by Evelyn Glass
Jack chuckled. “Okay. I’ll call you in a few days when we get to Savannah. But watch your texts. I’ll send you a picture of Tina flashing her boobs.”
“You will not!” Tina cried from the passenger seat, but Seth was already gone.
***
“Uh oh,” Jack said as he began to slow, spotting the line of cars at what could only be a routine police checkpoint.
“This isn’t good,” Tina echoed.
“Just relax and don’t panic,” he said with a grin and a wink. Jack slowed the truck to a stop just South of Menard, Texas. “How can I help you officer?” he asked after he crept through the line of traffic.
“Just a standard license check. License, log, and manifest please,” the officer said.
“Jac, hand me the paperwork please,” Jack said, holding his hand out to Tina.
Tina fished out the driver’s log and the rest of the paperwork Rodchenko had given them and handed them to Jack. He, in turn, handed the paperwork to the officer then pulled his license from his wallet and handed that over as well.
“This your truck, Mr. Lanier?” the officer asked as he checked the paperwork.
“No. I’m driving for Goremykin Transport.”
“Replica Ferraris, eh? Mind if I take a look?”
Tina’s heart sank and her stomach began to do somersaults, but she kept quiet as Jack stepped out of the truck. Fifteen minutes later he crawled back into the cab and handed her the paperwork. “He took some pictures for his kid.”
Tina couldn’t help it when she began to giggle in relief. “I hope he never finds out. How embarrassing would it be to have taken pictures of one hundred million dollars’ worth of stolen cars and not even know it?”
“Very,” Jack replied with a grin as the truck growled its way up to speed.
When they stopped for the night in San Antonio, Tina was jubilant. They had been stopped by the Texas highway patrol, passed them through with no questions asked, and Jack’s fake ID had stood up to a casual scrutiny. She was sure now they were going to make it and she was looking forward to starting her life again.
She and Jack spent the night in the truck. After their lovemaking, as she coasted into sleep, Tina realized she enjoyed the soft putter of the huge diesel engine at idle as its rhythmic thrum lulled her into a deep sleep.
Late the next afternoon, Jack pulled into the T/A truck stop in Lafayette, Louisiana. While Jack filled the tank Tina located a place to spend the night. As much as she liked sleeping in the truck—not to mention the fun they were having in the process—they needed a shower, and the truck stop showers gave her the willies. They had fallen into the routine of one night in the truck, the next night in a motel. This time they would spend a couple of nights in the motel, however, because Jack had agreed to pull the Audi off the trailer so they could spend tomorrow in New Orleans before they made their final push to Savannah.
After some looking she finally located a well-reviewed motel just outside of town with a large parking lot and located near a restaurant. She punched the location into the satnav, and when Jack finally returned to the cab, they set off for the short drive to their destination.
“Oh my God, it’s hot!” Tina gasped as her sunglasses fogged when she crawled down from the truck. “How do people stand it around here?”
“Said the woman that has lived her entire life in New Mexico,” Jack teased as he pulled their kit from the truck.
“Yeah… but here it’s hot and humid!”
“Well… look around. Nothing but swamps.”
They were in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, a small town just East of Lafayette, and while there were no swamps in sight at the moment, she had seen more water today than she had ever seen in her life. It seemed the entire state was nothing but one big, mosquito-infested swamp.
“I know. I don’t know how people stand it. I’m starting to sweat already,” she groused as she peeked over the top of sunglasses.
“I thought you like working up a sweat,” he teased as he led her to the motel.
Tina snickered. “I do, but not from just standing around.”
***
They had dinner at a seafood restaurant across the parking lot from the motel. Tina had never been a fan of seafood… so she allowed the waitress to order for her as she delighted in listening to her soft, rolling speech pattern.
“I love how they talk here!” she gushed after the waitress left.
“You need to get out more,” Jack grinned as he poured on the New England accent. “Wait until we get to Georgia. Being that we are from there, you need to learn to speak like a southerner.”
“How are y’all?” Tina tried.
Jack’s explosive laugh indicated she had some work to do. “On the other hand, maybe you moved away as a baby before you learned to talk.”
“Oh yeah? Can you do better?”
Jack cleared his throat. “Howdy, y’all. I do believe I will have the peach cobbler and some ice cream,” he said in a passable southern accent.
Tina was impressed. “Where did you learn to talk like that?”
“Gone with the Wind.”
Tina snickered. “Uh-huh. I was born, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Jack shrugged. “It’s just easy for me to do. If I can listen to someone for a moment, I can kind of imitate how they sound.”
