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“I came to warn you,” he said all ominously. “I was in town earlier today, and there was some gang out on the prowl. Lookin’ for someone.” His gaze turned accusatory and trained on Asher.
“We know, they broke up the dance,” I said with a sneer. Too little too late, Marcus.
Though I wasn’t a hard hearted person, and even though I was still madder than anythin’ at him, I didn’t want things to be bad between us, and I forced my expression to soften. “Thanks, though. Asher can’t leave, though, since someone broke his bike.”
“Yeah well, he best find a way to get gone anyhow,” Marcus said, lowering his hand as he stood there at the truck. “‘Cause they’re lookin’ for him, and they know he’s here. They’re gonna cause trouble for folk until they get him, and you especially, Shelby.”
Anger turned my face crimson again ‘cause I had my own suspicions of how they figured out that Asher was in town.
But I’d have to deal with that later, ‘cause for now, there was somethin’ more pressin’.
“How many are there?” I asked.
“Was three of ‘em in town that spoke to me. And I never told ‘em nothin’,” he said defiantly, sticking out his chin. “I just heard ‘em askin’ around at the gas station, so I asked if they was lookin’ for a big tattooed guy, described him,” he said, jutting his chin towards Asher. “They figured out the rest on their own.”
“Sounds like you told’em somethin’. That you’d seen him. That you know him. How long you think it’s gonna take’em to figure out he’s here with me, huh Marcus? How long you think it’ll take? And how am I gonna tell’em he’s gone? They’re just gonna trust me, tip their hat and be on their way? Guys like that,” I said with all the fury that’d been building up since Marcus invaded my property, “They’re not gonna trust a thing I say ‘til they search the house and the farm, inside and out. What’s that gonna do to ma?”
Marcus put up his hands again and backed into his truck.
“I never told ‘em nothin’ else! Don’t believe me if you don’t wanna, but I just came ta warn ya. There’s gonna be a heap of trouble comin’ your way Shelby, if you don’t smarten up. You’re gettin’ dragged into some damn gang war and you don’t even know it!”
I was getting really scared, and Marcus wasn’t helping.
What had Asher done that was so bad that he’d have people like this after him? What wasn’t he telling me? It had to be something major or they’d have let it go, and all I could think of was that he stole a bunch of drugs, but I hadn’t seen anythin’ like that on him. Or a whole lotta cash.
And he didn’t seem the type to be really on anythin’, I never saw him take a puff of nothin’.
Tears burned my eyes. What had he done?
Marcus drove off, leavin’ the two of us standin’ there together. Asher was still quiet for a time, but finally he took a step closer to me.
“Come on, you should get inside,” he said, reaching out to touch my shoulder.
I pulled away though, turning to face him, not ashamed at the tears that were threatening to spill at any moment.
“What’s goin’ on, Asher?” I said with a whimper to my voice.
“Nothing to trouble you,” he said grimly, lookin’ off into the night. “But I can’t leave. Not yet. Like you said, they’ll terrorize you and your ma, at best.”
He left the worst unsaid.
“I gotta stay and make sure they never trouble you again,” he stated darkly, his fists clenched. “Then I’ll be gone and you’ll be finally be safe.”
“But what about what I want?” I said. I didn’t have the power to control the pained sound in my voice, not any more. I was trembling as I stared up at him, petrified of what he meant. That he’d be gone.
Petrified of what he’d done to get into this in the first place.
He turned to look at me, but dark gaze attempting to be stoic but I could detect the faint glimmer of regret.
“It’s not about what either of us wants now, Shelby. It’s only about what has to be done. Go on inside, get some sleep. I’ve gotta get ready. They could be here at any moment. There’s more than th
ree of them, despite what Marcus said. And we can’t afford to let them get the drop on us.”
“How can I sleep? We should get ma to safety, get her to stay the night at Marcus’. I know she’ll be confused, but if those gangsters come in here...”
Asher took a moment to consider it then nodded.
“You’re right. You both should go over there, while I keep watch here.”
