by TJ Vargo
Angela got into her bumblebee-yellow Mustang parked alongside the Camaro. It started with a roar. Julia stopped between the two cars.
“Julia, get in,” yelled Angela through her window.
Julia climbed into the Camaro. “We’ll follow you,” she yelled.
Curtis watched Angela stare at Julia for a long moment before she backed up and spun out of the lot, spitting gravel. He stayed right on her tail as she tore down the country roads, flooring it in the straightaways to keep up with her.
If he didn’t know any better, he would’ve guessed she was trying to lose him.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Angela followed Julia into the townhouse.
“Isn’t Curtis coming in?” said Angela.
“No,” said Julia. “I won’t be long.”
Julia ran upstairs into Angela’s bedroom. She slipped into a pair of jeans and Chuck Taylor lowtops. She thought about putting on a clean shirt, but decided to keep Curtis’s shirt on. It smelled too good to take off. She zipped up her suitcase as Angela walked in and closed the door.
“So that’s it, huh?” said Angela. “You’re leaving with him.”
“I gotta go,” said Julia, pulling her suitcase toward the door.
Angela opened the door and stepped to the side. She reached in her purse and pulled out a stack of money.
“Here,” said Angela, holding out the money. “You’re gonna need it.”
Julia tried to push by, but Angela grabbed her arm.
“They made me do it,” said Angela, putting the money in Julia’s hand. “I tried to tell you not to go with Billy.”
Julia let Angela hug her, then turned away. She pocketed the cash, then pulled her suitcase behind her. She stopped at the top of the stairs.
“I would’ve never done that to you,” she said, then pulled her suitcase down the stairs.
The trunk of the Camaro closed with a bang. Curtis jumped in the driver’s seat and smiled. Julia smiled back and turned her gaze to the silhouette of Angela watching from her bedroom window.
“You need anything out of your car?” said Curtis.
Julia shook her head. “No. Just get me out of here.”
Curtis started the car. Julia glanced back once as they drove out of the parking lot.
Angela’s bedroom window was empty.
The cool night air ruffled Julia’s hair as Curtis drove down the interstate into the darkness. She closed her eyes and sat back. Curtis grabbed her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.
“Did James do anything to you?” he asked.
She smiled. “No,” she said. “It took him forever to get those handcuffs on me. I didn’t make it easy.”
Curtis squeezed her hand. “You used your shoe on him, didn’t you?”
She pulled Curtis’s tee shirt against her face, breathing in his scent. “Yeah. But I was lucky you got there when you did,” she said. “He just got that last cuff on me and could’ve done anything he wanted. I was freaking out.”
“You should thank Angela,” said Curtis. “She took me to you. No way I would’ve found you without her help.”
Julia squeezed Curtis’s hand. “I’m just glad you got there when you did.”
She turned and watched the wind blow Curtis’s long hair. His face was tanned, but she could see the scar that ran over his brow. He hadn’t shaved in a few days. Every muscle on his torso stood out in the moonlight, his ribs flexing with each breath. He glanced over and smiled. She reached over, tucking his hair behind his ear.
“How did you know I was dancing?” she said.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I found you,” he said.
“You looked for me?”
“Of course I did.”
She put her hand on his thigh, sliding her finger through a rip in the knee of his jeans. “Why did you look for me?” she said.
“Because I like you.”
She slipped her finger out of the hole in his pants and rubbed his thigh. “You like me?”
She watched him stare straight ahead, driving into the darkness. “I looked for you because I want you,” he said.
She pointed at a green sign appearing out of the darkness.
“Take that exit.”
It was a country road. Nothing for miles. Fields that stretched like oceans bordered the road, painted silver by the moonlight. A towering stand of trees lifted from the horizon. Julia rubbed Curtis’s bare chest and stomach. She pointed at the trees.
“Pull over there.”
Curtis pulled onto the shoulder in front of the trees. A dirt road led into the trees. He eased down the road until the trees surrounded them, then put the car in park and cut the ignition.
Julia ran her hands over his bare arms. His chest. His stomach.
He lifted her onto his lap.
She buried her face in his neck. Smelling him. Kissing him. The leaves in the trees rustled in the wind, hushing everything around them.
He pulled her shirt off. Her skin felt hot. He kissed her neck and ran his hands up her back. “Hold on,” he said, leaning forward to reach under the front of his seat. He slid the seat back and then felt along the side of his seat, pulling a latch and lowering his seat flat.
She straddled him and stared into his eyes as he unbuttoned her jeans. She slid out of her jeans and then stripped him. The warm summer air swirled around her as she got on top of him. She listened to the leaves whisper in the night breeze, feeling him harden under her. His hands slid up her thighs, up her back, and then touched the sides of her breasts. He cupped them and licked one, then the other. She reached between her legs and grabbed him. He was big. She spread her legs and rubbed against him.
“I want you,” she said, feeling his mouth on her breast.
He looked into her eyes.
“I’ve always wanted you,” he said, sitting up and pulling her into his lap.
