had no idea if he stood and watched me or went into the bar; I didn’t care either way. I was bewitched by Cassidy standing on a platform with mirrors all around as a seamstress pinned the bottom of the wedding dress she waswearing.
I had never seen anything so breathtaking in mylife.
Our last conversation played over and over like a soundtrack, making me want to keep my feet planted where they were, but there was no way I could listen to my better judgment. I had fought so hard to just walk away for so long, and in one moment, all the time and distance didn’t seem to matter. The walls I had built around my heart came crumbling down as I opened the door to the bridalshop.
“Excuse me?” A woman in a tight black dress and heels waddled toward me, trying to stop me from going over to where Cass was. “Sir, can I helpyou?”
“I just need to talk to my friend real quick. I’ll be out of your hair in a minute.” I winked at her. I knew my appearance was a little menacing, but most women couldn’t resist my bright teeth, perfectly charming smile, and dark eyes. I had no idea what the hell it was, but I wasn’t going to argueit.
“Cass.” I stood in the back of the room, staring at how perfectly the formfitting lace dress hugged her curves, how her long dark curls swept over her right shoulder, how the short train flowed behind her…how perfect she looked, even frombehind.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Ax?” She was glaring at me through her reflection in the mirror, refusing to even turnaround.
“I was just across the street and had to see you. You look stunning.” I took a few steps closer toher.
“Will you excuse us please?” she asked as she looked down at the seamstress, and the woman quickly retreated to a backroom.
Cassidy huffed off the pedestal and marched over to me. “You have some fucking nerve, Ryan. You have got to be fucking kiddingme.”
I could see she was shaking. I tried to put my hand on hers, but she ripped itaway.
“You do not get to come in here and talk to me about anything. You have walked away twice. Fuck you for even coming in here. I’m getting my wedding dress fitted for Christ’ssake!”
She turned, trying to head for the door of the changingroom.