Last Ride (Wind Dragons MC #5.5)(22)

“Meh, we’ve all been there,” I say, grinning. I lift my glass in the air. “To not being kidnapped anymore!”

We clink our glasses.

Dex walks into the room with Asher in his arms, eyeing all of us and the mess of cans, bottles, and snacks on the table. He sighs and walks back out of the room. I don’t know why, but that just makes us laugh harder.



After having our ladies’ night last night, we encourage the men to have a little fun while we have a movie night with the kids. Unlike us, who wasted our night on alcohol and food, the men all decide to go on a ride together, which I think sounds really nice. I’m making Asher a bottle in the kitchen when Ranger walks in.

“Hey,” I say to him, as he opens the cupboard and peers inside. “You hungry? There’s some quiche and homemade sausage rolls in the oven.”

He pauses and smiles at me. “Thanks.”

There’s something about Ranger. I just have a feeling that he’s not happy here. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know him well enough to butt in and offer my advice. What I do tell him though is, “Hey, if you ever need anyone to talk to, or vent to, I’m here. Just between us. No judgment.”

It must be such a change for him. Talon has Tia and Shayla, and he knows Bailey too, but I think Ranger only knows Shayla, and he doesn’t have a woman. Everyone is coupled up here, so maybe he feels a little left out. I imagine the Wild Men clubhouse is a lot different from ours, at least from what I’ve heard from Anna and Bailey after their little expedition there. It would be a big change, and not everyone likes change.

Ranger studies me, then opens the oven and grabs a quiche. I step closer to him and look up, way up, because the man is super tall. I like how he wears his dark hair tied at his nape. Kind of reminds me of Tracker’s hair before he started rocking the man bun.

“I’m fine,” Ranger says, taking a bite out of his quiche.

I stare at him, blinking slowly. “Did you just crumb in my hair?”

He puts his hand on top of my head and dusts it, lip twitching.

“You totally crumbed in my hair,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest and sighing. “It must have fallen like ten feet from your mouth to my head too.”

He laughs now, chest shaking. “I have good aim.”

I grin. “Tonight’s your first ride as a Wind Dragon, hey?”

He nods, more crumbs flying down, but this time I take a step backward. “I hear you’re super smart.”

“And where did you hear that?”

“Around.”

“I’m just a big, dumb biker, Faye,” he says as he licks his fingers, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“And I’m just a woman,” I reply, winking.

He throws his head back and laughs. “Anyone who thinks you’re just a woman is stupid. You remind me of that woman from Vikings, you know, the TV series?”

“Lagertha?” I ask, eyes going wide as saucers. I love Lagertha. She’s my f*cking hero, and if that’s who he’s talking about, Ranger is going to be my new best friend.

“Yeah,” he says, smiling. “You watch the show, huh? She’s badass. Totally you.”

I step closer to him again. Fuck the crumbs. “I’m going to hug you now.”

“Okaaaaay,” he says, watching me while I wrap my arms around him. He pats my back awkwardly, with fingers he just licked, but I don’t even care. “So call you Lagertha to get in your good books. Noted.”

“See,” I say. “You are smart.”

“We’re all smart in different ways.”

“But you’re smart in the ways that count,” I joke, pulling back and letting go of him. “And you have several degrees. Don’t tell Lana that; she’ll use you like an encyclopedia for her books.”

“And you?”

“And me what?” I ask, leaning back against the counter.

“What will you use me for?”

A strange question to ask, but one that tells me a lot. Does everyone want something from Ranger? Why does he feel like that? Maybe everyone wants to pick his brain. Maybe he’s one of those people who’s good at everything. Those people always get tired of being asked to do this or that just because they will do a good job of it.

“Compliments comparing me to my fictional hero?” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

It works, going by his easy smile.

The bad thing is, I kind of was thinking of asking him for a favor. The type of cases I’ve been working on for the feds recently . . . Well, let’s just say I could use his mind. Guess I won’t be asking him though. I don’t want him to feel shitty about it, or do it because he thinks he has to. I’ve never had one of the men not willing to help me though—I guess I’m kind of spoiled that way. Arrow walks into the kitchen, and Ranger takes the opportunity to leave. When Arrow sits down and looks at me, I realize he wants to talk.

“When are you going to surprise Anna?” I ask him, taking the seat next to him.

“You think with everything that’s happened I’ve had time to think about that?” he rumbles in that gruff tone of his. “I’m just happy you’re f*ckin’ okay. Let’s let that settle in before I spoil Anna and give her a date she’s never going to forget.”