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Jupiter snuggled deeper into his embrace. She desperately wanted to believe him. The pessimist in her wouldn’t completely allow it.Okay, maybe for a few minutes.
“The FBI is aware of your—Lyle’s abuse. If he steps foot in Snowshoe, they’ll be on his ass.”
She sat up and stared at him. “What? How?”
He smirked. “Nikita is an FBI agent.”
“I thought she just worked in an FBI office or something.”
He squeezed her closer to his chest. “We got you.”
For the first time, Jupiter believed him.
* * *
Lyle: So, you don’t want any of my money? I’m surprised. We’re loaded, pet. Don’t you want a measly one percent at the very least? All I want is to see you and you’ll get it.
Jupiter gripped the phone tighter,dots on the other end of the phone indicating that more words were on their way.
Lyle: Where are you hiding, my precious pet? I bought a present from Paris for you. It’s one to die for.
Her stomach dropped low, and she took a step away from the bakery’s front door. She’d been on her way to lock it for the night when the texts started pouring in from Lyle. At first, they were general messages. She could easily ignore those. But they quickly went downhill.
Lyle: Don’t forget, if I go down for anything, I’m taking you with me. Those money transfers were under your name, Jupiter, not mine.
Looking out the window, she watched people walk by toward the town center. The opening ceremony would begin shortly. Yasmina slipped out the front door an hour ago, promising to save her a spot in the bakery booth in hopes of increasing sales. Judging from the text she received from Yasmina five minutes ago, they were right to do so.
But those weren’t the messages circulating Jupiter’s mind. The onslaught of texts from Texas were the culprit.
Lyle: Fine, be a mute. You’ll be lucky to walk away with your life, you bitch!
The more she read, the darker they got. Flipping off the lights, Jupiter stuffed the phone in her back pocket.I’ll show them to Rubble. He’ll know what to do.She finished the task at hand and loaded the last of the pastries into her Civic before making her way to the already full parking lot.
Spotting people walking away from a side street, she followed suit and found an empty spot big enough for her tiny car. Just as she climbed out, a voice made her gasp.
“Need any help?”
She turned and grinned at Doc approaching. “That’d be great, thanks. I have a few boxes to bring to the booth.” She popped open the trunk and he smirked.
“A few boxes?”
The trunk was jammed full. She buttoned her coat and tucked the scarf around her neck. “Maybe more than a few. Think we can get it all?”
Doc held out his arms. “Oh, yeah. Pile it on me.”
After managing ten bakery boxes on his long arms, Jupiter grabbed the remaining ten and closed the trunk with her foot. “I don’t think I would’ve made it on my own.”
“Not without help.”
She followed him toward the center of Snowshoe. Blue streamers lined the streetlights, guiding them toward the main attraction. The streets were recently plowed, and Jupiter was wearing her boots, so she easily kept up with Doc’s long strides. Everything about the town looked homey. On this street, mature buildings lined the way, each one having its own appeal. Snowshoe wasn’t old, per se, but it also wasn’t new. The residents enjoyed a happy medium and it seemed to attract visitors each winter for the Xtreme Winter Games.
“Have you ever been skiing or snowboarding?” Doc asked as they wove through the crowd.
“Actually, no.” She chuckled. “My senior trip in high school was to Colorado but I never went.”
“Too cold?”
“More like afraid I’d break my leg again.”
