you think it is?"
"No clue. You okay?"
"Fine. Can we make it to that alley between the shops?"
"And be like fish in a barrel?"
"Best idea I see. Unless you have another." I heard a high-performance motorcycle in the distance.
"No, Iâ"
The roar of an oncoming Kawasaki drowned his words, and I smelled rubber as the machine screeched to a stop mere inches from my nose.
"Here." I heard Nico's voice.
A helmet landed near my head at the same time the weight holding me to the pavement slid away. Jack quickly switched places with Nico. I pulled the helmet over my hair, swung the ragged-looking Prada to the side, and climbed on behind Jack. My arms circled his waist. He gunned the crotch rocket once and we took off. As we pulled away, I watched Nico disappear in the alley we'd been discussing a moment before.
Sirens wailed around us. Jack wove the motorcycle through the vehicle logjam, shimmying through tight spaces and pushing the throttle when an area opened up for a second. I kept my knees tight against the bike, my eyes constantly on a search for our enemy. Law enforcement would only hinder us at this point.
"We can't have the authorities catch us either," Jack shouted over his shoulder.
"Agreed." I patted his shoulder for emphasis. I wasn't sure when he and I started operating on the same wavelength, but at that moment I could truly say I was glad Jack Hawkes was on my team. My heart pounded, and I got a tighter hold as he twisted the accelerator.
When we slowed for a moment, a forearm clad in brown canvas grabbed the arm I used to anchor the Prada. I thought it was a purse-snatcher until I got a better look.
"Weasel!" I warned Jack, and kicked out with my heel.
Jack whipped around, trying to see what was going on, and almost lost control of the bike. I had to handle this myself. "Eyes forward! Get us out of here!"
The skinny hood latched onto my hand and almost unseated me. I could feel the motorcycle wobble under us, and Jack overcorrect to stay vertical. Weasel moved closer. I wrapped my right hand around Cassie's cell. The curve of my knuckles thickened as they embraced the phone's narrow edge, and I silently willed the plastic to add more oomph to my next hard won effort. My fist crashed into his shoulder, driving hard. I gave the punch everything I had.
It wasn't enough.
He grabbed my shoulders to pull me toward him, off the bike, and away from escape.
He thinks he's winning. Can't let that happen.
I hauled back as far as his grip allowed, then head-butted Nico's helmet into his nose.
Weasel staggered back. Crimson floods erupted from his nose and lip. One look into his eyes showed how cloudy his brain was after the blow. I slammed another kick into his torso, and almost fell completely off the bike in the emotional rush.
"Go!" I slapped Jack's shoulder twice for emphasis, and wiggled back into the bike seat.
"Hang on!" He hit an opening, running the Kawasaki so fast I couldn't be sure if either wheel actually met the asphalt. Cool, damp air rushed at us, calming my stomach. Excess adrenalin raced through my veins, and I had to fight an urge to kick out at everyone who passed close to the bike. Toes curled in my boots, grip tightening like a grappling hook around Jack's waist. I forced myself to breathe slowly, ducking my head to stay safely hidden by his broad back and shoulders as I took the few seconds of respite.
At least for the moment.
Jack looped the machine every direction on the compass, using alleys and avenues with equal abandon. I hung on, but took the risk to text "Thx" to Nico so he would know we'd broken free. I needed to start thinking now about a Christmas gift. The guy was truly a lifesaver.
After another half-hour or so, the tires wobbled over a cobblestone lane beside a small bistro, and the Kawasaki finally quieted from its nonstop rumble.
"You want a coffee?" Jack asked. His voice muffled through the full-face helmet.
"I want scotch. A double." I couldn't see his smile,
"No clue. You okay?"
"Fine. Can we make it to that alley between the shops?"
"And be like fish in a barrel?"
"Best idea I see. Unless you have another." I heard a high-performance motorcycle in the distance.
"No, Iâ"
The roar of an oncoming Kawasaki drowned his words, and I smelled rubber as the machine screeched to a stop mere inches from my nose.
"Here." I heard Nico's voice.
A helmet landed near my head at the same time the weight holding me to the pavement slid away. Jack quickly switched places with Nico. I pulled the helmet over my hair, swung the ragged-looking Prada to the side, and climbed on behind Jack. My arms circled his waist. He gunned the crotch rocket once and we took off. As we pulled away, I watched Nico disappear in the alley we'd been discussing a moment before.
Sirens wailed around us. Jack wove the motorcycle through the vehicle logjam, shimmying through tight spaces and pushing the throttle when an area opened up for a second. I kept my knees tight against the bike, my eyes constantly on a search for our enemy. Law enforcement would only hinder us at this point.
"We can't have the authorities catch us either," Jack shouted over his shoulder.
"Agreed." I patted his shoulder for emphasis. I wasn't sure when he and I started operating on the same wavelength, but at that moment I could truly say I was glad Jack Hawkes was on my team. My heart pounded, and I got a tighter hold as he twisted the accelerator.
When we slowed for a moment, a forearm clad in brown canvas grabbed the arm I used to anchor the Prada. I thought it was a purse-snatcher until I got a better look.
"Weasel!" I warned Jack, and kicked out with my heel.
Jack whipped around, trying to see what was going on, and almost lost control of the bike. I had to handle this myself. "Eyes forward! Get us out of here!"
The skinny hood latched onto my hand and almost unseated me. I could feel the motorcycle wobble under us, and Jack overcorrect to stay vertical. Weasel moved closer. I wrapped my right hand around Cassie's cell. The curve of my knuckles thickened as they embraced the phone's narrow edge, and I silently willed the plastic to add more oomph to my next hard won effort. My fist crashed into his shoulder, driving hard. I gave the punch everything I had.
It wasn't enough.
He grabbed my shoulders to pull me toward him, off the bike, and away from escape.
He thinks he's winning. Can't let that happen.
I hauled back as far as his grip allowed, then head-butted Nico's helmet into his nose.
Weasel staggered back. Crimson floods erupted from his nose and lip. One look into his eyes showed how cloudy his brain was after the blow. I slammed another kick into his torso, and almost fell completely off the bike in the emotional rush.
"Go!" I slapped Jack's shoulder twice for emphasis, and wiggled back into the bike seat.
"Hang on!" He hit an opening, running the Kawasaki so fast I couldn't be sure if either wheel actually met the asphalt. Cool, damp air rushed at us, calming my stomach. Excess adrenalin raced through my veins, and I had to fight an urge to kick out at everyone who passed close to the bike. Toes curled in my boots, grip tightening like a grappling hook around Jack's waist. I forced myself to breathe slowly, ducking my head to stay safely hidden by his broad back and shoulders as I took the few seconds of respite.
At least for the moment.
Jack looped the machine every direction on the compass, using alleys and avenues with equal abandon. I hung on, but took the risk to text "Thx" to Nico so he would know we'd broken free. I needed to start thinking now about a Christmas gift. The guy was truly a lifesaver.
After another half-hour or so, the tires wobbled over a cobblestone lane beside a small bistro, and the Kawasaki finally quieted from its nonstop rumble.
"You want a coffee?" Jack asked. His voice muffled through the full-face helmet.
"I want scotch. A double." I couldn't see his smile,
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