Page 29 of Nixon’s Promise

“Does she know that?”

“Not yet,” Nix answered honestly.

“What does that mean?”

He hadn’t taken his eyes off the road, looking for McKenna’s Altima as he thought how to explain to Zack what his intentions were. Nix’s issue was, he wasn’t sure what he was doing or if things could work—he hadn’t even planned on sticking around all that long. But he was going on instinct, and his were screaming at him that McKenna was special.

“It means, I like your sister, and I’m gonna get to know her better.”

“Does she know that?”

“She will when she stops running from me.”

“Good luck with that.” Zack laughed.

Nixon wanted to ask what he’d meant, but it didn’t feel right prying info out of the kid. He’d save that for another day, if he got desperate, all bets were off and he’d pump Zack for intel. Until then, Nix planned on keeping McKenna’s brother out of it.

They fell into a comfortable silence, each of them looking for McKenna’s car as they drove around town.

An hour later, they still hadn’t spotted Mandy or the car and Nixon was getting ready to hit the back roads. There was an old access road off of Coleman’s Corner that led to a secluded area behind some old barns. It was the exact spot that Nix had lost his virginity. He could remember it like it was yesterday, the smell of the musky, humid summer air, and feel the sting of the mosquitos biting him on the ass. It hadn’t been the greatest of experiences—not for him and certainly not for the girl. Though, Nix didn’t know if the teenagers nowadays still hung out down there or not.

“Anywhere else you can think of?” Nix asked.

“The construction site behind the movie theater. I’ve heard people talk about hanging out there.”

Nixon knew exactly where Zack was talking about. One of the largest companies in the county had expanded, buying up land that been used for farming, and built a huge multiplex. He could totally see the kids going back there to hang out and drink.

It was off the main road and the building was large enough they could all park behind it and not be seen. Nix cut through the shopping center parking lot, taking the alley behind the grocery store, and found the dirt road. The construction was new enough the road hadn’t been paved yet.

He slowed and circled around the building.

The sight before him had him seeing red. Parked next to McKenna’s Altima was a jacked-up Dodge Ram. That wasn’t what had him pissed. Seeing the girl’s back pressed against the side of it and a guy caging her in was. Mandy’s gaze looked over the guy’s shoulder and he was close enough to see her eyes go wide. Nix was out of his truck and stomping her way when the man turned.

“You motherfucker!” Nix roared.

And without warning, Dick Dillinger found himself off his feet and set away from Mandy.

“Get gone, Swagger. This has nothing to do with you.”

Was he fucking crazy?

“Nothing to do with me? You have my woman’s seventeen-year-old sister up against your truck, I think this has everything to do with me.”

“Your woman?” Dick paled.

“That’s all you heard? You miss the part where I told you she’s seventeen?”

“Age of consent is sixteen, Swagger.”

Dick crossed his arms over his chest and smirked as if he’d won some fucking medal, because he could spout some state statute.

“Considering you’re law enforcement, I suspect you also know that doesn’t mean jack shit, since you’re a person of authority.” Nixon’s attention went to Mandy but he spoke to Zack. “Get your sister in the Altima, call McKenna, and get home.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Mandy told him. “Richie’s right. This isn’t your business. I don’t have to listen to you.”

Nixon felt his temper simmering and tried his best to tamp it down. Mandy was a teenage girl, not a middle eastern terrorist, though at the moment Nix was having a hard time differentiating between the two.

“You know how old this man is?” Nix asked her. Mandy stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and remained quiet. “He’s my age. That’s fourteen years older than you. That’s fuckin’ sick, Mandy. What the hell do you think a man who is as old as him wants with you?”