Renegades by Austina Love Read Free Book Online Page B

lately. Heavy dew had fallen overnight and lingered on the grass, glistening in the early morning light.
    Trip slid off his bike and took her hands in his. Worry filled his eyes as his inspecting gaze swept over her. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” He caressed the rope burns at her wrists.
    “I could say the same.” She stared up at him. “He grabbed me because of what I did not because of you.”
    “But you almost became a hostage. I’m sorry.”
    “Why did you lie to me?”
    Taking her hand, he led her along the short dirt path to his cabin. They went inside and sat on a small sofa. His fingers floated up and down her arms as he faced her.
    “At the risk of sounding trite, I did it to protect you. With you already under suspicion for robbery, they could use anything you know to force a deal. Or worse, use you to flush me out. I didn’t want to put you in that position. But I see Pike filled you in and had no intentions of letting you go.”
    “Sort of. He said he could get my farm back.” She told him the rest of what Pike had said, then asked, “Do you really have proof on his guy?”
    He stared back with sincere eyes. “Yeah but please don’t ask me to show you where it’s stashed. Once I apprehend him, I’ll turn it over to the FBI, not the city police.”
    “You don’t trust them to handle it?”
    “As you just found out, Pike is a cop. They cover each other no matter what. It’s a rare cop who’ll roll over on another.”
    “And that’s what Ty was going to do…that’s what got him killed.”
    Trip nodded and sighed. “I wasn’t a bounty hunter before he died.”
    Shye tensed, wondering what would come next. The man who’d seemed like a carefree biker and an easy ride into town began to unfold. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
    “Relax, it’s nothing bad. After leaving the Marines I took offshore jobs on drilling rigs and even worked up in Alaska on fishing boats.”
    “Dangerous work, didn’t you ever want to take it easy?”
    “You mean like you?” He gave her a teasing wink. “I don’t plan on getting soft. Hard work keeps me fit and sharp. I learned a lot about the law from Ty but didn’t want to be back in a uniform. Besides, you need a little more breathing room to catch a dirty cop than the police force allows. I felt the only way to avenge my brother’s murder was to become the law yet ride just outside the law.”
    “So your brother knew that Pike was involved and that’s why he left the evidence with you, in case anything happened to him, right?”
    “Yeah.” He drew her closer. “Now that you know, I can’t let you out of my sight. This is why I tried to protect you from too much information. These guys are bad and now I’m not the only one they’re after. Anyone connected to me is at risk because they know Ty had evidence and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.”
    “You helped me before even knowing me. I can at least repay the favor.”
    “You already have. If not for you, Pike might still be in hiding. I don’t think he expected to find me waiting for him in this remote town. When Carter hired him to go after you, he put Draven in my crosshairs. But I won’t let you get caught in the middle…it’s too risky. It was my pleasure and an honor to help you.”
    “Still, I want to help and it looks like I’m already in the middle. Besides, you risked everything to become my getaway driver.”
    A warm smile softened the strong lines of his face and he gave a slow shake of his head. “I couldn’t resist such a sweet hitchhiker.”
    “I have no regrets. We are after the same men and can help each other. Is this why you ride alone and why you are still single?”
    “ Was single,” he replied with an easy smile. “That is if I haven’t scared you away yet.”
    She reached up and touched his face, sweeping runaway hairs back from his make love to me eyes . “I’m not giving up my fast ride. We still have work to do. I didn’t