by Piper Stone
The brutal injuries inflicted on those refusing to become Jericho’s disciples would never leave my nightmares.
Another laugh made me double over, yet I willed the weakness into some black box I could close and lock. I needed to find the inner strength I’d secured months before I’d attempted to leave Jericho. Was I planning on running from Blade? At this particular moment, I had no concrete answer. The obvious answer wasn’t one my body wanted to follow through with. I craved the man like no other.
What a crock. What a fucking crock of shit. I’d left one sadistic criminal only to fall into the arms of another? Another shiver slithered down the backs of my legs. There was a difference. Blade wasn’t sadistic, or so I believed. He was loving and kind, giving and protective. He was...
And you’re completely and madly in love with him.
I rubbed the tears away in such a forceful manner I had difficulty focusing for a few seconds. How could you love somebody that you didn’t know? Not possible. I snapped off the water, yanking the shower curtain and grabbing for a towel. I had to think about this logically. There were very few options in order to get out of the situation. I needed to let Jessie know that I was safe, at least for now. She was my lifeline, someone who knew who I was, or at least the persona than had been created.
I cursed a half dozen times. The three amigo freaks had seen Jessie in the bar more than once, at least if they’d been paying any attention. Any attempt to contact her could result in being found as well as placing my bestie’s life in danger. Oh, this was insane. Unable to think clearly, I fumbled for several minutes until I was able to throw on a pair of jeans and a clean tee shirt. At least I’d brought tennis shoes.
The common-sense thinking gave me a fit of giggles. What? So, I could easily outrun the bad guys? I highly doubted I’d be so successful. My stint with Jericho had taught me that if certain people wanted another to be found, they would be. There was no safe location, no way of getting away from their murderous hands. Still, I’d be prepared for anything.
Was Carter a part of this sickness somehow? Maybe my instincts were the only thing I could trust. I felt icky, as if I needed another shower, or ten more. This had to be some kind of nightmare.
I thought about what Jessie had told me. The stories were far too similar. If Blade was involved with the cartel in Miami and this Desperado leader realized he was here, then the entire city could be destroyed. Jesus. I had no clue what to do.
“I hate this.” The words somehow echoed, even in the dense space. Zorro was restless, longing to run and play. At least Blade had taken him out for a short morning walk. Still, we were both like caged animals, uncertain of what to do or how to react.
And so, I paced.
And checked the clock.
And worried.
Until panic almost drove me to disobeying his orders. Anything could have happened to Blade. Then what would I do? Call Jessie. No. Yes. Ah, shit. Mr. Walters. Maybe my boss had somewhere I could stay.
Then what? What exactly are you going to do, run again? Find another town so you can crawl into a hole? Damn the situation. Damn the danger.
Damn the man.
When the sharp three knocks sounded, the secret knock, I fought screaming as I rushed to the door, finally managing to unlock and open it after a full two minutes.
“Are you all right? Did something happen?” Blade whispered as he powered me into the room, slamming and locking the door. His eyes roamed my face, every bit the concerned lover. The thought struck me in the gut, driving a wave of nausea into my stomach.
I palmed his chest with both hands, the haunted level of anxiety shutting down my air supply. I gulped and shook my head as I clung to him. “No. I just... I was just worried. What the hell are we going to do? This is crazy.”
He gave me a single nod and pulled me against his chest. The warmth was indescribable, searing every nerve ending as only this man could do. I was shocked how my body reacted, the longing rearing back like a caged wild animal, primal need thwarting my attempts at all rational thought. How could I want this man so desperately when he was nothing but a beast himself? I looked up, gazing into his piercing eyes, tingling all over.
“Try and breathe for me. I found a safe location, at least for now, but we need to get going.” He didn’t try to break away from me, but his chest was heaving, a snarl curled on his bottom lip.
“What did you find out? Are they actively chasing us? What about the bar? Did you talk to anyone?” Everything about him screamed exhaustion. What was I thinking blabbing on with my questions? The man I knew as Blade wasn’t going to tell me anything and he was right. It appeared that Erik had long since ceased to exist. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Whatever.”
“Let’s just go. We have a limited comfort window and there’s no one in this town I know or can trust. Be clear about this, Crystal. I’m not playing games. We have to be concise with movements. Do you understand?”
“I get it. You know I do.”
His exhale ragged, he gave me no time to ask any additional questions as he tossed things into my suitcase then gathered his belongings together, the weapon bag planted firmly in his left hand. I knew he was armed, had felt the outline of a pistol under the back of his shirt. “Do you have sunglasses?” He peered around the blinds, scanning the parking lot.
“Yes.” I was petrified from his actions alone.
“Wear them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Blade shook his head as he yanked the gun into his hand. His actions were so perfunctory, certainly not those of the hollowed-out man I’d seen the night before.
My hands were shaking as I attempted to slide the shades onto my face, grasping Zorro’s leash and trailing behind Blade. He led us down the back stairway but there was no truck, no sign of the little piece of shit I’d purchased. “Dear God. What the hell happened? Where’s my truck? They found us!”
“Sshhh... Keep your voice down. I had to dump it. Too recognizable.”