The waitress returned and placed their drink order and a roll of paper towels on the table before she scurried away. Tina took a sip of her iced tea and her eyes widened. “Whoa! That’s really sweet!”
Jack took a sip from his own glass and made a face. “Wow! They put a little tea in their sugar!”
Soon enough their food arrived and Tina took a tentative taste of her Jambalaya after blowing it cool. It didn’t look particularly appetizing, but the flavor of the thick rice dish, loaded with sausage, seafood, and chicken, exploded on her tongue.
“Oh my God! This is so good!” she exclaimed as she blew on another fork full before shoving it into her mouth. She had heard of Jambalaya, but had no idea what it tasted like. She also sampled Jack’s Gumbo, another dish she had heard of but never tried, and nodded her in approval at his choice.
“I couldn’t live here… I would weigh three-hundred pounds,” Tina said as she scraped up the last of her meal.
“How was it?” the waitress asked as she refilled their glasses.
“It was great! I didn’t think I liked seafood, but I like this.”
“Pooh… that’s just because you haven’t had good seafood. Where y’all from?”
“New Mexico,” Jack replied.
“Well no wonder y’all ain’t had good seafood before. Did you save room for dessert?”
“I’m stuffed,” Tina said.
“No room for some lemon meringue or pecan pie?”
Jack grinned. “One slice of each, please.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Jack, I’m full. I can’t eat any more.”
“Me too, but I have always wanted to try those.”
The waitress returned and sat two thick slices of pie on the table, along with two new forks. Tina tried both, but nearly swooned over the pecan. “Make that four-hundred pounds,” she muttered as she took another bite of the pie.
***
“I ate way too much. I think I’m going to hurl,” Tina moaned as they walked out.
Jack snickered in sympathy. “I know how you feel. But it was good.”
“It was great! But I still didn’t have to make a pig of myself.”
“We’ll just have to work it off.”
Tina groaned. “I’m too full for that!”
“No. I meant for you to help me get the Audi off the truck.”
Tina giggled. “You did not, you big flirt.”
With much groaning about being too full to bend over, they released the Audi from its tie-downs before Jack started the truck and lowered the ramp. Once the car was off the trailer he secured it and truck while Tina parked the car.
&n
bsp; Inside the room Jack talked to Marshall while Tina showered. He found that all the money had been distributed, with the exception of his and Tina’s cut, and the Sons were having a meeting to discuss if the club was going to continue to exist.
“I’m going to vote we disband, and I think most everyone else is going to vote the same way. The Desert Sons was your club, and it’s just not the same without you,” Marshall said.
Jack pursed his lips at the thought, but it was no longer his concern. “It is just as much yours, and the rest of the Sons’, as it was mine. You and me, we were the charter members.”
“I know. But you were the glue that held us all together.”
“What does Seth think?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him. He didn’t come in to work today. I called him but he didn’t answer. I’ll try him again later tonight and make sure he is okay.”
“Okay. If you get him, tell him we got stopped yesterday.”
“Everything went okay, I assume, since you are not in jail.”
“Yep. The cop even took pictures of a couple of the cars for his son. But other than that, he didn’t bat an eye. I think Seth will find it funny that I got stopped after he warned me about it.”
Marshall chuckled. “I’ll tell him.”
“Tomorrow we are going to go sightseeing in New Orleans, and then on Wednesday we are going to drive to Mobile, or maybe Pensacola, and spend the night. Then drive the rest of the way to Savannah the next day.”
“Then what?”
“Then I’ll drop the truck, store the bikes, and… then I don’t know. Tina and I will have to talk about it.”
“Are you two going to… stay together?”
“I hope so. She is the best thing to happen to me since…”
“Since Colette?”
“Yeah.”
“She seems like a good woman, Jack. Don’t let her go unless you are damn sure.”
Jack smiled. “I don’t plan to. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
“Well, I wish both of you the best of luck. For whatever you want to do.”
“Thanks, Marshall. You’ve been a good friend.”
“As have you, Jack… as have you.”
“I’ll call you when we get to Savannah.”
“Do that. Let us know you made it safe.”
“Count on it.”
***
Jack and Tina spent the next day exploring the French Quarter. Even though it was mid-October, it was still warm enough for the dress she bought for her meeting with Rodchenko. Jack also dressed up, though he left his jacket at the motel.
Tina spent almost three thousand dollars on a new wardrobe for herself and Jack. Jack carried the packages without complaint, though they did have to stop and unload his burden into the car once, before she was satisfied she had everything they needed for their new life.
