by Forgy, M. N.
My eyes widen, and my feet slow. I can’t ride that thing.
“Um, Zeek, we can take my Jeep.”
Looking over his shoulder, he grins.
He grabs the helmet off the handlebars, holding it with both hands.
“Have you ever ridden before?”
“No.”
He smiles. “I didn’t think so.”
“I can’t ride that thing.” I point at the machine, my words getting caught in my throat.
“You can, and you will. You’ll love it.” He places the helmet on my head and laces it tightly.
Throwing his leg over the seat, he starts it. The engine thunders to life, the exhaust loud and sexy at the same time.
Looking at the small amount of seat I’m supposed to sit on, I get even more nervous. I could fall off easily.
Glancing over his shoulder, he eyes me… waiting.
“Live a little, Rookie,” he baits me, and I can’t help but smile.
Here goes nothing.
Awkwardly, I throw my leg over the seat and sit.
Holding him at the hips, I pull myself up to him closely and put my feet on the back pegs.
He grabs my hands and pulls them around him, making me hug him.
“You set?” he asks over his shoulder.
I nod, and my heart races in fear.
“Hold on.”
“Where are we going?” I yell.
He either ignores me, or doesn’t hear me, because he pulls out onto the street.
I clench my eyes shut and squeeze my thighs with the fear of falling off or getting hit being too much to think about.
The bike vibrates beneath me, causing the skin under my thighs to oddly itch. Heat off the exhaust swirls around my ankles, and I set my feet as far out as I can.
It’s an amazing machine. Very sturdy. Very muscular. Very dangerous.
A warm hand grabs one of mine, our fingers interlocking. Opening my eyes, he gives them a squeeze. Lights blur past as he takes an on ramp.
Oh, my God, we’re getting on the freeway!?
I want to close my eyes, but now I’m too scared to even do that.
We fly past other vehicles, weaving around one car, then another truck. Lights dance around us, the air warm and dry. I haven’t died so far, so that’s a plus.
Ten minutes later, we pull off the freeway onto a side road. I’m not squeezing Zeek to death anymore and am actually starting to enjoy the ride.
It’s freeing. The ride cleared my mind, and actually relaxed me.
He heads down some dirt road, a bunch of cacti and boulders ahead. Dust and gravel form into a cloud behind us, and I have to squint to keep it out of my eyes.
Slowing down, he stops and drops the kickstand.
The moon is shining brightly; I can see every star out here.
He turns off the bike and looks over his shoulder. Taking my cue, I climb off the bike the same way I got on—awkwardly.
When he’s off, he helps me remove the helmet.
“Where are we?” I ask, looking around. A large lizard scurries across the desert quickly.
“The movies.” He smiles.
I furrow my brows, not understanding. I don’t see anything for miles.
He takes my hand and leads me to the boulders. He grabs onto one, and lifts his foot.
“We’re climbing?” I laugh.
“Come on, Rookie, surely you had to have some climbing during your training,” he taunts.
Shaking my head, I grab onto the rocks and start climbing. Almost taking it as a challenge, I try to get to the top first.
He’s so much bigger than me though, he makes it easily before I do.
Almost up, he reaches down and grabs my hand, pulling me past the last couple rocks.
Dusting my hands off, I look over the desert.
“Over here,” he whispers in my ear, pulling on my shoulder. I turn and that’s when I see it. Sitting afar is a large white billboard, with a movie projected on it. A drive-in movie.
A laugh escapes me, my hands cupping my mouth.
“It may not be public, but–”
“It’s perfect.” I smile. I think I like this more. It’s just us, and we don’t have to worry about getting caught.
He sits down on a large boulder and pats his lap. Stepping over, I settle myself right between his legs.
“Felix and I used to come here all the time when we were younger. We couldn’t afford to actually go to the movies.”
A frown hits my face. I bet he and Felix took all the girls here.
