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“That could’ve happened anyway.”
She nodded. “His trunk was loaded with bricks of heroin headed for the reservation.”
Silence stretched between them.
“If you’re worried that I’ll think less of you,” Judge said, “I don’t. I’ve killed people. And you’re right…it changes you.”
“It does,” she agreed softly. “Do you ever stop thinking about it?”
He shook his head. “No. But you learn to keep living.”
“That’s what I want…to keep living. But not in a camp with no access to chocolate ice cream.” She curled into his arms and rested her hand on his chest. “Thank you for saving me.”
He laughed. “I didn’t save you. You saved me. Twice.”
“You gave me a reason to keep living,” she said, “besides sticking around long enough to take out Augustus.” She fell silent. Her breathing slowed, and her body relaxed against him completely.
“You’re an amazing woman, PJ,” he whispered. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
He held her, breathing in her essence, committing this moment to memory, knowing it might be the last time he got to hold her.
When they met with Augustus, shit could go south really quick.
He would do his best to keep them both alive. He had a strong incentive to do so. But one night with PJ wasn’t going to be nearly enough. A lifetime with PJ would be better.
Chapter 18
“Anything yet?” PJ asked as she eased the four-wheeler closer to the edge of town, keeping in the shadows as best she could.
“I have a bar,” Judge said behind her. “Now, two.”
She turned off the four-wheeler engine.
Judge slid off the back, and PJ dismounted to stand next to him. “We’re square on the location?”
He nodded. “I have the pin. All you have to do is make the call.”
PJ took the phone from Judge, her hand shaking slightly. “I don’t have Augustus’s number, but Wiley will.” She took a deep breath, keyed in the numbers and placed the call, putting it on speaker.
Wiley answered on the first ring. “Judge, about time you came to your senses.”
“This isn’t Judge; it’s PJ.”
“Did you do the deed?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
“You only have twenty-four hours left on the clock.”
“I don’t need them.” PJ met Judge’s gaze. “I’m not going to kill him.”
“You’d risk the lives of your family and friends for him?” Wiley clucked his tongue. “I thought you cared about your family. Is it that you care about Judge more? His life for theirs?”
“No,” she said. “I figured Augustus was clearly upset about the death of Tiberius. Angrier than I’ve ever seen him. It’s as if he took it personally.”
“He did,” Wiley said. “Tiberius was his trusted servant.”
“Wouldn’t he prefer to make the kill then? He’d get so much more pleasure out of it than I would,” PJ said, “not that I’m balking at the job. But it would be an opportunity for him to have the satisfaction of revenge and demonstrate to TCW his commitment to his leaders and recruits.”
