Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Winter
The hot water beating down on me is refreshing. Sure, I had a shower at Fang’s, but standing in my own shower, resting my forearms on the tile wall, is heaven on earth. I can practically feel the tension melting off me.
Fang called me last night, after they arrived in El Paso. They got a room—well, several rooms—to get some rest before marching into the enemy’s camp. I actually slept decent knowing that he was safe for the night. Now, I’m back to worrying.
Knock, knock.
The door creaks, and I peer through the glass of the shower as Jelly saunters into the bathroom. “How’re you doin?”
“Eh.” That’s all I say. I mean, what else is there to say? We got mixed up with a biker gang whose enemy shot up the Halloween Carnival the other night. Now we have a guard dog because we might be in danger.
Hopping onto the counter, Jelly taps on her cell phone then tosses it to the side. “I made coffee.”
Because that’s what we need as the sun is going down. Stimulants to keep my mind awake so I can lie in bed all night worrying about things I have no control over. Maybe I’ll stay up tonight and get some writing done. Anything to shift my focus from Fang and the Hollow Bones.
“Wanna stay up and watch some Swayze dance action?” This girl and her fascination with that old movie.
That’s my Jelly-Bean, always taking care of me and keeping me grounded when I feel my life start to spiral out of control. No matter how big or small the circumstance, she is my rock. The one person who has never let me down.
Shutting off the water, I open the glass door, and Jelly tosses me a towel. “Hurry up, I’ll pour the coffee and queue the movie.”
Slipping into a tank top and silk shorts, I towel dry my hair and pin it up in a clip. As promised, Jelly is sitting in the recliner with a cup of coffee in each hand. Taking one of the cups, I perch myself on the love seat and prop my feet on the coffee table.
Ten minutes into the movie and my focus shifts to Fang. The coffee, though I drink every last drop, is bland and unfulfilling. I feel like a zombie wasting away over here. Every few minutes I check my cell phone, hoping to find an update from Fang.
I need him to come back in one piece.
Because if he doesn’t—
Well, I’m not sure my heart can handle a second heartbreak.
Even if I’ve only known the man for a couple of days, mourning his absence would bring me to my knees.
This has me thinking. Is insta-love real?
Is it possible to fall in love at first sight?
Because that’s what this is starting to feel like.
Yes, I’m still hurt about what Billy did, but this thing with Fang is so much deeper than what I had with Billy. As crazy as that sounds.
“You’re thinking too loud.” Jelly must have noticed that I’m lost in my own world. Normally, she wouldn’t take her eye from the screen, not when this movie is playing.
I nearly drop the empty coffee cup when she speaks. “Huh?”
“I can practically hear the gears turning in your head.” She pauses the movie and moves to sit next to me. “He’ll be back.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No.” Jelly takes the ceramic cup from my hands, placing it on the coffee table. “But you have to believe he will, otherwise you’ll drive yourself crazy with worry.” I know she’s right, yet my stomach is all twisted up with worry for his safety.
Chewing on my thumbnail, a habit I haven’t had since high school, I twist in my seat to face her. “You think I’m nuts, don’t you?”
She shakes her head. “No, but you and him remind me of those cheesy love-at-first-sight romances.” Crinkling her nose, she adds, “It’s quite sickening, if you ask me.” A smile spreads on her face. “I don’t know the man, but he already is ten times the man Billy was, is, and will ever be.”
We sit in silence, staring at the television. A first kiss frozen on screen. I’m not sure how long we sit there, her hand resting on my knee. It’s not until the screen times out and goes black that I glance over at my best friend.
Jelly is starting to doze off. “Why don’t you go to bed?” She shakes her head and sits up, but I wave her off. “Seriously, I’m just going to sit at my desk and get some words written. My editor has been hounding me for two weeks. My deadline is approaching and I’m four chapters behind.”
“Fine.” She stretches out on the couch, rather than heading off to the bedroom. “But I’m sleeping right here, that way I’m in earshot.”
Rather than argue about the fact she would get better rest in an actual bed, I nod and head off to my office. In the pit of my stomach, I feel that something isn’t right. Is it Fang, did he get hurt? Or worse.
As I fire up the computer, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Crossing the room, I peer out the window. Snake is sitting on the curb across the street, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.
As long as he’s out there keeping watch, we’re safe. Right?
Taking Snake’s presence as a good sign, I sit at my desk and pull up the manuscript. Every tick of the wall clock echoes in my mind. Taunting me. Reminding me that life is moving forward.
For the umpteenth time, I pick up my cell phone. Still no word from Fang. Ugh, I hate this. The unknowing. Placing my fingers on the keyboard, I start typing but nothing makes sense. I delete and then type some more. Delete. Type. Delete. Type. Delete.
“This is stupid.” Shoving the offending keyboard away, I lean back and stare at the ceiling.
A floorboard creaks, sending chills down my spine. I freeze, holding my breath, and praying that it’s just Jelly. Though I know it isn’t her, because my desk faces the office door and I never saw it open.
I should have listened to Fang when he insisted, I stay at the clubhouse. If we had stayed there, then we would be under the protection of the Iron Devils. The clubhouse is a fortress, no one gets in or out without permission.
