“Wait,” Diamond said suddenly, breathless, palm on his chest.
Sayer froze, blinking down at her. “What? You okay?”
She gave him a dead-serious look, completely unbothered by the flush in her cheeks or the sweat at her temples. “Do you have a condom?”
He paused. Then laughed, short and low. “Yeah. You think I wasn’t hoping for this?”
“Just making sure you’re not running on wishful thinking,” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
He reached to the nightstand with a smirk. “Baby, I came prepared.”
“Good,” she said, pulling him back down. “Now shut up and use it.”
And just like that, the moment snapped right back into heat. Only this time with a wicked smile and a lot less patience.
Chapter Fourteen
One week later…
The line of motorcycles roared down the highway, their engines growling in unison, creating a deep, rumbling symphony that reverberated through the air. Each motorcycle was a unique blend of chrome and custom paint, reflecting the individual style of its rider. Some were sleek and sporty, others larger and imposing, with long, sweeping handlebars and exhaust pipes that made their presence known from miles away.
The road ahead stretched endlessly, with the sun casting a golden glow over the asphalt. The riders, confident and focused, maintained a tight formation, moving as one with a synchronized rhythm. Their eyes fixed on the horizon. The breeze whipped through their hair, and the freedom of the open road felt palpable. The air smelled of fresh rubber and leather, mingling with the faint scent of gasoline. The road was theirs, and together they rode, bound by a shared love for adventure and the thrill of the ride.
Diamond stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness from the long ride. The cool wind of Port Dover bit at her face, but shewelcomed it. It felt like a jolt to her senses after hours of being cooped up in the saddle. The campground appeared to be full, with campers and a lot of tents. A couple of RVs hummed with life, their lights flickering through the evening light.
She turned to the chapter, motioning toward a small, weathered cabin at the far end of the lot. “I’ll go get us checked in and find out where we’re setting up for the night.”
The others nodded, already unhooking gear and pulling their jackets tighter against the chilly evening. Their time there wasn’t for pleasure. Diamond could feel the tension in the air, as everyone knew what was at stake. She scanned the area again, making sure nothing seemed out of place.
As she moved toward the cabin, her mind began to wander. If all went as planned, they’d get the handoff, head back to Quebec City, and get the truck loaded and ready to move out south. But something told her this wasn’t going to be as simple as it seemed. She could never shake the feeling that something always went wrong at the worst moment.
She was glad they were only staying one night. The longer they stayed, the bigger the chance at being seen. They had a reputation to uphold, and she wasn’t about to let anything jeopardize their mission.
When she walked into the wooden building, Diamond’s gaze drifted over the room, scanning the handful of people milling around. The place had the feel of a small-town pit stop—a bit too cozy for comfort given what they were here to do. Too many distractions. Too much foot traffic.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Nova was right. There was something about this place that didn’t sit well with her. Shecould feel the subtle pressure creeping in, the kind of unease that always came before things went sideways.
“I’m thinking you’re right,” Diamond muttered, keeping her voice low. “But we’re already here. Can’t turn back now.”
Nova was still watching her, her expression unreadable. “You think we’re being watched?”
Diamond’s eyes flickered to the door, then to the faces of the campers, some with too much time on their hands and others moving with purpose. She didn’t like it. But she wasn’t going to show it. Not yet.
“Could be,” Diamond said, glancing over her shoulder. “Stix is handling the others, and we’ll stick to the plan. If anyone makes a move, we deal with it. Just keep your head in the game.”
Nova nodded, but Diamond could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. It was the same feeling that had crept up on Diamond the moment they pulled into the campground. The tension was palpable now. There were too many variables, too many eyes on them.
“Maybe we should have checked into a hotel a town over,” Nova said her voice a low whisper for only Diamond to hear.
As they stood near the counter, Diamond spotted the clerk—a wiry man in his late thirties with a bored expression, slowly sorting through papers behind the register. She studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions, before shifting her focus back to Nova.
“You know,” Diamond continued, “the longer we’re in here, the more I start thinking we should’ve done just that. Nothing’s ever easy, is it?”
Nova gave a slight chuckle, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nope, nothing ever is.”
Diamond could feel the weight of the moment settle in her chest. They were close. Too close. She just hoped they’d make it out of this one without any surprises. But with her gut telling her otherwise, she wasn’t about to take any chances.
“Stay sharp,” Diamond muttered, before stepping away from the counter to survey the building again.
