“Eli.”
Tex’s voice was suddenly loud and clear; he’d made a decision. Eli look up, his eyes and voice filled with loathing and contempt.
“What.”
Tex sneered at him.
“Where are we going to keep this? It has to sit tight for a few days until we get the deal arranged.”
Eli sagged visibly, running a hand over his day-old stubble. He looked around the workshop, resembling for all the world a man condemned. Finally his eyes fixed on a car, and Tess had to stop herself from recoiling in panic.
“That one there. It’s been here years, nobody ever touches it.”
He pointed over to the car that Tess was crouched behind, and she ducked away out of sight as she heard the men advance toward her hiding place. Tess looked around her in a panic. There was nowhere else for her to go, nowhere to hide. If they came to open the trunk, they’d see her for sure. At the last second, her heart thumping furiously in her throat, Tess took the last option available to her. She rolled under the car, and clamped her hands over her mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.
She watched at the booted feet came closer and closer, and wished, harder than she’d ever wished before, that nobody would look underneath.
The feet gathered in a group at the end of the car, and Tess listened as Tex cursed, trying to get the ancient old door open. Eventually he succeeded, the rusted metal squealing in protest as he levered it open.
There was a muffled thump as the suitcase was unceremoniously dumped inside, then a crunch as the door was slammed shut once again. The feet stood still for a moment, and there was silence.
Tex was the first to speak.
“Now, Eli. You’ve done your part now, just like I asked you. Make sure nobody comes near this old heap of junk until I come back next, and you’ll have upheld your end of the bargain.”
There was no response from Eli, and Tess saw one pair of boots shuffle impatiently.
“You got that, shit for brains? Nobody goes near this car. Nobody.”
Silence again, but Eli must have responded in some way, because the boots began moving away until they were at the entrance to the workshop.
“You did good, Eli. Just like old days, huh?”
Tex laughed, a wheezing rasp devoid of all humor.
“See you soon, then.”
And with that they were gone, trooping back out into the baking sun, returning to their waiting bikes.
Tess watched them go. There was only one pair of legs remaining now, that she assumed must have belonged to Eli. He stood, still and silent, for a long time – long enough for Tess to mourn, once more, what could have been. Why was he throwing everything away like this? His chance for a new life, a fresh start, for some money and respect from the scum of the earth.
Tess willed Eli to leave. The smell of gasoline and oil filled her nostrils, making her feel queasy and slightly faint. Finally, just as she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he stepped out of the workshop. Tess quickly rolled out from under the car and brushed herself off. She was still dressed in her office clothes, only now they were ruined completely, covered in oil and filth and dust. She went to the corner of the car again, peering around the edge.
Only, she had forgotten to take one thing into account. She caught one final glimpse of Eli Flint as he reached up and swung closed the big heavy door, until it reached the ground with a screeching crash. The workshop was thrown into utter and complete darkness.
Tess swallowed her mounting panic and felt her way forward, cursing quietly as she hit her shin on some discarded piece of machinery. Eventually she found the door, placing her palms flat upon it and trying to heave it upwards with all her might.
Nothing. It was locked, and without the key, there was no way she was getting it open. No way at all.
Tess was trapped, and she knew it.
*****
Chapter Ten
Eli
Eli stood outside the workshop and ran his hands over his face. He had barely slept and he hadn’t shaved, his stubble sharp and his eyes sore and gritty. He took a deep breath and looked around him, his eyes very briefly coming to rest on an abandoned old house that sat across the road from Mike’s Workshop, before flickering away again. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself.
Because while the house looked like it hadn’t been lived in for years, Eli knew that it wasn’t completely abandoned, not right now. He remembered from his days in the Sons of Flame that it was a hideout for the gang, sometimes used when they needed to keep someone hidden away, or lay low if they brought too much heat on themselves.
And if Eli knew Tex, and he did, he knew that the wily old gang leader wouldn’t leave unguarded as expensive a product as whatever was sitting in the trunk of that old car in the workshop. He’d stake his life that someone was sitting in that old house, watching, making sure that nobody went into the workshop who shouldn’t be there.
Which was going to make Eli’s plan that much more difficult to pull off.
As soon as Tex and the Sons had turned up with that briefcase the previous day, Eli had known what was inside. Drugs. It wasn’t guns this time – the case was much too small. Heroin, most likely, maybe coke. Whatever it was, there was a lot of it, and it was worth a lot of money. A lot of jail time, too, if someone was caught dealing it.
Tex thought he had Eli caught, trapped. He’d promised that once he returned to collect the product, Eli would be free, his obligation finished. Eli wasn’t stupid though. What was to stop Tex from making him go to do the deal, take all the risk? With the threats to Tess and his Grandma, Eli would have no choice but to obey.
Only, this time, Eli was ready to fight back. It was a risk, a huge risk, but one that he felt he had to take. This would never end if Eli kept on giving in to Tex’s demands. They’d keep coming and coming, for as long as Tex had control over Eli.
And Eli had had enough. He’d driven home quickly the previous night after locking up the workshop, and Mike had been there waiting for him. Despite the risks involved, to Mike and to Grace, Eli had told him everything. He needed Mike’s help.