As the sun began to set they changed in a Walmart fitting room, with much snickering, into more formal attire for dinner a Gautreau’s, one of the town’s best restaurants.
“For someone that just changed in a Walmart, you look stunning!” Jack said as Tina stepped out in a rich, ruby red dress. The plunging neckline and hip-hugging cut presented her curves to devastating effect, and he kissed her gently on the lips.
“You cleaned up nicely yourself,” she purred as she adjusted his tie. There was nothing wrong with it, but it gave her an excuse to step in close and touch him. They walked out of the store, arm in arm, with their other clothes stuffed in the same bag they used to bring in their new.
They spent the next two hours being doted on by the wait staff at Gautreau’s and they enjoyed themselves immensely. It was by far the most romantic dinner Tina had ever had, with by far the most fantastic man she had ever met. As she lingered over the last of her wine, she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found Jack.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’m just so… happy. Happier than I have ever been. And I…”
“What?” he prompted when she trailed off.
“And I… feel so lucky that I met you.”
Jack took her hand into his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Would it surprise you if I were to say the same thing? That I am happier now than I have ever been... and I’m so glad you tried to steal my bike?”
She could feel herself wanting to cry. “Do you really mean that? Really?”
“I do. And even though you promised never to steal from me again… you have.”
Tina went cold. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve stolen my heart. I love you, Jacqueline Marie Wendell.”
Tina whimpered as she fought her tears, recovered, then whimpered again. “And I love you, Bradley Colt Lanier.”
“Stay with me. When we drop the truck off, stay with me. We’ll find someplace to live, and I want you to come with me. Live with me. Maybe even…”
“Marriage?” she whispered when he didn’t continue.
“Maybe. Come with me and let’s find out together.”
She whimpered again as her eyes filled with tears. “I will Jack. I will. I want to be with you, always. I will follow you anywhere.”
Jack smiled and brought her fingers to his lips for a tender kiss. “And I want to be with you… always.”
Tina sniffed as she looked down at the table and smiled. “It’s been almost two weeks since you made me cry. I thought I was past that.”
He kissed her fingers again before he released her hand. She’s had so much pain, so much loneliness, he thought as he waited for her to look up. But no more. Never again will she be alone and afraid.
She finally had control of her emotions and looked up to see him smiling at her—a tender loving smile that warmed her… and she smiled back.
***
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
“Who’s at the door?” Tina mumbled as the pounding on their motel door came again for the second time in a row.
“Jack! Wake up!” a muffled voice called.
“What the fuck?” Jack growled as he tried to shake off the blanket of sleep. He and Tina had returned to the room about eleven last night and then made love until early in the morning. He squinted at the clock: 7:18.
“Jack!” the voice called again as the pounding continued.
“Coming! Keep your pants on,” he growled as he rolled out of bed. It didn’t even register in his half-awake state that he had been called by his real name instead of his new identity.
Pants on and weapon in hand, Jack opened the door. “Seth? Michelle? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“We have a problem, Jack. It’s Goremykin. He’s trying to screw us. He tried to pull the money back,” Seth said.
Jack blinked a moment as he tried to catch up. “Hold on a second. Tina! Get dressed!” he called over his shoulder.
The moment Tina disappeared into the bathroom, Jack swung the door open. “Come in. Fuck… You said Goremykin tried to pull the money back? Why?”
“I don’t know. But he did! The money is safe. As you know, Greg had already paid it out, but had he not…”
“Goddammit! That slimy Russian bastard! Every time I turn around he tries to screw me. I bet that was his man after all that tried to steal the cars.”
“You and Tina need to go to ground. He knows you, knows your name. I can take the cars and dump them somewhere.”
Jack sat down on the bed, placed his gun beside him, and scratched furiously at his head. “Why would Goremykin do that? He doesn’t have the cars. If he would have just waited another few days he would have had them. Why would he risk fucking us now, while we still have them?”
“I don’t know. But you need to run while you still can.”
“What’s going on?” Tina asked as she stepped out of the bath.
“Goremykin is fucking us,” Jack said.
“Why are you here?” Tina asked Seth and Michelle.
“We came down so you and Jack can walk away. We’ll take the cars and hi
de them until we can find another buyer.”
“Why didn’t you just call? For that matter, how did you get here?” Jack asked.
“I couldn’t take the chance. He gave you the phones after all. Michelle and I rode down. Marshall told me where to find you.”