by Terra Kelly
“Yeah, I’m calling it in the middle of nowhere land on whatever-the-fuck highway.”
Ricky burst out laughing. “I like how you take control of a situation.”
“Well somebody needs to, dammit.” She bent her head and was a breath away from his lips. “When we get to Toronto, I have plans for you.”
“Will I like the plans?” He cleared the distance and kissed her lips.
Her body ignited. “Dammit,” she cried out and leaned up, hitting her head on the ceiling.
He placed his hand on her head. “Shit. What’s wrong?”
“I want you right now.”
He groaned. “Kitten, if I could make that happen right now, I would.”
“You have to admit; the circumstances make it even more erotic.”
Ricky moved his body closer, and she inhaled the moment she felt his ever growing erection touch her. “It is, but as much as I want to continue this discussion, we have to go now.”
“Should we fill up on gas before it gets any darker?” She placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled him closer. She lightly kissed him, but the emotions were too strong. Ricky fisted his hands in her hair and made the kiss deeper. “Music man, I want you to kiss me all night long just like that, but first, let’s get to Toronto safely.” She climbed back over to her seat, and he swatted at her ass. “Hey.”
Ricky winked and pointed toward the gas pumps. “Pull up to the far left one, it will be the best for an easy escape.”
Before Vikki put the car in drive, she leaned over and kissed him one more time. “That is something I will never get enough of with you.” Vikki winked. Ricky smiled and tangled his hand in her hair. She knew her direct ways were too much sometimes, but other times they came in handy. Like today, for example.
She pulled up to the pump, and Ricky hopped out quickly. Her eyes were locked onto the rear-view mirrors and waiting to see when the two vehicles would pull in behind them. Ricky was done in under minute and hopped back in the car. At the moment she was pulling out, there were two suspicious vehicles pulling into the gas station.
“So much for switching. How many hours do we have left until we’re in Toronto?”
Ricky pulled up the GPS on his phone. “Less than nine hours. You doing okay?”
She burst out laughing. “Besides the fact that my hormones are in overdrive, yeah, I’m good.” He slid his hand over her thigh and in between her legs. She sucked in a breath. “Ricky!”
“I could take care of some of that tension for you.”
“Oh, my God, do you really think people actually manage to stay on the road after being pleasured?”
“I will make sure you do.”
Vikki grabbed his hand and kissed each finger. “I look forward to seeing what those fingers can do, but for now, you keep them on your own side of the car.” She set his hand on his leg, and then the car was suddenly jolted forward.
Seventeen
“Ricky, what is that?” Vikki grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and held on for dear life.
He turned in his seat and noticed the vehicle from earlier right on their tail. “Hold on tight, they’re coming in again.” His body flew back. “Or step on it is the other option.”
“I’m not waiting around for them to hit us.”
“Where’s a cop when you need one?”
“Need one?”
“I would welcome one to pull us over and get us to the precinct. We would be safer there then out here looking like sitting ducks.” Ricky glanced over at the speedometer. “Go up to ninety. A cop is sure come out of the woodwork.”
They stayed at that speed for about ten miles, which shocked Ricky. The vehicle was still tailing them and trying to get closer. Vikki was trying to stay far enough away from them, but it was tricky. She had to swerve in and out of vehicles. Where was a cop car when you needed them most?
Just then sirens started up. “Yes, finally.” Ricky clapped his hands together, pulling out his badge and ID. “Is the cop car behind you?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect. Go for another half mile and then pull off to the side of the road.”
“You sure about this?”
“I promise.”
After a half mile, Vikki pulled over and placed her hands on the wheel. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
They both watched as the two suspicious vehicles blew past them. Ricky was only able to remember one of the license plate numbers. He had his hands on the dashboard as the cop approached.
“License and registration, ma’am.”
Ricky leaned over and handed the cop his badge and ID. “We need your help, officer.”
The officer peered through the window. “Sir, what am I supposed to do with this?”
“Help us.”
The man scowled. “Help you? And how am I supposed to do that?”
“Take us to your police station.”
“Did you do something wrong?”
“No, it’s the very opposite. We’re in danger. I can explain everything to you, and I can even give you the number for my boss.”
The cop stood there for a moment. “Hold on, sir.”
Vikki turned to Ricky. “Think he’ll help?”
“He’s checking my info now. He’ll help.” He squeezed her leg. “I promise.”
Five minutes later, the cop rested his hand on the window. “Looks like you both do need my help. Follow me.”
“Ella showed up?” Miles sat down next Ricky.
“Yup, and fed us an extremely unbelievable story,” Ricky said, holding Vikki’s hand tightly.
“Why did you let her in the car?”
Vikki sighed. “So, we don’t let her in the car and dear old dad comes after us. We do let her in the car and dear old dad still comes after us. Either option always had the same outcome.”
“True.” Miles nodded. “How are you doing?”
Vikki laughed. “I’ve had better days.”
“You were in safe hands the whole way. Ricky would never let anything happen to you.”
