“Hey,” Cruz said firmly, trying not to draw attention to us. “She had no say in this. She was fucking kidnapped.”
“You want to tell me why you and Drake are here? How are you involved?” he replied without reacting, keeping his eyes on the cops. “I doubt this incident was a surprise to you.”
“Beckett called me to say she was coming to get Riley, so I called Riley to warn her. She told me to look after Luna, so I jumped in the car with Drake who was keeping tabs on Riley on surveillance. We got here just after the crash, and Turbo, Blake, and Luna arrived too. We don’t get involved with other people’s personal business, so yeah, we knew Riley had been racing. She’s an adult, so it wasn’t our problem, no offense,” he said with a shrug. “We’ve hacked the cameras so any recording will just play repeats of the street instead of tonight's events. You’re welcome.”
Tyler finally turned, his jaw tight. “How long has she been racing? And thanks, I doubt Hunter was worried about hiding evidence after watching our daughter almost die. He’s a little preoccupied.”
“You’ll have to ask Riley that. She won’t lie now that she’s been caught,” he said lightly. “And I’ll take Hendricks home. I promised Riley I’d look after her.”
He raised an eyebrow, giving me the side eye. “You know her father’s going to strangle you, right? Look at her, she’s all roughed up and dirty.”
“Archer loves me, I’ll be fine,” he said confidently, turning me towards his car. “Give me a call if you need something wiped.”
“Except your butt.” Drake grinned as he fell into step with us, speaking over his shoulder. “You can handle that yourself.”
I slid into the back seat, and Blake popped up beside the car, giving me a small smile. “Tell Donovan to call me when she’s got a moment. I want to check up on her.”
I nodded, motioning to the spare spot beside me. “Do you need a ride?”
“Nope. Ander gave me his keys to make sure his baby got home okay,” she said dryly, jingling the keys as if to prove it. “I hope you’re alright. Slick’s an absolute asshole.”
“I’ll be fine. Get home safely.”
She gave us a wave and walked towards Turbo’s Supra, and we waited for her to leave before we pulled away, heading towards Ashburn Valley.
Cruz glanced in the rearview mirror, concern in his gaze. “He didn’t touch you, did he? I’ve heard bad shit about that guy.”
“Not today,” I grumbled, his eyes narrowing.
“He’s touched you before?”
“He was best friends with Stanley, my ex. He has a habit of sharing girls with him, and he let him get a little handsy with me one night. He’s never raped me or anything if that’s what you’re worried about,” I offered, a snort leaving him as he returned his eyes to the road ahead.
“He had no right to touch you at all. You have a bit of a bump on your temple. Did he hit you?”
I absently reached up to touch it, wincing at the tenderness. “Stan hit me to knock me out. That’s how Raymond, uh, Slick, got me in the first place.”
“They knocked you out? You might have a concussion,” Drake said as he peered over his seat at me. “You should get checked out.”
“Dad will probably keep me up all night, so it’s fine,” I said, waving off his concern. “You can just drop me off and—”
“We’re walking you inside. End of story,” Cruz cut in. “You think he’ll be pissed that we showed up with you? I’d bet money on his being even angrier if we just dumped you and took off. We’ll stay with you while you explain what happened, then we’ll leave.”
“You’re going to make a really good husband one day, you know?” I murmured, amusement filling his face as he glanced in the mirror at me.
“My chances of marriage are slim to none. My luck, I’d probably get caught stealing the damn ring from somewhere and get thrown in prison again.”
“Stop stealing things then.”
“It’s way too much fun,” he said with a chuckle. “And besides, I’m a one-night only kind of guy. I don’t need a relationship.”
“I find it hilarious when guys say dumb shit like that. Those who do are usually the sweetest guys in the world and low-key hate not having someone they can dote on,” I said with amusement, noticing his fingers tighten on the wheel slightly. “It’s a shame too because you really are a nice guy, Cruz. You’re basically waving a banner above your head that saysboyfriend material.”
Drake let out a sigh, staring out the window. “There’s no point getting close to someone and bringing them into our world. No one wants to live at the compound, and we basically work twenty-four-seven. It’s not exactly romantic.”
I was silent for a second before replying, hoping I didn’t offend him. “Is that why you and Knox have a thing?”
“I love that bastard, but it’s complicated,” he replied. “If Knox was given the option of me or women, he’d cut me off in a heartbeat.”