“You’re the first girl here, though.” Turning in my place, I look at him. He’s serious. I’m the first girl he’s taken here.
“I love it. All we’re missing is popcorn.” I laugh.
“Hmm. I might have something.” He pulls from me and I pout, my body instantly dropping several degrees.
He climbs down a couple of rocks before jumping down the rest. I hear his footsteps, but can’t see him.
I bite my lip, waiting for him to return.
“It’s not much, but I got these,” he pants, climbing up the rocks again.
He settles himself behind me and stretches his arm out. Turning his fist, he opens it, revealing a few Hershey Kisses.
I chuckle and take one.
“Why do you have these?”
Unwrapping one, he replies, “On the runs, we don’t get to stop very often. So when you’re hungry, you gotta resort to what you can stuff in your saddlebags that won’t go bad.”
I nod in understanding.
“I like the beef jerky sticks. Sometimes, it can get too hectic, and we don’t get to have dinner on the job.”
We look back at the movie, and a couple is having sex. A man with a chainsaw stands right outside their window. The couple is so into it, they don’t even see him.
It’s hot. In a weird, crazy way.
I look over my shoulder at Zeek, and as if he read my mind he lowers his lips and kisses me, hard and demanding. His tongue pushes through my lips and swipes at the Hershey Kiss dissolving on my tongue. I mimic the dance with my own, massaging the same piece. He licks at it one last time before kissing me then tugging on my bottom lip with his teeth.
“Excuse me!” I stiffen, and Zeek looks over his shoulder. “You can’t be here. This is private property.”
That’s when I hear a familiar static coming from a radio. It’s law enforcement.
“You, eh, got someone up there with you?” the voice questions from the ground.
Zeek doesn’t respond; his face is tight and jaw ticking. He’s angry.
“Now, I can be reasonable, but you and your friend better be gone by the time I get done making my rounds.” Hearing the voice more, it sounds like Chewie. Turning my head, I lift my hood to hide my face.
“We better go,” I mutter.
“What? Fuck him. He won’t be back.”
I shake my head, looking over the boulder to see if the car has left.
“I can’t take that chance. We can’t. If we get arrested, people will ask questions.”
Zeek scuffs. “He won’t take me in.”
I frown. “Maybe not you, but he will me.”
He swipes his hand through his hair. “That’d be stupid on his part.”
“And why’s that?”
“‘Cause I’d break his fucking arms for touching you.”
Grabbing me by the elbow, he stares at me with such intensity it makes me suck in a breath.
“Something you need to understand is you might have thought I was insane before, but now that you’re in my life, I’m ten times worse. You give me a purpose, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone disrespect you.”
Glancing down for a second, he looks back up at me through hooded eyes. “You’re the first light in my life after living a lifetime in the darkness.”
His words are so powerful, but so sad at the same time.
“Yeah, well, I never knew how alone I was until I met you. I lived so safely for so long t
hat I never knew I wasn’t living. You tore down my wall of security, made me bleed love and curiosity.”
His lips curl at the end, and he cups my hand.
“Let’s go.”
He helps me climb down the rocks then puts the helmet on my head.
The ride back to my place is much more enjoyable knowing I’m not going to fall off. I’m actually saddened when he stops at the corner. I don’t want it to end.
Going inside, he heads toward the bathroom.
“I’ll make some popcorn,” I announce, Jinx hot on my tail when he sees where I’m headed.
“Bring it to bed. Naked.”
Chills run up my back, and excitement has my breasts aching.
“Watch it, Jinx.” I shoo him away with my foot as I grab a bowl from the cabinet.
“Don’t scream, or I will slit your fucking throat,” a voice whispers harshly in my ear before a hand clasps around my mouth.
Something cold and sharp presses against my throat.
Chapter 17
Jillian
Panicked, my fingers stiffen and the bowl slips from my hands and crashes to the floor.
Jinx hisses and runs out of the room.
My heart slams against my chest in slow motion, that mere act of breathing painful.
