Chapter 18 Sutton #2
After traveling for what felt like ten or so miles, I finally came upon a gas station.
It was rundown and dusty. But it was working.
Which was good, because my bike was almost on empty.
I pulled into the station and turned off the bike, knowing I’d look damn suspicious when I went to start it up again with nothing but the fucking wires.
Still, I shut down the engine with a click of the correct wires while the gas station was practically deserted, then walked inside.
“Whatcha need?” the cashier asked.
“Fifteen on pump three. I’ll come back for food in a sec,” I said.
“Sure thing.”
I paid the woman behind the counter and went outside. I filled up the gas tank until it was practically overflowing, then screwed the cap back on. I slung my leg over the bike and walked it into a parking space at the front door, then put the rusted kickstand down.
I almost couldn’t get it down with all the rust caked around it. But I eventually got it to work.
“How long you been riding?” the woman asked.
I walked up and down the aisles, grabbing chips and a hot dog before heading to get a drink.
“Not long. That’s just a trainer bike. Found it in a junkyard somewhere and the man practically gave it to me,” I said.
“But shit like that is good to learn on. No loss if you crash it or shred the gears,” she said.
“Which I’ve done a time or two,” I said, giggling.
She smiled at me as I paid for the food, and I found myself missing Cage something fierce.
People here were so nice. So, kind. Much nicer than anyone I’d ever met back in Nevada.
Even with my father’s intimidation hanging over their heads.
I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay in this place with Cage and live out my life here.
With him. But, before I could go around chasing whatever life I wanted, I had to confront my father first.
I had to end this.
I love you, Cage.
I sat down at a rickety table by a window in the gas station. I opened up my chips and ate a few, then cracked my large bottle of water open. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, though. And the second they did, I slowly started looking around.
While I knew my father and his cronies weren’t there, that didn’t mean they weren’t looking for me. That didn’t mean they weren’t close.
And I knew they were close because I could feel it.
Good thing I left town. Maybe they’ll pull away from the Dead Souls now to follow me.
I took my time with my water. I finished off the bag of barbecue chips and ate the meat portion of my hot dog. Then, once I filled myself up, I perched my purse on the table. I pushed my trash off to the side, digging around until my fingertips settled against my phone.
And when I pulled it out, I dialed the only number in my call log.
The number I let pour over into my voicemail earlier this morning.
“Enjoying your lunch?” my father asked.
His voice made my stomach flip over as my eyes slowly scanned the gas station outside.
“I’d like to meet, Daddy,” I said.
“I figured you would, princess,” he said.
“I’ll meet anywhere you want. On your terms.”
“There are no terms. I’m simply glad you’re calling.”
“Can we talk once we meet up? I’d really like to talk,” I said.
“Trust me, we’ll have plenty of time and privacy to talk,” he said.
Then, as my eyes searched the road in front of the gas station, I saw it.
A black car on the horizon. It grew closer, and bigger, and blacker all the while.
I sighed into the phone as I sat there, listening to my father’s breathing.
The black SUV pulled into the gas station and pulled up directly beside that rusted piece of junk.
“I never would have put you on a motorcycle, princess,” my father said.
I snickered. “I know. You always said I was a top-down, Camaro kind of girl.”
“Are they going to hurt me?”
“No. They have specific orders to treat you with the care they always have. But if you give them a reason to, they’ll do their job.”
My stomach curled into itself as I watched the men get out of the SUV. The surrounded my bike while one of them opened up the side door of the car. Then, they all turned their sun glassed faces toward me through the window.
“You really should get in the car, princess,” my father said.
“I’ll see you soon,” I said softly.
I hung up the car and gathered my things.
I grabbed my bottle of water, then threw away my trash.
Then, I looked at the woman behind the counter.
She stared outside, jotting something down on a sheet of paper.
Her eyes came up to meet mine and she looked worried.
Frantic. And she had every right to feel that way.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly.
I put my finger to my lips, asking her to silence her words before I nodded my head. The last thing I needed was anyone else getting hurt because they became some sort of loose end my father had to tie up.
Then, I walked outside.
Please forgive me, Cage. I hope you understand.
And as I made my way to the open door of the black SUV, the minutes of my life ticked down as I clung to my purse.
Fucking hell, what had I just done?