She guided him in and ran her hands over his muscled back and shoulders. She pulled him on top of her and grabbed his ass, pushing him in deep. She felt him tightening. Every muscle hardening. Waves rolled through her, lifting her higher and higher. She gasped and pushed against him, holding him deep inside. Her mind and body soared. A primal release exploded through her, covering everything she felt and smelled and saw and tasted and breathed in shimmering gold. And then it faded, leaving her in its warm glow.
She went slack, breathing hard. Everything seemed brighter. Curtis pushed up on his arms, looking down with a smile. The moon framed his head. Her heart swelled as he kissed her.
“We belong together,” he said.
She laid next to him, running her fingernails over his chest as she looked at the moon shining through the trees. He played with her hair, circling his finger around her ear.
“Say my name,” she said.
He ran his fingers through her hair. “Julia,” he whispered, smiling. He grabbed her hand, sliding his fingers between hers. She kissed his hand. He looked into the sky. “Julia!” he yelled.
She hugged him tight and then rolled to her back, looking into the sky with him.
“Sorry I didn’t show up the other night,” he said. “I got hurt. Went by your place the next day, but you were already gone.”
Julia sighed. “That’s what happens when you steal from a church,” she said.
Curtis didn’t move. She watched the muscles play along his jaw.
He turned to stare at her. “Are you mad?”
She rolled to her side and laid her head on his bare chest, listening to his heartbeat. She felt him tracing the bridge of her nose. He touched her lips and she kissed his fingers. “I was mad, but I’m not anymore,” she said. “I just don’t want any secrets. That’s all I care about. We’ve got to be honest with each other.”
“Okay,” he said, sitting up. “You first. How’d you know about the church?”
“I was dropping something off at the rectory,” she said. “I heard you break in. I followed you inside the church and saw you and yo
ur friend breaking into the safe.”
“I didn’t steal anything,” said Curtis, grabbing his jeans.
“But you were trying to,” said Julia, slipping into her g-string.
Curtis stopped and looked at her. “I was doing it for us.”
Julia pulled on her jeans. “You weren’t doing it for me.”
“There was supposed to be a quarter million of gold in that safe,” said Curtis. “Me and Sonny were gonna split it. My half was gonna be for us. It was gonna give us a chance.”
Julia shook her head. “You don’t need to steal. We can get jobs.”
“You’re a stripper and I fix cars—we’re not gonna go far with that,” he said, then huffed. “I’m not looking to hurt anybody, but nobody’s gonna give us a break. We gotta make our own breaks. Just one time. Just once and we can be set for life.”
“But stealing from a church?” said Julia. “That’s bad karma.”
Curtis pulled on his jeans. “Really? Walk into any town and what do you see? Big churches, big government, big corporations. And every big house in every town is owned by somebody from that big three. The rest of us, we get what’s left. They bend us over every chance they get.” His eyes flashed. “When people get bent over, they get desperate. Keep it up long enough and they get dangerous.”
He ducked down, tying his shoes. As Julia moved over into the passenger seat she heard him whisper, “Like me.” She slid her hand up his back, tangling her fingers in his hair curling over his back. She watched his shoulder muscles flex as he tied his shoes, then shifted her gaze to the moon and whispered.
A man who’s pure of heart.
And says his prayers by night.
May still become a wolf.
When the autumn moon is bright.
Curtis straightened and pulled his seat upright.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “Just something I heard in an old movie a long time ago.” She twirled her finger around a lock of his hair. “So what do we do now?”
He eyed her. “Old movie, huh?”
She nodded.
He looked at the moon, then lowered his gaze to her. She stared back and smiled. He took a deep breath.
“What we do now is this,” he said. “We go back to stay with a friend of mine. I pull a job we’ve been planning. I get paid. And then you and me find someplace to grow old together.”
“I have a couple questions,” she said, tugging his hair.
“Ow,” he said. “Be nice.”
“Who’s your friend?”
“His name’s Angel,” said Curtis. “He owns a garage. I work for him.”
“Why aren’t you staying in your apartment?”
Curtis laughed. “Let’s just say some guys in town aren’t too happy with me.”
Julia bit her bottom lip and nodded. “Mmm hmm. I see. So we’re hiding out?”
“Yeah. Any more questions?”
“Oh, there’s always more,” she said.
“Go on,” he said.
“So, although it sounds very exciting, hiding out, pulling a job and all that, what is it exactly that we’re stealing?”
Curtis’s eyes widened. “We’re not stealing anything. I’m stealing a couple paintings. You’re waiting back at Angel’s.”
Julia pursed her lips. “Not sure I like that.”
“That’s non negotiable,” said Curtis.
“How much are we getting?” she asked.
“About a hundred thou.”
She nodded. “Okay. Last question.”
He faced her. “Shoot.”
“After you steal the paintings…”
“Yeah.”
“And get the money…”
“Yeah.”
“Where are we going to grow old together?”
Curtis grabbed her face and touched his forehead to hers. “Wherever you want,” he said.
Julia felt his soft kiss, then watched as he started the car and pulled out onto the road. She sat with her back against her door, staring at him as the wind whipped his hair. She studied him, looking over his scarred face and muscled body. Looking ahead into the darkness, she closed her eyes, smiled and let the wind blow over her face.