Eli had packed a case for his grandma that morning, and when he returned he’d bundled it into Mike’s car. Grace seemed puzzled at first – Eli hadn’t told her anything.
“I’ve booked you a trip for a few days, Grandma,” he’d said. “I know you get bored sitting around here all day, and my first paycheck came in, so I thought I’d do something for you. Mike’s gonna take you, and I’ll stay and take care of the shop.”
Grace had looked from Eli to Mike, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“What are you two up to?”
Mike had laughed, an easy, practiced laugh.
“C’mon Grace,” the grizzled old mechanic had wheezed. “It’ll be just like old times, me and you. What do you say?”
Grace had smiled despite herself.
“Well…a few days away would be nice.”
She’d held up a finger and wagged it at Mike.
“But don’t you think you can try anything with me, Michael Wrentham. We’re both too old and too washed up for any of that romance nonsense.”
Eli had given his grandmother a kiss on the cheek as she’d climbed slowly into the car.
“Have a nice time, Grandma. I’ll see you in a few days, OK?”
Eli had watched them drive away into the fading sunlight, hoping that he’d been quick enough, that Tex hadn’t sent someone to keep watch. He didn’t think so, though. As far as Tex was concerned, he had Eli, hook line and sinker.
Eli smiled sadly to himself as he stood there the next morning, thinking about how happy Grace had looked at the surprise. Thank God she didn’t know the truth.
He took a deep breath and pulled his hands out of his pockets. It was time to go, time to put the plan into action.
Eli unlocked the shutter door and lifted it, wincing as it squealed in protest. If there was someone watching the workshop, they'd definitely know now that El
i was there if they somehow hadn't before.
But there was nothing to do about that now. There was no going back - he had to do this, and had to do it fast. It was the only way.
Eli stepped into the workshop and made his way over to the old rusty car where the drugs were hidden. He unlocked it and was lifting the trunk when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He whirled, adrenaline flaring, only for his jaw to drop when he saw who it was.
"Tess? What the hell? How long have you been in here?"
She looked dishevelled and tired as she eyed him up warily, looking from Eli to the entrance, obviously trying to gauge if she could dart past him and make an escape.
"Tess," he began, "Listen."
He saw something snap in her, then; her face went dark, like a thundercloud just before the heavens opened. She stepped towards him, all thoughts of escape temporarily forgotten.
"No, Eli Flint, you listen to me."
Each word was punctuated by a stab of her finger, poking him in the chest. She looked so fierce, so angry, that Eli had to fight the instinct to back away from her.
"I trusted you. I thought you were different. I thought you were genuinely trying to turn your life around, actually trying to work with me to put your past behind you and move on."
She deflated suddenly, looking sad and forlorn and lost.
"But you're just the same as all the others. You lied to me, over and over, and I was stupid enough to believe you. Well, I'm done. I'm fucking done."
She turned away from him, shoulders sagged, and began to trudge out of the workshop.
"Wait!" Eli hissed. "You've got it all wrong!"
He stepped towards her and tried to grab her arm. She whirled, fury in her eyes.
"Don't fucking touch me."
Eli swallowed. If she walked out of this workshop, everything was ruined.
"Look, Tess, I don't know what the hell you're doing in here, or what you saw, but you need to listen to me."
She stopped moving, and looked at him, hands on her hips, waiting.
"If you walk out of that door, you'll be putting your life in danger. Both of our lives, actually."
She frowned in confusion.
"But -"
Eli cut her off.
"Did you think I really just went back to work for Tex and the Sons of Flame like nothing had happened? After everything that man did to me? After he stole the last few years of my life?"
Eli laughed bitterly.
"If so, you don't know me as well as you think you do. Tex forced me. He threatened my grandmother, hell, he threatened you after he saw us together that day we had lunch. I couldn't see a way out, so I had to agree to let him keep this stuff here."
He tapped the trunk of the car.
"But I've decided. Enough's enough. I'll never be free of Tex if I don't do something about it. Here and now. If you walk out now, Tex will know that you saw everything. Him and his boys will be here in minutes, and we'll be in a whole world of trouble."
As she'd been listening to Eli speak, Tess' expression had changed, from one of pure anger to a dubious curiosity.
"OK," she said. "Assuming you’re telling the truth, what do we do now? What was your plan?"
He looked at her.
"I didn't really have one, to be honest. I was going to take the drugs, get on my bike and just drive - then think of something later."
The withering look that Tess gave him made Eli want to shy away.
"Yeah..." he mumbled, "maybe I didn't really think it through properly...I just had to do something, anything, to stop being pulled back in."
Tess brushed her hair away from her eyes and took a breath.
"I'm a witness now," she said. "I don't want to be, and I wish I could just drive away from here and forget all about it, but I can't."
She narrowed her eyes, deep in thought.
"Here's what we'll do," she eventually said. "I'll call the police; tell them that there are drugs hidden in here. Their first assumption will be that they belong to you, but I'll testify to what I saw last night. In court, if I have to."
Eli took a step towards her.
