14. Welcome to the boonies
Welcome to the boonies
Elena
“I’m only doing this because your mother was a good person when I knew her. She’s getting this favor, not you.” His elbow digs into the console between us as he points at me.
Yet he keeps his eyes on the dirt road while he talks.
“One fuck-up, and I’m carting your ass down to county, and throwing a book of felonies at you. Got it?” The starburst of his jaw muscle pops from him clenching his teeth.
Bouncing in the worn street when he hits a particularly big pot hole, I nearly bite my tongue in my attempt to nod.
“Words, Elena,” he growls, flicking a glance at me.
“Yes. I understand.” I don’t want to be stuck behind bars for the rest of my life. But will being trapped in his house in the middle of—
Where in the hell are we? All I see is scrub brush and pale brown dirt until it meets the pine covered hills miles away.
Might as well be Mars.
I bang my ankle, again, trying to get comfortable. It’s going to take a while to get used to this monitor they strapped to my leg.
That wasn’t part of the plan. I was supposed to just slip away. Not have a damn GPS tracker practically welded to my body. I don’t think there’s any way to get it off easily.
Now I’m like one of those wild birds with a leg band. Maybe it explodes if I go outside of the limits?
Sure sounded like it when I was getting the lecture by the D.A. yesterday about following the rules and the consequences if I broke them.
Wade seems happy to repeat them. He’s warned me at least three times this morning on the trip to his place.
And wow, what a place.
Topping a small hill, his house looks like something out of a magazine.
With a broad wrap around porch, it’s nestled into a grove of cedars next to an expansive metal shop.
The tractor in front is a nice touch. By the grass stains on the mower, I’m guessing that’s how he keeps the prairie from taking over.
I’m really stuck.
“Home sweet home,” he mutters as he kills the engine.
“I gotta ask—” I slide out the door with my backpack. “—why so far from civilization?”
His snort carries behind him. “Have you met people ?” But he pauses at the bottom step and points through the trees. “My old man’s place is back there. This was my grandfather’s house.”
Must be nice to have a legacy.
All I got was evicted after Mom died. It took me almost a year to start earning enough for my own tiny ass apartment. Then a second before I was in a position to start looking into getting Cynthia back.
Going from that to a comfy farmhouse is a pretty big step.
But this is just temporary.
“Since you don’t have a car, I don’t have to worry about you leaving any time soon. Kitchen is pretty stocked. There’s a sticky pad on the fridge for a grocery list.” His arm juts towards the back wall.
It’s surprisingly modern.
Who is this guy?
“This’ll be yours.” He pushes past me and gestures towards a spacious guest room, complete with ensuite.
The smell of the fresh linens fills the air when I drop my bag onto the queen sized bed.
“Better than a hotel.” I flash him a smile.
“I expect you to keep it clean.” His arms cross his chest making the veins pop. “No visitors, no partying, no drugs. And most importantly, no going in my room. Got it?”
I flash him a broad smile. “Yes, daddy.”
There was never any intention for company. How can I get him to trust me with other people here?
Besides, it’s not like I know anyone. I don’t even have any close friends in Texas.
All I could do there was try to survive.
His long exhale flirts with being a low rumble. “Elena. I want to help, and to keep you safe. But you’re only here until we find that ‘Mad Man’ character, okay? Please just play nice.”
He almost sounds…in pain.
“I want you to find him too.” My shoulders drop. “The sooner you do, the faster I can get my sister back, and I can leave.”
Where would I go? Texas is a shithole too.
My job is long gone.
I’ve started from nothing before, I can do it again.
“There’s a gym downstairs, you’re welcome to it. Go ahead and put any—” His hand waves as his eyes avert. “—personal items down on the grocery list, I’ll make sure you get them.”
I sink onto the mattress.
Oh God, it’s so much better than the one in the holding cell.
His brows knot over his nose before the brim of his cowboy hat ducks to hide his face. “Don’t do that shit.”
“What?” I blink up at him.
“All that fucking moaning like you’re getting off. That crap won’t work.” He grabs the handle and starts to pull the door around.
I hadn’t even realized I made a noise.
But it’s pretty damn funny that it’s messing with him.
“Wade? Thank you. Really.” I try to sound sincere. “I have one more question though.” I lean down, propping myself on my elbow.
He grunts, hiding behind the wood panels.
“I only have, like, one change of clothes. Are you going to buy me new panties too?” I know he can’t see me, but that doesn’t stop me from grinning.
The knob creaks. I can almost picture him squeezing it in his big fist.
“I’ll see what I can do.” His voice lingers before he shuts me in.
I hold my breath, waiting to hear some sort of lock clicking into place.
But it’s only the sound of his footsteps fading.