“Jillian?” Zeek questions, concerned.
“Don’t answer.” The cold steel presses into my jugular, every swallow stinging. I close my eyes, a tear slipping from my left eye. I lift myself on my tiptoes to keep the sharp edge from pushing into my skin, but it’s doing no good with the way the man is breathing so harshly. Every pant causes the cold blade to press into my skin.
The man starts shuffling backward, heading toward my back door.
“Please, no,” I whimper.
Applying pressure to the knife, my neck floods with pain, making me regret my decision to speak.
“Shut the fuck up,” he grunts.
“Babe?” Zeek steps into the kitchen, and relief floods my limbs, an uncontrollable sob leaving my mouth.
In one quick move, Zeek draws a gun from his back, pointing it at the guy. The man behind me suddenly points a nine millimeter at Zeek, a tattoo of a crow or something on top of his hand.
My eyes widen. That tattoo.
“Jacob Gentry. Brown hair, green eyes. Six foot, three inches. Has a tattoo of a crow on the back of his right hand.” Alessandra’s description of the guy with the warrant out floods my memory. He’s the man she was looking for today.
“You’re dead,” Zeek rasps, his eyes dark, that animalistic look taking over his whole body. “You were stupid to try and kill me, but now, you’re just committing suicide by touching my girl.”
“I think you tried to kill me once already,” the man sneers, stepping in front of the back door.
“You’re mistaken. I didn’t put that bullet in your chest, ‘cause I don’t miss. But I’m going to enjoy being the one to rip that last pathetic breath from your lungs.”
The man laughs and throws his head back.
A shot rings out, and Jacob falls to the ground behind me. I jump forward, falling into Zeek’s arms, tears springing to my eyes. My ears ring, and my head pounds. My vision is so blurry, I squeeze my eyes shut to make it stop.
Zeek cups my cheeks and looks me all over. My lips tremble, my hands shaky as I try to hold onto him. His lips are moving, saying something, but I can’t make it out.
“Jillian, are you okay?” Sound finally fills my ears, and I nod frantically, clinging to him like a lifeline. This was my first near-death experience. They say you have many when you’re a sheriff, something I eagerly agreed to when I signed up, but now I’m not so eager.
Lowering his hand, he thumbs my neck.
“You’re bleeding.” His face goes hard, his eyebrows slowly pinching together. His eyes cloud over with that look he gets when he’s unstoppable. Much like the Hulk, but instead of turning green, Zeek, turns dark. His eyes mimic his train of thought—there is none. His only focus is releasing his fury, and drawing blood.
Looking over my shoulder, he steps around me and marches angrily toward the body on the floor. He aims his gun at the guy, shooting another bullet into his skull. I jump and look away, my heart resuming its panicking pace.
“I’m sorry this happened, Jillian,” he mutters. Balling my hands under my chin in an act of security, I look back at him. His eyes are trained on Gentry, willing the guy to come back to life so he can take it away again.
“I’m sure you’re used to this kind of thing, though.” He inhales a large breath and shoves the gun in the back of his jeans.
“No-no, I’m not,” I stutter, my eyes falling on the head that is exploded across my kitchen floor. “They prepare you for this kind of thing, yes, but I just froze when he grabbed me. I should have fought back. I’ve never—”
Cool hands grip both side of my head, Zeek’s concerned face coming into my line of sight.
“Breathe. I’m here, Jillian. I’m always here, and I will never let someone hurt you. Ever. You reacted perfectly. If you had tried to fight him, he would have killed you. Then I would be dead, because I would have turned him inside out, along with anyone who came in sight. My guilt would never ease if I lost you because of who I am. ”
I lick at a tear sitting on my lip and just nod, not sure what to say or do. My emotions are running rampant to the point I can feel myself shutting down, trying to regain control.
I knew being a sheriff I would see a life taken right in front of me. I just never expected it to happen in my own home, or by the hands of someone I care about.
