Chapter Twelve. #2
Drew hung up and frowned. “It was paid for in cash. Slipped through the letterbox overnight. A short note saying they had to leave town on an emergency, but could the florist deliver a wreath here with those words? There was money in the envelope.”
“Guess we won’t get fingerprints from it,” Bow said.
“Nope, it’s been binned, and the trash was emptied this morning.”
“Fuck,” I snarled.
“Who’s on Amy and Nanci?” Drew asked.
“Rory and Razor,” I replied. As much as I wanted to tear the wreath to pieces, it wouldn’t help me. “I’ll reach out and let them know. Any cameras in the shop?”
“Yeah. Shows a male figure in a hoodie, with no clear shot of his face. The manager checked while I was on the phone,” Drew stated.
“Is this ever going to stop?” I asked no one in particular.
“The Feds released the suspect’s picture today. Maybe someone will recognise him,” Bow said.
I could only hope so.
Drew’s phone rang, and he picked up. His voice changed, and he looked worried. He barked out a reply and hung up.
“That wreath was a sign. Somebody drove Amy’s Papa off the road an hour ago. Phil is fine, but the car’s been totalled.”
“Fuckin’ hell!” I exploded and punched the wall.
My knuckles split as I hit it a second time.
“This ain’t no movie plot. Someone is trying to kill the survivors!” I snarled.
“For one of two reasons, they want to make the movie real life, or it’s the bomber. But I don’t see why he’d continue to chase them, not now his picture is plastered everywhere,” Bow said.
“But it wasn’t until today. Maybe the demented bastard doesn’t know yet,” Drew argued.
I turned and stared out of the bulletproof window. It was too dangerous to remain here. I needed to get Amy away from the public eye for a few days.
“The Feds will want to put Amy into protective custody,” Drew said.
“They can go fuck themselves,” I retorted.
“Guessed you’d say that, but Amy needs to be given the option,” Drew argued.
I scowled, but it didn’t deter him. Offering them both a head tilt, I left and headed for the church. I was going to take Amy away for a few days, and I knew someone who might have an off-the-grid cabin.
Amy
“Are you sure you’re okay, Papa?”
“Pumpkin, I’m fine. Stop fretting. Kid, I drove tanks for a living and a lot worse. Your little car was easy-peasy to control. Although it’s a write-off, sorry to say,” Papa said.
I sighed. “Guess it wasn’t meant to recover from the fire. Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“Amy Wright. Stop worrying. Now, have you packed?”
“Yes, Papa, I can’t tell you where we’re going because I don’t know. Vortex won’t tell anyone. That spa place was so good though, and I was so relaxed after my massage, and it’s all been wasted,” I complained.
“When you get home, I’ll send you and your friend for a weekend,” Papa promised.
“You and Dad will be careful, right?”
“Go away, Amy, and stop parenting. Have some fun with Vortex. Make sure he wraps up,” Papa said loudly. Dad cursed in the background, and I registered a snort of amusement from behind me.
I spun around and saw Vortex, leaning against the doorjamb, looking like sex personified.
He’d clearly heard Papa’s words. I blushed and then spluttered out a laugh when Vortex bent, reached into the saddlebag he was carrying and pulled out a huge pack of condoms. He winked as Papa demanded to know what was happening.
“Nothing, Papa. Got to go. Love you and Dad!” I replied and cut the call. “They’ll have heart attacks if they see them.”
“Yeah, but they’d know I’m keeping you safe,” Vortex replied.
“True, but even so, I’m their little girl,” I retorted with a smirk.
“Yeah, and your dads are kinda scary. Are you packed?”
“Yup, you said a couple of days?”
“Yes. Ready then?”
“My bag’s here.” I pointed at the bed, and Vortex grabbed it.
“Come on, babe, let’s hit the road,” he said. I nodded and left the bedroom. Vortex slung the saddlebags over his bike, and we climbed on.
“We’ll be riding a while. I want to throw off any chance of someone following us,” he said, as I pulled on the helmet Nanci had lent me.
“Okay,” I replied and wrapped myself around him. Vortex squeezed my hands and then started his engine.
An hour later, I was glad I’d remembered gloves. My hands would have frozen in the chill air. Nanci had also lent me a heavy biker jacket, but my legs were frozen solid. I hoped wherever we were going had a fire.