“What?” I yanked away from his hold, realizing he had my entire world, my life in his hands. I backed away, sliding against the exterior of the building. “I can’t do this, Blade. I’m not a pawn in some fucking game.”
Crowding my space, he towered over me as he leaned down, planting one hand on the block cement. “I know you don’t feel like you can trust me right now, but if you want to get out of this alive, you must do as I say. I purchased a newer truck for you. Paid cash. I’ll sign the title over to you after this is over, but we don’t have time for this right now. Can you trust me?”
The question hung in the air, the same one as before. There was no real debate. I knew he’d protect me with his life. “Yes.”
“Then take my hand. We will get through this.”
I did as he asked, pushing aside my consternation as well as the continuing fears as he half dragged me to the backside of the parking lot. I could see a 4 x 4 Dodge Dakota, black in color, positioned away from the line of sight for the main street. My new ride. I almost laughed. I’d been driving a genuine POS for so long, a sleek new truck should make me giddy. Instead, I was petrified, the finality of circumstances damning. The Harley was back, secured on the bed. “Is she drivable?”
“Yeah, she is but also recognizable, which is another reason we have to keep going,” he murmured, his head shifting back and forth.
There was no way of grasping how he felt, but his sense of urgency was tangible. No matter where he’d parked, we were out in the open and very much in danger. I didn’t resist as he helped Zorro into the narrow back seat, also directing me to do the same, even lying down on the bench seat. I obeyed his command, slinking down and against the soft material, shivering as he started the engine. Taking several deep breaths, I heard Zorro whining just over my head. This was surreal. This was horrifying.
This was yet another nightmare.
All that I could tell is that the drive took almost an hour, weaving in and out of traffic, but with fewer sounds toward the end. I was
tempted more than once to hunker over the seat and demand where we were going. I was also tempted to curl up into a ball and act like a sniveling child. Neither was satisfactory, but patience had never been a virtue I’d been able to grasp, even less so now.
When I hadn’t heard sounds of traffic in any direction for a solid ten minutes, I dared ask the burning question. “Where are you taking me?”
“A place I rented. We should be safe there for the time being,” he answered with almost no inflection in his voice. He was in business mode, or maybe I should call it assassination mode, prepared for any form of attack.
I stared up at the ceiling of the truck as Zorro nuzzled closer. I wasn’t entirely certain if I’d ever feel safe again. Maybe that was the point. There was no secure location, nowhere to get away from evil. Closing my eyes, I braced for seeing Jericho’s laughing face, the posterchild of demonic activity. Oddly, there was nothing but blackness.
The truck slowed, forcing me to open my eyes.
“No one followed us. You can get up now,” Blade commented.
“Get off me, baby.” Moving Zorro, I’m not certain what I was prepared to see, but the quaint front of a little house wasn’t it. The turquoise front door and shutters along with the whitewashed front porch created a tropical ambiance, even if overgrown shrubs almost covered the stairs. Palm trees flanked the two corners, their fronds flickering in the light breeze. Cobwebs crowded in every corner, pollen covering almost every surface, remnants of the gooey yellow substance having fallen months before. I could tell the location hadn’t been occupied in a very long time. “You rented this?” I glanced out the back window, surveying the trees surrounding what appeared to be a long gravel driveway. Various blooming shrubs were dotted along the pathway, hibiscus in the colors of tangerine and pink lemonade dotting the deep green foliage. The setting was secluded but breathtaking, even in its disheveled appearance.
“Yeah. This is a good location. Safe. Been on the market for a long time. The place also came furnished, which is a plus.” Blade seemed to try to gauge my reaction, as if I had a choice. “Let’s get you both inside. We weren’t followed but from what I’ve heard, the Desperados have eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Carter?”
“Maybe.”
I had to face facts that I wasn’t a good judge of character. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my nerves. “I don’t understand how you managed to do this. Do you know someone here in town? How did you get your hands on this place?”
He finally offered a slight grin, tipping his head in my direction as he cut the engine and grabbed the keys. “Enough money can buy you almost anything, including anonymity.”
Enough money. Blood money.
Wonderful.
The minute he opened the driver’s door, the wafting scent of the sea air floated inside the cab. We were by the ocean. A dichotomy of emotions rolled like violent waves into my system. He’d rented a little house by the ocean. Why go to this extreme? Why? So many thoughts were running through my head, concepts that didn’t make any real sense. We weren’t a couple. I also thought safe houses were darkened buildings, discreet and with no windows. “This is by the sea.”
“You said you hadn’t been to the ocean in some time.” His words lingered. “I figured this was as good a place as any. We’re a good twenty miles outside of Charleston.”
I had no idea how to answer him, or even if I should. My hand was shaking as I opened the truck door. Even placing one foot on the ground seemed odd yet a serene sensation crowded my system.
“Come on. I need you inside,” Blade stated, sighing when I folded my arms. “Look, I checked out everything, even putting in a few security precautions before I came for you,” he encouraged, grabbing all the bags in one hand, the gun held firmly in the other. I’d never be able to get used to seeing the weapon in his hand. My thoughts drifted to a few times living with Jericho, when we were basically under house arrest, his goons surrounding the near mansion. One or two guns had always been with the man, even during moments of passion. There were too many similarities.