My kitchen just became a crime scene.
Zeek
“That’s the guy Alessandra said they were looking for today,” Jillian states, her back turned toward me.
We couldn’t find the fucker, so I resorted to my resources—the dirty cops in my pocket. I ball my fists, wishing I could have taken the life from this fucker a whole lot slower.
“I need to call this in, explain what happened. It was self –”
“No!” I interject.
She whips around, her face pale. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
“Exactly what I fucking said, no.”
“Why?”
“Because if you call this in, they’re going to wonder where the rest of his brothers are. Then I’m going to have to lay low… which means I can’t be with you. That’s not happening.”
“Where are the rest of his brothers Zeek?” Her voice is low, almost like she’s scared to ask me.
“They’re dead. That shootout you were at? Yeah, well, I retaliated.”
“That day when I picked you up…” Her eyes flash with recognition. “But there were no bodies.” Her head shakes, like she doesn’t want to believe she’s in bed with a murderer.
“I work fast,” I reply.
Rubbing her forehead, she looks at Jacob. “So, what? You going to take him and hack him up in my bathtub now?” Blood drips from her neck, and my face goes serious.
“I’m going to have to call in my boys. Get a doctor over here to look at your neck.”
She stumbles on her feet.
Taking a large step, I grab her by the elbow to steady her. She’s not all right; she’s in shock.
“Sit on the couch.”
She doesn’t fight me, just sits, her hand on her head.
Pulling out my phone, I text Felix.
I need you. Bring Machete, and Mac. You know where to find me. - Z
Twenty minutes later, a knock sounds at the door.
I open it, ‘cause Jillian is still sitting on the couch in a complete fucking daze.
“Why the fuck are we here?” Felix snaps. His hair is wet and pulled into a ponytail, looking at me with anger in his eyes.
“Whose place is this?” Machete asks, pulling on his vest.
“You don’t want to know,” Mac replies, shaking his head.
“I found our missing Gentry.” I open the door wider, letting them in.
Jillian looks over her shoulder, and her eyes widen.
“Who’s the chick?” Machete juts his chin at Jillian.
“Jillian, this is Machete, Mac, and Felix.”
“She’s a cop.” Felix glares at her, and anger pounds at my temples. I don’t like the way he’s fucking staring at her.
“I’m sorry, what?!” Machete yells, his head snapping in my direction.
“Actually, I’m a sheriff,” Jillian corrects.
Machete, Mac, and Felix all look at me.
“This way.” Ignoring their stares, I head into the kitchen.
“Stay.” I point at Jillian.
There’s blood all over the floor, and I have to kick Jinx away.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Mac kicks at the body.
“I don’t know.”
Machete squats, looking Jacob over. Reaching forward, he shoves his hand in one of Jacob’s pockets. Machete is always taking shit off the dead. Should have named him Pick, since he’s always pick-pocketing.
“Nice lighter.” He flips open a Zippo before closing and pocketing it.
“He got a phone?” Mac questions.
Machete pulls out a black flip phone. “Yup.” Opening it, he goes through it.
“How do we get him out of here?” I pinch the bridge of my nose. We’re in a very busy neighborhood; this is going to be difficult.
“He called Frank,” Mac states, and both Felix and I look toward him.
“When?”
“About thirty minutes ago.”
“That was right before we got back.”
“Got back? What are you doing out with her? Are you fucking stupid?” Felix stands.
“Why are you even with her?” Machete asks. “You realize what the fuck you’re doing? What will happen if this gets out?”
Narrowing my eyes, I exhale. “Yeah. I know. It’s complicated.”
“Yeah, no shit.” Mac sneers.
“He’s getting his dick wet,” Felix quips.
“Fuck you, Felix.” His implying she’s just another bitch I use to get my rocks off has me on the verge of laying him out. Blood or not.
“You fucking traitor.” Machete looks down, rubbing at his cheeks.
Stepping forward, I grit my teeth and get in his face.