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“Where are we headed?” Sky sounded afraid. Damn it, I never wanted her to have to feel that way again.
“We’re going to spend the night over near Riverside. I have a friend who can put us up for the night.”
“But, what if Mike—?”
“Even if he follows us, which I don’t think he will, he won’t be able to get at us. My friend’s a Reaper.”
“Oh God, Jax. Are you sure?”
I didn’t like it either, mixing with one set of bad guys to evade another. But I did know Zeke would have my back, and that went for anyone I had with me as well. “We’ll be safe there for the night. And tomorrow, we can make some decisions.”
Some of that would be up to her. How far would she be willing to go to ensure her own safety? Griller was not a good man. He would not play by the rules. Would she?
I didn’t think Griller or anyone else was tailing us, but I still gripped the wheel tight the whole way. Each slow-down jacked up my pulse, sending it jumping like a racehorse held back at the gate. Sky sat at my side, pale and quiet, biting her nails and staring blankly out the window. I hoped she was right that she didn’t need a doctor. She should at least be icing that wrist I saw her massaging, or the shoulder she kept trying to move, then wincing. I hated not being able to do more, but I’d learned in crises, you couldn’t try to do too much. It was important to prioritize, figure out what mattered most in the hierarchy of needs. Right now, what mattered most was getting her to a safe location.
Zeke had lived in the same place for a couple of years. All of California was expensive, but his town was a little less so than mine and he’d gotten himself a sweet place. I knew it meant the same to him as it did to me to actually own a house. Having grown up with nothing, on the move all the time just like me, it felt important.
Only last week I’d put my house on the market. Since I’d cashed out of the bar, I’d been working on packing up, figuring out my next steps. I didn’t know where or what yet, but I didn’t want to hang on to my place. Renting it out would just be a headache. I wanted a clean slate, a fresh start.
Then Sky had showed up at my house, like I’d imagined her doing so many times. Only I’d never played out the scenario that actually happened, with another man’s red fingermarks around her throat. In my fantasies, she’d come to me because she couldn’t resist any longer. She’d missed me too much and her longing had overcome her better judgment. Reality was less romantic.
I snuck a glance at her and had to admit, even after all she’d been through that night, she looked beautiful. That long, soft hair, her full lips, her body’s rounded curves filling out her T-shirt and jeans. I was going to have to watch myself around her. After what she’d been through, she didn’t need some guy trying to hump her. I might be up for an all-nighter, a year’s worth of fantasies fueling my libido. But she needed a couple of Ibuprofen, an ice pack and a long, solid night’s sleep. I’d see that she got it.
After two and a half hours, I finally pulled off the freeway. “Zeke’s a good friend,” I assured Sky. “I’ve known him for years.”
“Will they be OK with me? You know, the wife of a Skull?”
“You’re with me now. If they have a problem with you, they have a problem with me.” That came out fiercely protective, but it was how I felt. And I didn’t like her referring to herself as Griller’s wife. I hoped that status was going to change fast.
“How do you know Zeke?”
I clutched the wheel. I’d figured she was going to ask me sooner or later, I’d just hoped for later. But, I also believed in being honest. “We did time together.”
“Oh.” She sounded a little taken aback, but she wasn’t leaping out of the car yet. That was a good sign. “When was that?”
“Back when I was 15. I was an idiot, dealing pot. Then I got caught breaking and entering. I was going through a rough time in my life, after the accident.”
“You were so young.” She was too nice, jumping in to excuse my bad behavior.
“Old enough to know better. But, anyway, Zeke and I were cellmates. He’s like a brother to me. A kind-of crazy brother, but still.” I shrugged.
“You can trust him?”
“Completely.”
“Then I’m really grateful you knew someone to call. I was going to head to the bus station, but I was worried Mike would find me first, or be able to track where I went.”
“Where were you going to go?” My stomach tightened at the thought of Sky all alone, heading off far away from me.
“Phoenix.”
“Why?”
“No good reason, other than that I’ve been there a couple of times. My mother lived there for a few years with her boyfriend. I guess I figured I could get an apartment, pay in cash and try to live quiet, stay off his radar.” She shook her head. “Now? I don’t know what I’m going to do. He’s never going to give up until he finds me.”
“Don’t worry about that right now.” I turned at a light, making our way into a residential area.
“Hard not to.”
“I know. But first you need some rest. We’ll have time tomorrow to sort things out.”
I pulled into Zeke’s place, relieved to see his garage open. I didn’t want to leave my truck outside all night, and he must have thought the same thing. Maybe he could help me switch out the car, or at least the plates.
“C’mon in.” Zeke greeted us, beer in hand, closing the garage door and ushering us into his house. “You want one?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, but first I wanted to take care of Sky. “You got any pain meds? And some ice?” Sky wasn’t complaining, but I knew she had to be hurting. Zeke led us into his bathroom where he had a regular pharmacy. Sky opted for the over-the-counter stuff.
“You sure?” I asked. The stronger stuff might do her some good.
She nodded. “It’s not that bad. I think I just need to get some sleep.” It was after midnight and she looked exhausted. Zeke grabbed a couple of ice packs from the freezer and showed us down a hallway to a large spare room with a couch and a bed.
“You guys can crash here. I’ve got a couple friends coming over later tonight. We’ll try to keep it down.” He gave us a wink, then closed the door.
“We can get you some more stuff tomorrow.” I unzipped my duffel and pulled out what I’d grabbed for her at my place, basically a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. “And here’s something you can sleep in.” I handed her one of my T-shirts, knowing she had nothing of her own. I didn’t think she’d noticed yet, but she had some blood on her clothes. When she changed, hopefully she’d be too tired to register the stains. I could try to get everything washed clean by morning.
Grateful and exhausted, she took what I gave her and headed to the bathroom. I spent a few minutes on my phone, letting Ace, my realtor and a couple others know I’d be out of town for a few days. I didn’t know how long this would take, but the less confusion I left in Cavallo, the quieter things would go for Sky. Luckily, I’d already cashed out of the bar. I could make protecting her my full time job.
I wasn’t prepared for the sight of her when she walked back in. Hair down in a loose tumble, her skin rosy and glowing from having washed her face, she smelled like lilacs. Seeing her in my shirt? Fuck. It draped along her curves, the neck wide enough to show her collarbone, the hem ending mid-thigh. Her legs looked so creamy and inviting, starting from her feet with her polished pink toenails all the way up to her bare thighs.
Swallowing, I tore my eyes away. She’d just been through massive trauma. The last thing she needed was someone pawing at her. I needed to remember that. And probably find a way to jack off in private. That would help. Because having her so close, wearing so little, with the added intimacy of seeing her in my T-shirt, as if we’d spent the night and now she was padding around completely naked save that? I was hard as a fucking rock.
“Thanks, Jax, for everything.” She placed her clothes on a chair by the door and looked up at me with her big eyes, such an inc
redible shade of blue. Sky blue, I guessed it was, light and bright like she deserved her skies to look. She’d had too much stormy gray in her life. She needed more sunshine.
I looked away, running my hand over my head. I had about a month of hair growth on it, practically long, flowing locks from my perspective. I tried to focus on the prickly sensation on my palm, the door knob, my least favorite high school teacher, anything other than Sky standing so close, just a step away from gathering her into my arms.
“OK, then, if you’re all set, I’ll let you get to sleep.” I headed to the door.
“Are you coming back?” She sounded frightened.
“Of course.” I looked into her eyes, trying to reassure her. “I’m not leaving. I’ll just be in the other room with Zeke. When I come back in I’ll try not to wake you. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