It was going to be fun watching Curtis grow old. He was going to be a good looking old man.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
This was not turning out right. Not at all.
Cracker spun on his heels and walked out of Sweeties’ dressing room. There were two girls in there, neither of which was Julia Adriani. The black girl was mouthy when he asked her where Julia was, but she settled down after a smack in the face. Her lip swelled up like a balloon, but she talked. And she made a lot of sense. If Julia wasn’t on the stage and she wasn’t in the dressing room, there was only one other place she could be. Cracker stalked across the club toward the curtained off lap dance area. A crowd was gathered outside the curtain and everyone was in a tizzy. He bullied his way to the front and was met by a line of bouncers.
He walked up to a bouncer. “I got somebody I need to see in there,” he said.
The bouncer crossed his arms and shook his head.
“Not tonight. This area is closed.”
Cracker sized up the bouncer. He looked around and counted four more. Getting through all of them would be all kinds of trouble. And even if he did, there was no way he’d be able to pull Julia out of there without bringing the whole club down on his head. He waded back through the crowd, walked over to the bar and took a seat. He’d wait for Julia to come out. Patience would pay. And so would Curtis Monroe once he got his hands on him. Tracking him down was like shoveling smoke.
Forty-five minutes later, the lap dance area opened for business. Cracker paid close attention. Lots of strippers and country boys walked out, but no Julia. The only point of interest was a wiry hillbilly holding a rag against his mouth and a big old fat boy in a suit with holes punched in his face and neck. They walked out together. The fat boy seemed upset, swinging his arms and shouting. The hillbilly was having none of it. He jabbed his finger in fat boy’s face and gave him what for, then walked toward the bar, holding the rag against his mouth while he yelled, “Angela!” over and over.
It only took a minute of the hillbilly’s yelling for Cracker to see that Angela was not on the premises.
Angela, the girl who had Julia at her apartment.
Angela, the girl who drove Julia here.
Angela, the girl who danced with Julia.
If Angela was gone, chances were Julia was with her. Cracker hissed. He’d been concentrating all his energy on Julia when he should’ve been watching both girls. Damn if he wasn’t stupid. He finished the soda water and lime he’d been nursing, put a dollar on the bar and walked toward the exit.
The girls had slipped out quiet as a rat pissing on cotton, and their exit probably had something to do with fat boy and hillbilly limping around. But hell, it didn’t matter. He knew where Angela lived.
He hopped in his truck.
He and Angela were gonna have themselves a chat.
Cracker cursed his luck as he closed Angela’s front door, cutting off the sounds of her sobbing. He shook his head and walked to his truck. The crying, for once, wasn’t due to anything he did. The moment he brought up the name “Julia” Angela had broken down. She wasn’t able to help a lick with pointing him in Julia’s direction, but Lord that girl did cry.
He got in his truck and dug a protein bar out of a grocery bag. He chewed and swallowed, breathing through his nose, feeling angry for the first time in a long time. He started the truck and drove.
This current string of events was troubling. Angela said Julia left with Curtis Monroe. That meant Curtis had been in the strip club. Curtis was in his reach and he’d missed him. Cracker punched the dash.
“Probably when I was playing games with that country boy in the bathroom,” he said.
He touched the cut in the top of his head. Tonight had been nothing but a bi
g waste of time. He jammed half the protein bar in his mouth and chewed with his mouth open. Worst of all was how the situation had changed. If Curtis Monroe had Julia, she couldn’t be used as leverage.
Cracker slowed as he saw a sign for the interstate.
So what was next?
He clucked his tongue and eased into the exit lane toward Tombs.
There was a chance Curtis was right now driving cross country with Julia, but something told Cracker that wasn’t the deal. He’d learned a long time ago to trust his intuition, and it told him that Curtis was going somewhere familiar to get his ducks in a row, after which he’d disappear. The time for getting a firm grip on him was running short, which meant the time for being careful was over.
He turned on the radio. Once he got to Tombs, he’d catch Curtis’s attention by whatever means necessary. As of now, any and every piece of Curtis’s world was going to bear the brunt of a search and destroy campaign until that slippery ghost decided to show his face.
Cracker picked a piece of protein bar from between his teeth. He stomped on the gas.
And once Curtis showed his face, it was getting smashed bloody.
Chapter Forty
“Shhhh.”
Curtis waited for Julia to nod before lowering his finger from his lips. It was doubtful that someone from Barry’s gang was watching Angel’s past two in the morning, but now wasn’t the time to be lazy.
He held Julia’s hand, pulling her around the back of Angel’s garage. They’d walked two blocks through dark alleys to get this far and Julia moved like a shadow. Way more quiet than either Sonny or Fitz had ever been. Curtis unlocked Angel’s door and pulled her inside.
He held his arms out and whispered, “How do you like it?”
Julia took it in. Two small emergency exit lights cast a dim light through the two car bays. One of the bays had a car up on a lift. She turned to Curtis. “Where we sleeping? The floor?”
“Follow me,” he whispered. He led her into Angel’s office, turned on a desk lamp, sat on the couch and took off his shoes.