BAD HEROINES

7. She Was Dangerous

The rider, clad in a sleek black jumpsuit and reflective helmet, moved with the assured grace of someone who knew she was in control.

Even without seeing her face, Lian could sense it—it was a woman. One look at the customized bike and the way she dressed, he had a good guess who it might be.

He smiled faintly, though wariness lingered behind his eyes.

The woman reached out, handing him a spare helmet without a word. A flicker of recognition sparked within him, and without hesitation, he grabbed it, slipping it on before hopping behind her.

She revved the engine, and the bike shot forward, leaving Jake and his men scrambling to their car, cursing as they tried in vain to catch up.

Within seconds, the city blurred around them as she wove through traffic effortlessly, the wind whipping past them. By the time they reached the outskirts, Jake and his crew were nothing more than a memory.

The bike skidded to a stop outside a quiet restaurant, and Lian dismounted, still reeling from the unexpected escape. He turned to her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Before he could ask, she pulled off her helmet, revealing a familiar face framed by tousled hair.

He breathed. He'd guessed right.

She smirked, lighting a cigarette with a flick of her lighter. “You’re lucky someone decent came to save you,” the smoke curling lazily around her lips.

Lian scoffed, “Decent isn’t exactly the word I’d use for you.”

She raised her eyebrow with a little suprise and gave a faint smile.

He bowed mockingly becausehe felt this woman was somewhere watching before she decided to show up.

“Thank you for saving my ass. I was pretty close to cross the river. But ... how you were there?” He wasn't sure if he made his question clear but he wanted to know if was a coincidence again.

She tilted her head, studying him with amusement. “Funny, isn’t it? Running into you again, always helping your life.”

Lian froze, staring at her. “What do you mean, ‘again’?”

Her expression softened, a flicker of disappointment crossing her eyes. “You still can’t remember, huh? This is the third time.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “We’ve got a lot to catch up on. But since you’ve forgotten—again—I’ll reintroduce myself. I’m Riley.” She leaned closer, her gaze sharp. “And Lian... how about you buy me a meal?”

Lian blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, you know my name?”

She tossed something at him—keys. He caught them instinctively, staring down at the object in his palm.

“Of course I do,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And since you owe me, you’re driving us back.”

Lian glanced at the keys, then back at her, a slow grin spreading across his face. It seemed like she’d read his mind—he’d been itching to get a feel for that bike. With a playful arch of his brow, he nodded. “I know a good place. How about we go there?”

Riley eyed him with a surprise. They were already at the restaurant. Looking at the excitement in his eyes, she understood and agreed.

They swapped places, and Lian ride feeling a rush of excitement to every second. What should’ve been a quick trip turned into a long, winding ride as he pushed the bike to its limits, savoring every twist and turn, making detours just for the thrill of it.

He stole glances at her from time to time, expecting her to complain, but Riley just leaned back, letting him have his fun.

By the time they pulled up to a small ramen shop, nearly an hour had passed. They settled into a corner booth, steaming bowls of ramen placed before them. Riley eyed hers skeptically.

“Seriously? After saving your life, this is what I get?” she complained, poking at the noodles with a dubious expression. “What am I supposed to eat?”

Lian laughed softly, shaking his head. “I’m half Chinese, you know. I wanted to share a bit of comfort food... with someone who gets it.”

He paused, then his gaze darkened slightly. “Besides, you’ve got no idea how hard it is to make a living out there. Don’t judge the food just because it’s not fancy. This—” he pointed at her bowl “—is the best ramen in town.”

Riley raised an eyebrow, watching him intently. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. For a moment, she looked almost... normal. Something softened in her expression, but she quickly masked it, smirking at him.

“Fine, it’s not bad,” Her tone lighter.

Lian leaned forward, his smile fading. “So... you said we’ve met before?”

Riley slid a card across the table toward him. He stared at it, then back at her, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

“A hotel room? Again?” He grimaced. “I’m not that kind of guy, if that’s what you’re thinking—”

She cut him off with a whack on his hand with her chopsticks. “Nonsense. I don’t sleep with kids. Show up, and I’ll tell you what happened to your father.”

His blood ran cold. He’d never met his father, only seen pictures. He’d spent years searching for answers, driven more by anger than longing. Was she serious? Or was this just some twisted game?

“Who are you, really?” he asked quietly, eyes locked on hers.

Riley pointed at the card again. “You’ll find out... if you have the guts to come.” She stood abruptly, tossing a few bills on the table. “Keep the bike. Consider it a loan until we meet again.”

Before he could protest, she turned and strode out. Lian shot up, ready to follow, but then a sleek, black car pulled up outside. A driver stepped out, opening the door for her.

She glanced back, a faint, almost wistful smile on her lips. And then she was gone, disappearing into the night, leaving Lian alone with more questions than answers.

But one thing was clear: this woman was dangerous.