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Danni slapped him in the back of the head. “You’re an idiot.”
“I am,” he agreed. “I showed up at Ike’s that night so that I could try to talk to Walker.” He looked at Danni. “I really just wanted to do the right thing for the first time in a long time. I wanted to protect Mom and Walker.”
She propped her chin in her hand. “You kidnapped me, Jesse. Do you think Walker is going to be happy about that?”
“No,” he snapped. “But I needed to get you on my side.”
Outside, a car door slammed shut. Jesse jumped up and went to the window. He peered around the edge of the curtains then peered over his shoulder. “Go out the back door but be cautious in case he’s not alone.”
“Who is it?”
“Damon Kane,” Jesse responded. “I don’t know how he found me.”
“Where am I supposed to go?” Danni whispered as she jumped up from the sofa.
“Out back. Hide in the woods until I come get you.” Jesse kept looking outside then over his shoulder at her.
She shook her head and slipped out the back door, wishing that she had kept her phone on her the way Walker wanted her to do.
She peeked around her then ran into the woods. She didn’t go far because she didn’t know where she was. Then, Danni ducked behind a tree
and gazed around. She couldn’t see much in the darkness. She leaned against a tree and waited.
Holding her breathe, she scrunched her knees to her chest trying to remain small and invisible. Her eyes continued to dart around even though the rest of her remained still. Every sound no matter how slight caused her to start. She chewed on her lower lip trying not to make a sound. She was afraid that the slightest gasp would give her away.
The cold made her shiver. She didn’t have a jacket with her and the evening temperature began to cool. Her short, sleeved t-shirt was not enough to provide any protection from the chill in the air. Her teeth started chattering. Danni rubbed her arms trying to warm them and bit her lip hoping to stop the sound of her teeth.
“Danni,” she heard Jesse calling her. “Danni, where the hell are you?”
She rose to her feet and peeked around the tree. Jesse was walking towards her, but he hadn’t seen her. She waited until he was close. He was being cautious as she had been. Her clothes were dark. He hadn’t seen her yet as he looked around for her.
Danni flattened herself against the tree then when he looked the other way, she said his name. He nearly jumped out of his boots. “Not funny,” he told her.
“Neither was throwing me in the trunk of a car,” she informed him. “What does Damon Kane want?”
“Me,” he replied. “I know the man who killed the Lieutenant Governor. He wants to take me into his protection if I identify him, he’ll take care of him.” Jesse looked over his shoulder. “I’ve been in touch with Damon since this happened. I paid back the money I owed his family. That’s when I saw the murder. I heard that he was seeking me out, but you can’t trust anyone in this business, Danni. I was being cautious.”
“Jesse, you’re getting in too deep.”
“I’m not, Danni. Don’t you see? I don’t have a choice. I have to trust the devil or the devil’s son will get me. Either way, I’m fucked, girl.”
She gripped his biceps. “You do have a choice, Jesse. Let Walker help you like you wanted.”
He shook his head no. Then he kissed her cheek. “I screwed him over, Danni. I know how much he hates me just for that then I killed Mom. Let me do this one thing for him. Let me protect him from the mess I’ve made of my life. He’ll never see me again. Damon is sending me overseas for a while until the heat dies down.”
“Does Kane know I’m here?”
“No, I told him I had to throw out some trash. He’s not patient, Danni. I have to go.”
“How will I get home?” She grasped his arm again as Jesse turned to leave.
“I’ll text your dad to let Walker know where you are,” Jesse replied. “Tell him…”
“Tell him what?” She asked when he hesitated, trying to decide what to say.
“Tell him I loved mom and I’m sorry that I hurt her.”
Then he walked towards the cabin not so unlike her own home in Sherwood. “Stay out here for half an hour, Danni. We’re leaving after that. When you hear us leave, go inside. Walker will come get you.” Jesse hadn’t turned around or looked at Danni. “Take care of him. He deserves to be happy.”