"Tess, no," he began. "It's too dangerous. At the first sniff of cops Tex and the Sons will be gone. They'll never get caught, and they'll never forget. You'll be in danger for as long as they're out there, and I won't let that happen. I have to do this alone."
At his words, Eli saw a stubborn look cross her face, one that he was already becoming familiar with him.
This woman really doesn't like being told what to do.
"And what will happen when you just drive out of here with Tex's drugs, Eli? Do you think he'll just shrug his shoulders, write off the loss, and carry on with his life? No! He'll hunt you down and he'll probably kill you."
Eli set his jaw and crossed his arms.
"Not if I hide. And not if I get him first."
Tess gave him a pointed look.
"So, what? You're going to hide for the rest of your life, always looking over your shoulder? Or are you going to take on the whole Sons of Flame gang, all by yourself, somehow win, and then somehow avoid jail for murder or manslaughter?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Great plan, Eli. Really great. It really sounds like you've thought this through."
Anger suddenly blossomed inside him, red hot and uncontrollable.
"And what would you have me do, Tess? Just go back to working for him, until the next time he decides to throw me under the bus? Run to the police and have him murder my grandmother? I. HAVE. NO. CHOICE. Can't you see that?"
He laughed bitterly.
"Of course you can't. To you, I'm just another subhuman criminal, another idiot who doesn't know any better. Look how quick you were to assume that I willingly went back to work for Tex. And now you think you have all the answers, when you don't know anything at all."
He saw how his words had wounded her, but it was too late now, too late to stop.
"Wait in here until I'm gone, Tess. They'll see me, and they'll chase me. Once that happens, make sure nobody is around, go and get in your car, and leave. Leave and don't look back. All I ask is that you wait until you get to the city before you tell the police. Give me some time to get away."
Tears were running down her face. Eli had the urge to reach out to her, pull her into an embrace, tell her that he didn't mean it, that everything was going to be OK. But he couldn't, because it wasn't.
With a supreme effort of will, he wrenched his eyes from hers and took out the briefcase from the trunk. She stood there like a woman lost.
"I don't have time for this," Eli said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. It's been a stressful few days, and I'll try and make it up to you when it's all over. I promise."
He reached out to her, but she flinched and drew away from him.
The first good woman to ever take an interest in you, Eli Flint, and you push her away. Smooth. Real smooth.
Eli turned to the task at hand and popped the trunk, lifting the suitcase out. It felt heavy in his hand - heavy with drugs, heavy with consequences, too.
Tess was still standing there, staring into the middle distance. When Eli spoke, he tried to make his voice as soft and gentle as possible.
"Tess, I'm going to go now. I need you to wait in here out of sight for a little while once I'm gone, like I said. Can you do that for me? Please?"
She turned away from him without acknowledging his words.
Good enough, I guess.
Eli pulled his keys from his pocket, took a deep breath, and made for the door. It was getting bright outside - it was going to be another hot, clear day, like usual.
But then, he saw something.
Eli swore under his breath.
"Shit."
It was one of the Sons of Flame. Eli couldn't make out exactly who, but that leather jacket was unmistakable. Eli knew that he didn't have much time. He had to make a decision, and fast. Everything depended on this moment.
He g
rabbed Tess' arm, who immediately tried to struggle away from him.
"Get the fuck off me!" she shouted. "Just go!"
Eli grimaced. He'd have time to explain all of this later. Right now, all that mattered was getting out of here, putting as much distance between them and this town as possible.
"Tess. I need you to listen to me. You can hit me, punch me, do whatever to me later. Get behind the car again, and stay there until you hear me call your name. When I do, you run to me, and you get on my bike. No questions, no nothing. Just do it, or we're both dead. Understand?"
He didn't have time to see if she was going to cooperate. He shoved her roughly behind the car, and then tried to affect as calm an air as possible. The guy was approaching the entrance to the workshop now, casual, not concerned. Yet.
Good. That was good.
Eli slid the case under the car, hoping beyond hope that the guy hadn't seen anything. He went and stood in the entrance to the workshop, waiting. He could see who it was now. Snake. A guy who'd been with the Sons for years, but was so stupid that he'd never really risen up the ranks. He always got the shitty jobs. Like stakeout duty, for example.
Eli nodded to Snake as he got closer.
"Snake. What can I do for you? Tex still doesn't trust me, huh? I guess not, if he's got you keepin' an eye on me."
Snake's eyes narrowed.
"Shut up Eli. What you doin' in here?"
Eli looked around himself, gesturing with his hands.
"I work here, Snake. I still gotta make a living, right?"
Snake gestured to the trunk of the car.
"Why's that open? Where's the case?"
Shit.
"Oh, uh, it's just over here. Come over, I'll show ya."
Snake followed him. As he walked, Eli knew that he'd only get one shot. Snake was dumber than a bag of rocks, but Eli had seen him fight.
"Where is it then, Eli? I don't see nothin'."
"Just here. I wanna move the car so -"
Eli whirled without warning and slammed his fist into Snake's face.
The big man dropped to the ground in a crumpled tangle of limbs. Eli shook his hand and winced. No wonder the guy was so dumb; his head must have been made of stone.
Bad & Bold - A 7 Book Bad Boy Romance Collection! Page 6