Vikki snuggled closer to Ricky’s side. “So what now?”
“Well, we get back to Toronto tonight. Preslie will be excited to see you two.”
“Where are we staying?” Ricky asked, standing up.
“Right at the station in the private rooms. It’s not ideal but what can we do?”
Ricky wanted to get out of there and now. “Please tell me I can have my own room?” He looked at Vikki. “For Vikki and me both.”
Miles slapped his back. “I think that can be arranged.”
They all headed to the front of the building to wait for the cop car that would take them to the small airport. There was commotion off to the side down a hallway. Two men with semi-automatic guns were walking quickly toward them.
“Not again,” Vikki said, running away from the men.
“Come on, this way,” the cop who had pulled them over said, running in the opposite direction.
They all managed to flee unnoticed and ran into the locker room. They each put on a cop uniform and were wearing a hat. That was Vikki’s idea and a genius idea, too.
The cop car finally made it to the airport, and all three boarded the plane safely. Ricky reached for Vikki’s hand. “Okay, I think we are in the clear now.”
He noticed Vikki roll her eyes and burst out laughing. “Safe? I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The flight would take about three hours, and since they couldn’t guarantee their safety, they would be put in a helicopter and taken right to the precinct. Ricky couldn’t remember the Nesta mob being this efficient years ago. Times had definitely changed.
“So, think Giano was in one of those vehicles on our tail?” Ricky asked Miles.
“I’d bet my bottom dollar he was. He is safer stateside than he is in Canada.”
“Has he ever gone to jail?” Vikki asked, leaning her head back against the seat.
“Nope, always managed to avoid any kind of jail
time,” Miles said, reaching for his bag. “Several of his men have done hard time for him.”
“That always amazes me,” Vikki said. “Why would you want to do any kind of jail time for one man? The pull he has over them, it must be huge.”
“Oh yeah, a threat on their family, life, anything.”
“It’s so sad.” Vikki reached for her drink the flight attendant had just dropped off. “I think about Letizia and her parents. That story alone must be insane.”
“More than you can even image,” Ricky said, taking a sip of his beer. “These men are taught shoot to kill. They don’t have emotion.”
“Well, just leave me at the precinct for as long as you need,” Vikki said, pulling a blanket up around her shoulders. “I’m done with this running for my life shit.”
“Even if it includes running with me?” Ricky asked.
“Even with you, music man.” Vikki patted his thigh and reached for his hand.
Vikki was asleep within five minutes of closing her eyes. “Music man, eh?” Miles teased.
“Hey, don’t knock it. I think it’s sexy whenever she says it.”
“Buddy, I will not judge.”
“But you plan to tell Preslie the moment you get home, don’t you?”
“Oh yeah, the moment I walk through the door.”
Ricky burst out laughing. “I’m not surprised.” He took another swig of his beer. “So Letizia and Finley are safe, right?”
“I finally heard from Finley yesterday. He didn’t say where he was located, only that they are okay.”
“Thank fuck. After what Vikki has been put through, it’s nice to know they’re good.”
“I really don’t understand why Giano was hell bent on finding you both.”
“Me,” Ricky said sighing.
Miles sat up. “Wait, what do you mean?”
“He recognized me. I guess I should’ve kept my beard on, it would’ve helped.”
“Holy shit. I thought you would be okay.
“Yeah, you and me both.” Ricky shrugged his shoulders. “We need to find Giano and Dego. They need to go to jail. This shit is getting old.”
“I’ve been thinking about how to take them down.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, we lost sight of Jason Keets.”
“The guy who’s Ella’s father?”
“Exactly. My thought was, if we find him, he can lead us to Giano easier.”
“Any thoughts on where he might be hiding out?”
“I have a couple ideas.”
“They involve travel again, don’t they?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Can I have two days of R and R first?”
“We both need it,” Miles said, resting his head back.
“I just need more of one specific redhead.”
“I heard that,” Vikki said, pulling the blanket up higher. “You can have all of me, music man.”
“I feel like I should leave the room,” Miles teased.
Ricky slapped his hand on Miles’s leg. “Nah, just plug your ears.”
Eighteen
“Viks, oh my God, are you okay?” Preslie threw her arms around Vikki.
“Hey, sweets, I am now. It was touch and go for awhile.”
Preslie grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the little couch. “Miles felt awful when he found out you both were being chased. What the hell happened?”
“Honestly, I really don’t know,” Vikki said, snuggling closer to her friend. “I mean, Ella is a fucking bitch. I do know that part. The chase part, I don’t know. Ricky thinks it was because of him.”
“They remembered him from before?”
“I guess.” Vikki leaned up. “Pres, we finally talked.”
“Ricky and you did?”
“Yeah, silly.” She stood up and twirled in place. “I want him and now.”
“Then take me.”
Vikki’s eyes went wide. “He’s standing behind me right now isn’t he?”
Preslie nodded her head. “He walked in the moment you twirled. I…um…need to go.”
She turned around. “Hey,” she said, trying to act cool.
