High-Sided (Armed & Dangerous #3)
L.P. Dover
Wild, reckless, and fast.
That’s how I raced until a fatal accident on the track ruined my riding career. I had no choice but to leave that life behind; at least, until now. My name is Logan Chandler, one of the best FBI agents in the country. When an old friend calls for help and winds up dead, I take matters into my own hands. In order to do that, I have to go back to my past, back to the racetrack and to the one girl I never thought I’d see again . . . Kassidy Bennett.
She’s the key to solving it all, but bringing her in could put her in grave danger. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize she was already there. To save her, I have to put everything on the line. It’s a race against time, a race to the death, and only one will make it to the end.
To my amazing husband, Matt. Your love for motorcycles and racing is what inspired me to write High-Sided. It also encouraged me to learn to ride myself. And I’m going to let all the readers know I scored better on the motorcycle safety exam than you. :) Our time at Deals Gap has to be the most memorable riding trip we ever took. Not only did you tear up those curves like a demon from hell, but I earned my dragons for making it through said curves without dying. You were my inspiration for Logan.
Logan
I was numb from the waist down. My broken ribs hurt like a bitch, but that was nothing compared to the pain I felt in my chest. If I was going to be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I wished I would’ve died in the wreck. How could I live like that? I wouldn’t be able to race ever again. I was fucking screwed.
Every day that passed, I fell deeper into despair. It’d been a week and nothing had changed. The rage inside of me was so intense, I thought I was going to explode. I hated the pitying looks, the way everyone talked to me as if I was about to break. Hell, I was close.
The door opened and my girlfriend tiptoed in, gently shutting the door. Kassidy had been by my side since the accident, to the point she appeared as haggard as I must’ve looked. Knowing the depth of her love for me made the coming conversation even more difficult.
“I’m not asleep,” I called out.
She jerked around and slammed a hand to her chest. “Oh my God, you scared me. I started talking to a nurse downstairs and lost track of time. I thought you’d be asleep.”
Taking a deep breath, I blew it out slowly, preparing for what had to be done.
With a smile on her face, Kassie strolled over and leaned down to kiss me. I turned away from her. She jerked back as if I’d slapped her. “Logan, are you okay? Are you in pain?”
Clenching my jaw, I looked at her unfeeling. “Not really.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m getting tired of people hovering over me all the time. I don’t have space to fucking breathe.”
She laughed nervously as if it was a joke, but my scowl didn’t waver. Her lips trembled and I could feel her pain. I was an asshole, but so be it. “Are you serious?” she asked, her voice low and shaky.
“Hell yeah, I am. It’s a never ending parade of people, traipsing into this goddamn room, staring at me with pity in their eyes. I’ve had all I can take. Why don’t you go back home? You never leave, and I don’t even want you here.”
Tears fell down her cheeks, but she stood firm, crossing her arms across her chest. “I don’t believe you. Let me guess, my dad put you up to this?”
Her dad was my boss. I was the fastest sportbike racer on his Bennett Pro Racing team, and he was none too happy I was dating his daughter. “I’m saying this because it’s the truth. It’s over, Kassidy.”
“I don’t understand. What changed?”
I stared at her as if I didn’t give a damn. “I’m damaged, stuck in a damn bed. It was fun while it lasted—while I could fuck you and shit—but I’m bored now. I won’t be racing anymore, so there’s no sense in pretending. I don’t think I can continue to sit here and try to hold conversations with you, it’s excruciating.”
“But . . .” she stumbled back, clutching at her stomach, voice breaking, “I was going to go to your college to be with you. I don’t understand. I thought you loved me.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, Kass. I can see the truth hurts, but it was the only way I knew to fuck you. And now that I can’t . . .” I held my hands up and let my words hang in the air.
She backed into the wall, tears flooding her eyes. Sobs broke from her mouth, even though I could see she was trying to hold them in. I might have been a little harsh, but she was only eighteen, and she’d recover from this . . . I wouldn’t.
The door opened and her father came in. His gaze darted from me to Kassidy. “What’s going on?”
Kassie ran out of the room, the sound of her cries could be heard even as the door clicked shut behind her. He shot me a look and hurried after her.
“Goodbye, Kassie.”
Kassidy
Eight Years Later