Vortex made a sudden turn, and we rode down a bumpy, overgrown road. I squealed several times as branches brushed against me. Then we pulled into a small clearing which held a log cabin. It wasn’t big, but it looked sturdy, which was reassuring.
“Is that Merritt?” I asked as we got off the Harley.
Vortex smiled as I pointed at the lights in the distance.
“Yes. We’re literally ten minutes away, but I didn’t want people knowing how close we were.
This is Gravey’s place. He’s going to bunk down at the church for a couple of nights.
Said there have been prowlers, and he’s not happy with any potential damage that might happen. ”
“We’re not kicking him out?”
“No. Gravey is fine with us staying here as it means his home won’t be broken into.”
“Okay. As long as we’ve not booted him out.”
“Gravey would have told me to stick it.” Vortex chuckled. “He’s got no respect for titles.”
“I’ve only met him once.”
“His story is tragic—and his to tell. But the man’s solid,” Vortex reassured me.
“Shall we go in? It’s freezing out here.”
“Sure.” Vortex reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a key. We climbed the three steps to the cabin door, and Vortex opened it.
It was dark, but Vortex felt around and found a light switch. “Gravey has a generator out back. He says it’s full, so we’re not to worry. Let me get the bags, and I’ll start a fire,” he said.
“Okay.”
When Vortex headed outside, I shivered as a chilly wind blew in.
He’d not shut the door, but it didn’t matter because the cabin was cold anyway.
I was in a large room divided into a kitchen and a living area.
Above our heads was a mezzanine with a bed and a closet. A set of stairs to the side led up.
Dominating the space was a huge stone fireplace, with a fire laid and ready to light.
A door stood between the two areas, and I walked over and discovered a hallway.
There was a toilet, a separate bathroom, a small bedroom and a larger one.
The outside was decidedly deceptive. The cabin was bigger than it looked.
Vortex came in, dropped off two bags, and kicked the door shut.
“Fuck, the temperature is dropping fast. Let me start that fire. Babe, you look blue. Get on the sofa and wrap up in a blanket,” he said, pointing.
I didn’t bother arguing. I was frozen. Vortex wasn’t wrong.
He’d been wearing full leather, including a thick hat.
Although I’d had the helmet, I’d still felt the cold, and while the jacket kept me warm, my jeans hadn’t.
My feet were like icicles. I kicked my boots off and curled up on the sofa.
It was surprisingly comfortable, and I yanked a woollen blanket around me.
Vortex had the fire started within a few minutes and turned to me. “Gravey has food here. Meadow brought him some to the church. I’ll heat something and get hot drinks going.”
“Thank you,” I said. Vortex sent me a warm smile, bent over, and kissed me gently.
“There’s no pressure this weekend. I know I packed for just in case, but this was about giving you a break,” he whispered against my lips.
“And if what I want is you?”
“Then you have all of me, brave girl,” Vortex promised.
I smiled, and Vortex nipped my bottom lip as my stomach growled in hunger. “You need feeding. I can’t have you passing out on me,” he said.
“That wouldn’t be fun.”
“Fuck no,” he replied and shrugged his jacket off and hung it up. The room was heating up, but the chill lingered as the fire caught.
Vortex rattled around in the kitchen. He placed a kettle on the stove, and it made me smile.
Papa had one of them despite it driving Dad crazy.
Dad preferred comforts, whereas Papa liked old stuff.
So, they each had their own kettle. Vortex saw something on the small dining table and picked it up; it was a note.
“Damn. Seems like Gravey cooked for us. He said he’s labelled some containers in the refrigerator, and there’s a fresh loaf in the cupboard and some frozen ones too.” Vortex shoved his head into the fridge and let out a laugh.
“What?” I asked.
“The man must think we’re heading for a siege; he’s rammed it full.
” Vortex pulled out a large container that could feed four.
“Lamb stew and dumplings,” he read the label, yanked the lid off and sniffed.
“Damn, looks like Gravey has hidden skills. The note also says there’s a heated greenhouse out back with fresh produce and to help ourselves, but not waste anything. ”
Vortex scooped the stew into a casserole dish and put it in the oven to warm up. He opened the cupboard and found the loaf.
“Want a quick bite now?” he asked. I nodded, and Vortex cut a thick slice and slathered it with butter.
Sitting here, as my toes and legs warmed, it was almost romantic, with Vortex in the kitchen and the darkness outside. It was easy to forget what had been happening. I relaxed, let everything go, and prepared to enjoy this time with Vortex.