He stepped into her personal space. “We have our own room.”
“In the precinct, which is not really private.”
“It’ll be better than the car.”
Vikki glanced around the living quarters. “Spooning has to happen to ensure no one falls off that tiny bed.”
“This is the kids’ room.”
“Oh bummer, so no spooning?” Vikki pouted.
“Oh, there will be spooning, pushing, groaning, yelling, you name it.”
“Um, is this how you talk sexy to a woman?”
“Yeah, it’s not working?”
“I’m on the fence right now.”
Just then the door flew open. Gracie and Jack came running inside. Preslie was fast on their heels trying to wrangle them up. “I’m so sorry,” Preslie said and wrapped her arms around Gracie. “Jack was determined to get a toy he’d left under his pillow.”
Vikki squatted down next to Jack. “Hey, little man, what’s shaking?”
“Aunt Vikki, I missed you.”
“You did? How much?”
He threw his hands out to his side and let the words stretch out. “This much.”
Her eyes went wide. “Wow, that is a lot.”
“You going to watch a movie with us?”
“Actually, Uncle Ricky and I need to get some rest. We’ve been up for a long time and would just fall asleep watching anything.”
He reached for his toy hidden under his pillow and jumped around. “Okay, we will tell you about it when you wake up.”
Vikki held out her hand, palm up. “Sounds like a deal.” He giggled and slapped his hand onto hers. She stood up and watched them all pile out of the room. “Where is our new living quarters?”
“Downstairs,” Ricky said and reached for her hand. “They couldn’t find two rooms together, so we got the short end of the stick and ended up in the basement.”
Vikki squeezed his hand and tugged him closer. “Or we won the winning ticket and now you can make me scream as loud as you want.”
He groaned. “I may know just how to do that, too.”
“I have no doubts.”
Ricky opened the door to their room and let Vikki enter first. It was simple: a bed, dresser, couch, little table, and two chairs. There was a cabinet that looked like a make-shift kitchen with a coffee pot, portable burner, and a small refrigerator.
“Well, it’s not pretty but it works,” Vikki said, setting her bag on the dresser. “Where is the bathroom?”
“This room is next to a private bathroom with a shower.”
“Wow, are these rooms used for cops that are pulling doubles?”
“Exactly,” Ricky said, reaching into the fridge for a beer. “Want one?”
“Nah, just wine for me.”
“Red, right?” He held up a bottle sitting on the counter.
“Is there any other kind?”
“True, what was I thinking?”
Vikki stepped up beside him. “I have no idea.” She rubbed her hand over his stubble. “It’s finally coming back.” She loved men with beards; they felt amazing on her skin.
There was a knock on the door.
Ricky sighed. “Really?”
When he answered it, Miles was on the other side, holding a note in his outstretched hand. “I guess I don’t need to find a way to make contact with Jason Keets.”
“What do you mean?” Ricky asked.
“Look at the note.” Miles tapped his finger on the top of the paper.
“Dear Letizia,” Vikki read from over Ricky’s shoulder. “How did he get a letter into the precinct?”
Miles stepped through the door. “Shit, your place is nicer than mine.”
“We’re not switching,” Ricky quickly said.
Vikki burst out laughing. “Guess if you had plans to switch, that’s out.”
<
br /> “No plans.” Miles put his hands up in surrender. “I’m curious. Did Ella ever mention knowing her real father?”
“No,” Ricky said, sitting down on the couch. “She just showed interest in finding him with us.”
“Really?”
Vikki scowled. “Why do you have that perplexed look?”
“I’m thinking he may talk to us, but he can’t because of possibly being seen by Giano or his men. Let me dig deeper on this. I just wanted to ask you that question.”
“You can call me on the phone,” Ricky said, pulling his device from his pocket.
Miles quickly walked to the door. “Preslie warned me about coming down here unannounced. I figured since we were in the same building and all.”
Vikki was on the couch watching Miles walk backward and looking uncomfortable. “Bye, Miles. Love you!”
He held his hand up and waved.
Ricky locked the door and turned to face Vikki. “Okay, where were we?”
She patted the couch cushion. “You were going to make your way over here and sit next to me.”
“Sit?”
“For now.”
Nineteen
The moment he sat down on the couch, Vikki threw her legs over his body. “Okay, sitting is good, too.”
“Right?” She moved her body up and down. “So.”
“You have a look,” Ricky said, turning his head to the side. “What kind of plans do you have for me?”
“Music man, I have plans that will keep us busy all through the night.”
“You do, huh?” He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her closer. “Well, the plans I have are to throw you on the bed and…”
She covered his mouth. “Don’t tell me. Just do it.”
Ricky tightened his hold and stood up from the couch, carrying her with him. He felt his body come alive the moment she placed her lips on his neck. “Kitten, tell me, do you require any special attention?”
Vikki lifted her head. “Special attention? As in toys or how to be pleasured?”
“Both.”
“Tough choice.”
“So you require toys, too? What if we don’t have any available?”