Page 125 of Bleed Me

To my partner in crime, I yelled, “As soon I stop inside, get off and run to the right. Down low on the wall is a hole. Point that weapon, baby, and shoot this fucker as he drives by!”

“I’m ready!”

Mud sprayed as I raced across the field, just like Diesel had when he charged toward me the night he saved my life. “If you miss, get him after he turns around. If you don’t miss, I’m going to lick your pussy until you pass out!”

“Goddamnit! Did I not already tell you not to get me wet before a fight?!”

On a wing—and a prayer that I sensed would be answered—we slid into that dark barn and came to a perfect stop. Justice was off the bike and running like her ass was on fire. Then she dove toward the hole, gun already aimed.

I chuckled when seeing the bike still coming down the road. “A bit dramatic, babe?”

“Fuck off. After that promise you just made, I ain’t missin’ for nothin’.”

That’s my girl. As I watched the bike drive from my sight and to the side of the barn, I smirked, “Bye-bye, motherfucker—”

Boom!

His wheels spun out on the gravel, and then there was the sound of metal screeching and heavy weight dropping to the ground.

Justice got up from the ground and wiped off her jeans, which was pointless as the material was drenched in rainwater. “What’s the count now, James?”

I watched her walk to me, muddy and gorgeous. “Jesus, you’re a hot ass bitch.”

“I know,” she smirked as she got up behind me, “but what’s the count?”

Her arms wrapped around me before I turned the bike around. “One-ta-go, babe.”

Approaching a four-way stop—one I had no intention of stopping for—I didn’t see taillights through the pelting rain, either down the long road ahead or to the right. Haunted roads…

Ah, shit. There was only one direction that had significant meaning to me.

Cutting the corner to my left, my stomach knotted up. “Babe, tell Stallions we’re headed to Highway ninety-four.”

She grabbed her phone and was already tapping on it. “Where?”

Fuck. “Where I died.”

Her body went rigid. “Oh, God.”

“Yeah, better call him, too.”

It was beyond eerie to speed toward a place most everyone from that town believed I had killed myself. It felt like ghosts were rushing to the same spot where such a pivotal moment had taken place, and would once again. As soon as I whipped around the corner, there was the tree. And it was again stealing a life.

Maverick Hutton’s old green Ford was imbedded, the hood crushed… and on fire.

Delilah…

If Boxer Boy loved her even close to how much I did at one point in my life, I was positive she had been his very last thought.

“Oh no,” uttered Justice behind me as we slowed down.

“Think he’s alive?”

“No, but we have to check.”

“Diesel gonna kill me?”

“If we let that kid die, maybe so.”