Yet I had to believe this was entirely different.
Zorro jumped out of the truck, happy to be in a location he could run and play. I stood by the front of the vehicle, taking several deep breaths. I was hesitant to even walk up the stairs, reasons that honestly didn’t make any clear sense. Trust. The word kept playing over in my mind. Could I really trust Blade? The first instinctual answer was the one I decided to accept.
With my life.
The door creaked as it was opened and with Blade’s hulking body standing in the doorway, I was unable to see anything past his broad shoulders.
“Just stay here while I double-check,” he commanded as he dropped the bags in the front foyer and moved inside, crouching over as he made his way into the interior of the house.
Bounding to my side, Zorro’s tail wagged and he thumped his head against my leg. He was so trusting, so giving and I had to believe that the dog’s instincts were better than my own.
“All clear.”
The moment I walked past the threshold, I almost lost sense of what we were doing here. From the exterior, the house held the appearance of someone who’d cared a long time ago. With every step, I could see that I was wrong in my assumptions. Whatever had occurred, forcing the previous owners to leave, didn’t seem to be of their own accord. The house was immaculate and gorgeous inside, stylized as a true beach cottage. Overstuffed furniture and gleaming stainless-steel appliances were grounded by tile floors and granite countertops. Everything was a direct contradiction to the exterior. Maybe an older couple had owned it before. Maybe even death had been the reason for their departure. I bit my lower lip, trying to imagine living with the same person for years, growing old together.
Blade remained silent, his reactions stoic.
“This is beautiful. How did you find it?” I heard the words but as I continued my trek, I didn’t care about the answer. He’d found one of the most gorgeous locations I’d been to in a long time. The entire back wall seemed to be floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, providing the most incredible view of the ocean.
“You learn to ask the right questions.”
I gave him a half smile before venturing further, my heart racing. “I love the ocean.”
“Yeah, I know that you do. Something we have in common. I never forget anything.”
The statement seemed so out of place. He’d purposely found a safe house near the ocean. “I guess I should say thank you.”
“A necessity, Crystal. I also purchased some food. It’ll keep us for a couple days anyway. They’ll be the hottest with regard to the hunt.”
The hunt, meaning the Desperados would comb the streets searching for both of us. Another chill swept down my spine.
I navigated toward the back, peering out the set of doors. The ocean seemed only steps away, the surf already pounding the crystalline beach, the bright sun surrounded by fluffy clouds and intense blue skies. This was a picture book, not a safe house to keep from being murdered. The irony made me shiver. Palming the glass, I felt like a gilded bird locked in a cage, never to feel the effects of the sun on my face. Or maybe this was nothing more than a snow globe, time spent reflecting on a life that shouldn’t have been.
“You can go outside, at least briefly,” he said in a ragged tone as he inched behind me. “I doubt they’ve organized enough to realize you already left the area.”
I was able to see his reflection in the glass, his pensive look and the way he remained on edge. I had the distinct feeling he was harboring information. He was right, the pieces of the puzzle were far too fragmented. We were both pawns in a life or death game. For a fleeting moment, I could almost dream about this beautiful location being a getaway for lovers. Almost. “You’re certain it’s safe?”
Who was I kidding? We were both going to die.
“At this point, yes. As I mentioned, do not go far or stay for long. Period. There are only a few hou
ses close by and I checked out the owners. They have nothing to do with the Desperados, but I trust no one.”
There was the word again. Trust...
I held my arms, fighting the apprehension before unlocking the door. “Come on, boy. Let’s see the beach.” Zorro rushed outside, bounding down the stairs and racing straight to the water’s edge. I stood on the deck, watching his happy go lucky actions, wanting to be just as free and content in my life. I felt Blade’s presence near me but keeping his distance. There were dozens of things that needed to be said, answers I required and I was certain he had a few questions of his own. At this point, we couldn’t bridge the gap wedged between us. Perhaps we never could, but I did require a single answer, and one with the complete truth.
“Why did you do this, Blade? From what you confided in me, you need to get out of town, find your own peace and safety. Plus, you don’t know me. This house, everything must have cost you a fortune. I don’t take charity from anyone. When I left Jericho’s fortress, I’d squirreled away just about a thousand dollars. That’s all I had to my name. Can you believe that? The day I moved into his house, I wasn’t allowed to work any longer. I had nothing to speak of anyway, so the gifts and clothes, the fabulous dinners were enough, at least for a little while. Oh, yes, I had plenty of credit cards, but zero cash and no control. After I made my decision to get the hell out, every cent I could get my hands on I hid away. That took me a solid year. How ridiculous and disgusting the kind of person I’d turned into. I was and still am ashamed about the past. Not any longer.”
“Men like that can break you down easily.”
The angst in his voice was chilling. “Happens before you realize you’ve been sucked in. The day I left, I made so many promises to myself. I plan on keeping them. At least the majority. I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back for this, but I intend to.” I expected him to laugh at me for some reason. When he didn’t, I finally glanced in his direction. He seemed locked in his own anguish, his face contemplative.