My heart slams into my ribcage, beating fiercely. The breath I’m holding is burning my chest and I release it, gulping in air. “Snake?” I whisper.
There’s no answer. Surely, he would have shown himself by now. He knows the gravity of the situation. He wouldn’t scare me like this. Knowing that Fang would have his hide for giving me such a fright.
“Snake?” I call out, my voice high pitched. “Is that you?”
Silence. No reply. No footsteps.
Just a spine-chilling quietness that has me reaching for my cell phone. I bring up Fang’s number but refrain from hitting call. He’s on a mission and can’t afford the distraction. Shutting the screen off, I tiptoe to the doorway to check on Jelly. She’s still stretched out on the couch sleeping.
Heading toward the kitchen, I snag a knife from the block. If someone is in my house, I’m not going down without a fight. “Jelly.” When she doesn’t stir, I call her name a little louder. “Jelly.”
Startling, she rolls off the couch with a thud. “Ow.” Glancing up at me, she frowns. “What?”
I lift a finger to my lips to indicate for her to remain quiet. Grabbing the cast iron skillet from the stovetop, I inch my way toward her. “Which one?” I whisper. She takes the knife. “I heard someone in my office.”
“Shit.” She snags her cell phone off the coffee table, dialing a number. Faintly, I can hear Snake’s voice through the phone pressed to her ear. “Someone’s in here.” Apparently, he ended the call because she pulls the device away and the screen is black.
Next thing I know, the front door gets kicked in. The man had a key to my house and rather than unlock the door, he kicks it in. I hope he knows I will bill him for the replacement. Men. I swear. “Where?”
With the skillet still in hand, I point toward my office. He marches in with guns drawn. Jelly and I stand arm-in-arm as we wait. Three seconds pass, then five. Still no shouting. No gunshots.
Nothing.
Mind reeling, I start to imagine Snake walking into that semi dark office and one of the Hollow Bones slicing his throat from behind.
Or a scenario much sinister. Snake secretly being a Hollow Bones member and working with a buddy.
Could he be in there waiting for us to seek him out so him and his friend can capture us?
Oh hell no. I’m not waiting around to find out if he’s truly the enemy.
Nudging Jelly, I motion toward the front door. “Let’s get out of here.”
A look of disbelief crosses her features. “What? Are you insane?”
Just as I open my mouth, Snake exits my office, holstering one of his weapons. “Grab your shoes, we’re leaving.”
“Did you find him?” Jelly asks.
He shakes his head. “Room is clean, but the side window is open.” Turning toward me, he asks, “Did you open that?” I shake my head.
Knowing that Fang felt we needed a babysitter, I never opened any windows.
Besides, late at night I like to keep them closed.
You never know who might decide to sneak in.
While Jelly is quick to slip on her shoes like Snake ordered. I, on the other hand, am still wondering who this Snake guy really is. Can I trust him. I mean, why would the Hollow Bones want me. Before the carnival I never knew who the Iron Devils were. They have no reason to come looking for me.
“Was it you?” I ask Snake.
Lifting a brow, he stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Me what?”
“Were you in my office?”
Spreading his legs wide, he crosses his arms over his chest. “Yes, to check for an intruder.”
“No.” I back up. “Earlier.”
Jelly is now staring at me, eyes wide.
Snake looks at the front door, my office door, then at me. “And when would I have gotten in undetected? You saw me sitting across the street.”
Yes, I did, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t sneak in here.
He has a key for crying out loud. Irrational fear crawls under the surface of my skin.
I notice that while Snake’s attention is on me, Jelly has quietly escaped up the stairs to my bedroom.
My phone buzzes with a text. Lifting the device so I don’t have to take my gaze off the man in front of me, I open the message.
Jelly:
I’m calling 911 right now.
Thank God. “The cops are on their way. If you’re smart, you’ll leave.”
“Are you serious?” He takes two large steps toward me. “You called the cops on me?” I nod. “Me? I was sent here to protect your ass.”
This whole time I have been slowly backing away. With the next step, I bump into the backdoor. No doubt Jelly has already found a way to sneak out the second story bedroom window and is waiting for me. Reaching behind me, I open the backdoor.
That’s when I hear it.
Breathing. Low and ragged, and right next to my ear.
The hairs on my arm raise and my eyes widen.
That isn’t Jelly breathing in my ear. No, that’s the breath of an angry man.
Now the question is, is this man working with Snake to take us out.
Or is this the enemy and I totally screwed myself by not listening to Snake?
I still have the skillet in my hand, but fear has me frozen. Unable to move. When the cold metal presses into my side, the cast iron slips from my grip and clatters down the cement steps. “Snake?” My voice wobbles.
He marches forward. A gun aimed right at…me? Is he going to shoot me?
Then before I can process what’s happening, gunshots ring in the air, and a cool rag is pressed to my face. A sweet fragrance assaults my nose before my eyelids become heavy. My arms and legs are starting to feel like lead and my mind is swimming.
Where am I?
Oh yeah, I’m home with Jelly.
Wait…Jelly. Where is she?
What’s happening?
Then…nothing.
My eyes close and refuse to open.