AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So we agree?” Jamie says.
“Are you sure we’re not putting you at risk?” I ask. Mom glares at me as if wondering why I’d ever care about putting him at risk. I glare back as if to say,He saved your life, Mom.
“A few people might be suspicious, but police resources are thin. One dead narco and two safe-and-sound women will be enough for them. As long as you keep to your stories.”
“We will,” I say firmly. “We’re grateful, Jamie, for everything you’ve done.”
“We are.” Mom raises her hand like she’d put it on his arm if he’s sitting closer. Luckily, he’s not. “Without you, I’d be dead. You saved my life.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jamie says, leaving the room quickly. It’s like he can’t tolerate being in here any longer. Soon, I won’t have to worry about resisting him. It will be back to my regular life, the boring day-to-day stuff. It’s for the best, I remind myself.
“I’m sorry,” Jamie says, returning with blankets clutched in his hand. “You’re going to have to hide in the trunk on the way there.”
Mom walks over to me, reaches down, and takes my hand. She looks down with so much bravery and more. It’sprideat how brave she feels like she’s finally ready to battle her inner demons. It almost makes me cry again. “We can do it. Don’t worry. Can’t we, pattycake?”
“Yeah, Mom,” I reply, as Jamie stares at me with those sharp, hungry blue eyes.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Jamie
I drive out into the countryside, Demon sprawled out in the backseat. If somebody wants to search my trunk, at least his bulk will delay things and give me time to strategize. I don’t like the fact my woman’s back there, in the dark, but at least she has her mom.
Who will I have once she’s gone? Damn, that’s some self-pitying thinking, but I can’t help but think about it. As surreal as it’s been, this time with Lena has been the most… hell, what? Thebrightesttime of my life. The most emotional. I’ve felt like a man, raw and hungry and primal, instead of numb, instead of mechanically focused on the task ahead.
The fair ground seems somehow bleaker in the daylight. I drive up the same path, past the grass growing up through the old wooden foundations, out to the same structure as before. Antonio’s body lies right where he fell, flies buzzing around the wound.
“Stay here, boy,” I say, pushing the door open.
Then something strange happens. At least, it’d seem strange to regular people. This borderline six-sense feeling is something I recognize from countless gunfights and near-death run-ins. Somebody’s watching me. I turn and take one step to the side.
A bullet crashes into the car window right where I was just standing. It splinters across the reinforced glass. I jump back into the car. A bullet tears into the seat of the open door, a smoking, smoldering scent filling the air as it blackens.
I slam the door. Another bullet hits the side of the car. I spin out of the spot. I can hear my woman and her mother screaming. Demon is barking with enough ferocity to earn his name. The whole car is trembling with his barks.
Driving away from the fair, I take another bullet in the vehicle’s rear. They’re probably going for the gas. Who is this, the cartel? Were they waiting here for me? Or did somebody follow me? If that’s the case, they moved like a ghost. Is there a tracker on the car?
Two more shots fire, the discharge ricocheting across the grounds, but then I’m back on the road. I speed away but not toward the city. Luckily, I brought Demon with me. There’s no reason to go back tonight. Screw the police. Screw the consequences. If I end up doing time for this, fine, but at least my woman will be safe.
I speed away from the city, mentally replaying events, trying to figure out where I made a mistake or which of my enemies would go to this effort. But anybody that would wantthiskind of revenge is already dead. It would be one of my targets. A paid job, then?
I keep driving, whispering to Demon, trying to settle him down. Eventually, he starts rumbling, looking out the rear window. He’s ready for battle. I want to pull over and talk to Lena, reassure her, and offer what I can. For the first time I can remember, I’m spooked. I’m downright terrified.
I can’t let anything happen to the future mother of my children.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Lena
Mom clings to me during the car ride. I don’t know what’s happening, except the car swerves several times, and Demon starts barking like crazy. I think it was a gunshot, but now we’re speeding away to who knows where just driving. I’m not sure how long it’s been.
“I can’t breathe,” Mom whispers urgently.
“You’re okay.”
“No, I can’t… Oh, thank God.”
The car is slowly coming to a stop. The thought hits me that this might not be Jamie. Maybe those sounds were gunshots. Maybe they got him. They somehow knew we were in here and drove us farther away from the city—a better place to bury us.
