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I parked my truck and sighed. I had a bad feeling I was going to be working some overtime. When a marshal showed up, it usually meant they’d lost a fugitive. While I usually enjoyed the hunt, I was more interested in finding out about the monster who was obviously stalking Lily. I’d hoped she’d come clean with me after our night together, but she’d acted as if we were just friends, and not even close ones when I’d dropped her off at her truck. Granted, I hadn’t asked for her phone number but I knew how to get in touch with her.
“What do you think, Sam? Are you ready for another adventure?” I turned my head, half laughing at the sight of my sidekick. He’d wanted to go with Lily. The two certainly had created a bond. He’d even managed to slip between us on the bed, acting as if we were just one big family.
Before I walked in, I grabbed my phone, dialing Jeff Jones’ number. He was a shyster, but he owed me a favor after I’d found his lost little girl. “Jeff. It’s Maverick.”
“What’s shakin’, buddy?” he asked. I detected he knew I was calling to even the score.
“Payback time.”
“What do you need?”
It was funny that he was none too happy. Maybe that’s because he’d rightly surmised I knew that he was selling drugs in addition to pretending to be a real estate mogul. The fact I hadn’t turned him in allowed me to keep a hold on him. He had certain friends that I knew could be useful in certain situations. “I need a little house to rent. Nothing too fancy but clean and in a good part of town.”
“You lookin’ to move?”
“Not for me. For someone who needs a break.”
“Well,” he said, muttering under his breath. “I got a couple but they’re a pretty big chunk of change. A couple thousand.”
I rolled my eyes. I knew damn good and well the shit he usually rented wasn’t worth that. “You’re going to cut it to fifteen hundred, of which I’ll pay a thousand. But you will not tell the woman who’ll be calling you that I’m funding a portion. If I find out you do, I’ll cut your nuts off myself. You hear me?”
“Jesus. You don’t have to go to that extreme,” Jeff sputtered.
“With you, I do. Do we have a deal?”
“I’ll need four k as a security deposit.”
“Not gonna happen. Remember, you owe me big time. And make sure it’s furnished too with some good shit. I’ll know if you don’t.”
“Do you want me to throw in a vacation in Tahiti as well?” His laugh pissed me off.
“Just. Do. It.”
“God, somebody pissed in your Wheaties this morning. Fine. How long is this woman staying?”
I cringed hearing the question. She’d been so skittish after getting up that I had a bad feeling she already wanted to run. “I don’t know. Hopefully a few months. Don’t give me any shit about it. I’ll pay the extra in cash.”
“You drive a hard bargain but fine. What’s her name and when can I expect her?”
I’d left Jeff’s number on a small card, placing it in her hand. The feisty chick needed to do the rest.
And goddamn, I hope she did. I’d grown far too fond of her already. If she ran, I might have to track her down. She wouldn’t like me when I did. Grinning, I noticed Sam was watching me intently. He could tell I was talking about her. “Lily Sanborn. Hopefully in a couple days. You just remember what I said. After this, my name isn’t to be mentioned.”
“Don’t worry. I like my family jewels.”
“I bet you do.” Ending the call, I shoved the phone into my jacket, yanking the keys from the ignition. “Stay here, buddy. I’ll be right back.”
As I climbed out, I glanced at the mountains and had a slight flashback, one I hated remembering. It had been a beautiful day, a bunch of kids acting like they owned the world. Then tragedy had struck, a fire consuming a couple thousand acres.
And we’d started it.
Fuck. Why did it hit me hard today?
There was something about Lily’s entire past that haunted me, reminding me of a girl who’d captured the hearts of six rugged boys hellbent on claiming her. Even if none of us wanted to admit it.
When I heard Sam whine, I was brought back to reality, but not without a gut-pinching pain remaining. “Yeah, I know. I miss her too.” Lily had brought the life back to me when I thought I was dead inside. I closed the door and headed inside the station.
“Well, if it isn’t the Wildman tracker,” one of the deputies said.
