Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1)(95)

“Oh, hon,” Bunny said. “Maybe something can work out yet. You’d be so good for him, and he’s been alone too long.”

The words built Haven up and tore her apart at the same time. Knowing Bunny would’ve approved of them meant the world because Haven respected her so much. But Dare had been very clear the night before. He didn’t consider things safe for her here, which meant he didn’t want her to stay. Despite what they’d come so close to admitting they felt for one another last night—with both their words and their bodies.

After they finished eating, there was nothing else to do but wait. As the sun got lower in the early summer sky and the shadows stretched out over the ground, Haven wished she could be down at the track. Watching the race. Knowing what was going on.

A little after seven, the roar of the race cars’ engines made it more than clear that the races had started. It was amazing how loud it was across the almost mile distance separating the track from the clubhouse. The sound was a thrilling growl she could almost feel in her bones, and it spoke of speed and danger and maybe even a little recklessness. As it got darker, the glow of the stadium lights filled the evening sky out the front windows of the clubhouse, a beacon that let her know where Dare was. God, she hoped he was okay. She hoped everyone would be okay, because she wouldn’t be able to take it if anyone got hurt on her behalf.

Suddenly Gunny rushed into the kitchen through the back door. “Get ready to move. Now,” he said in a voice that was all business.

Haven looked to Cora as she rose from the table. “What’s happened?”

“I don’t have the details,” he said, gesturing to her and Cora to get moving. “But Dare will be here in five to get you.”

Maybe Caine was back with the documentation they needed? Haven took a step toward the mess hall door, but then turned and threw her arms around Bunny. “In case I don’t see you, I just wanted to say that I’ll never forget you, Bunny. Thank you so much for everything.”

“The feeling is entirely mutual, honey,” Bunny said as she wrapped her thin arms around Haven’s back. “You take care of yourself and each other.” Bunny hugged Cora next.

And then Gunny hustled them through the mess hall and into the front lounge, where Jeb and Bandit were waiting.

“What’s happening?” Haven asked again. “Is Caine back?” But the guys just shook their heads and kept their gazes trained out the windows. Not knowing made Haven about ten times more anxious than if they’d just tell her.

Headlights swung into the parking lot and zoomed in on the front windows, the sound of tires crunching on gravel reaching her ears despite the roar of the races. The minute the truck came to a hard stop, the men were shepherding them outside and toward it, even as Dare hopped out of the driver’s seat. He left his door hanging open as he rushed up the porch steps, where a small crowd had formed. Haven waited near the passenger door, wanting—no, needing—to hear what was going on.

“Randall and his men are here somewhere,” Dare told Doc. “I can’t spare enough people to secure this location, so I’m taking the women down to the control room and bringing the men back down to the track. We need all the bodies we can get down there.”

He’s here?

She grasped the edge of the door for support as the world spun around her. The reality of that statement was like a punch to the gut. He was here. So close. And maybe closing in.

Cora slid off the passenger seat and put her arm around Haven’s shoulders. “I hope they kill him,” she said. “I hope they kill them all.” Never in their whole friendship had Haven heard such anger and hatred in her best friend’s voice. Not that she disagreed with the sentiment. Not even a little.

“Count me in,” Doc said, jogging down the steps toward the other Ravens who were climbing into the bed of Dare’s truck. Bear followed suit.

“I’ll lock up and head home,” Bunny said. “Go. Do what you have to do.” She placed a quick peck on Dare’s cheek.

“Okay,” Dare said, squeezing his aunt’s shoulder. He returned to the truck and called out, “Jeb, stay here until Bunny’s gone and then come down.”

“You got it,” Jeb said, hopping back down from the truck’s bed.

Cora and Haven got in and shut the door as Dare climbed in through the other door, his expression filled with so much cold anger that it sharpened the angles on his already harsh face. He jerked the truck into reverse.

“How do you know he’s here?” Haven asked, bracing her feet against the floorboard to keep herself steady on the large bench seat as the truck lurched.

Dare met her gaze for a brief moment, and there was so much emotion in the flash of his dark eyes that it made her heart race. “The sheriff found your father’s and two of his crew’s cars parked in a commuter lot off I-70. Traffic camera near that exit reveals they came into town late last night. Which has given them an entire day to get into place, and they’ve done it using vehicles we didn’t know to f*cking look for.” His words absolutely seethed.

“Oh, God,” Haven said. Her gaze darted from the trees along the side of the road to the lights radiating from farther down the mountain. With all that lead time, her father could be lurking anywhere, everywhere.

Dare’s hand landed on her thigh. “We’ll get through this,” he said.