Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Deadly Nightshade aka Belladona: “Unlike most toxic fruits they are deeply and seductively sweet, and for this reason are seen as evil, as any dangerous plant with good manners was supposed to grow its berries bitter to avoid ingestion.”
-Fez Inkwright, Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants-
Logan
“Fucking hell the roads are shit.” I grumble as I make my way up the mountain pass road towards home.
The ranch was typically the perfect escape, given how far it was out of town, but on nights like this I cursed the drive.
The summer storms are few and far between in our sleepy town but when they hit, man, they fucking hit.
Often washing the roads out between the town and our property for days at a time.
It's why I had left the shop in a hurry when Law texted about the incoming storm, cancelling my last client before hurriedly locking up.
And then Marla had texted me, saying her newest foal had escaped her pasture and was lost in the storm.
She was doing her best running their ranch on her own while coping with the grief that was still, no doubt, raw.
The fire season had been rough, claiming her husband's life along with three others in town.
I am, however, regretting how long I lingered to help her find the little guy.
My windshield wipers can barely keep up, the rain coming down in a deluge across the front of the car.
Even my headlights struggle to cut through the darkness.
Dropping my speed down to practically a crawl I navigate the twisting and turning pass.
Every so often a flash of lightning illuminates the dark forest lining either side of the road.
Truth be told, the whole situation is the perfect start to a horror movie.
My eyes skate towards the time displayed on the digital screen.
“Ace is going to kill me.” I groan. We were now firmly into ‘I’m late’ territory.
Every night Ace is out on a job he demands a check in, one that, unless otherwise stated, neither of us would be late for.
And yet here I was, a full two hours late for the check in with no explanation given.
I hadn’t thought to call while I was looking for the foal and now I had no interest in having this conversation while driving, if anything that would earn me more punishment.
My ass was still sore from the paddling I had received yesterday before he left.
The thought of it has me shifting against the leather seats, my cock stirring to attention.
He had chased me through the woods, hunted me, after I “escaped” with a ball gag in mouth.
I couldn’t help the brat in me, not when Ace was so good at punishing me.
I can still feel his tattooed fingers around my neck, shoving me into the ground as he fucked me from behind.
His cock stretched me so deliciously. He had edged me until I was mindless and weeping and only then did he allow me to cum.
I groan and shake my head, forcing the memory away so I can concentrate on the road. How awkward would it be if I got into a car accident and Law had to rescue me? I would have to explain I was day dreaming of Ace fucking me senseless.
Coming around the corner another flash of lightning acts like a spot light through the darkness at the same time a small figure falls from the dark woods.
The body collapses, half on the road and half still in the brush.
Slamming my foot on the break the jeep locks up, practically fishtailing as I force it to come to a stop not far from the collapsed person.
“What the fuck.” I growl glancing in my mirror, waiting for the figure to stand up. My gut churns, something deep within waking up and settling into unease as the figure remains motionless.
Grabbing the gun I keep in the locked center console I use my other hand to hit the top name on the screen of my cell.
“I’m not rescuing you from Ace.” Law says by way of greeting, his voice fighting the storm over the speakers in the car.
“I’m on HWY 2 just past Marla’s place. There's someone in the road, they fell from the woods.” I respond, ignoring the response I really want to give him.
“Are they hurt?” Law says, his voice shifting to work mode. In the background I can hear his keys jingle before the quiet murmuring of him telling his deputy he’ll be back.
“I don’t know. I can’t tell from here.”
I know what he’s going to say before his voice echoes over the speakers and I’m moving to unbuckle. “Grab a flashlight and go check”
“Hold on.” I grumble before I’m throwing myself out into the storm.
The moment I’m outside the unease grows until it feels like electricity crackling over my body.
My fingers feel itchy as I edge closer. I click the safety off the firearm, not willing to be caught unaware.
I flick my flashlight on and the beam illuminates dark, shoulder length hair partially covering a slim face.
“Oh fuck me.” I mutter, creeping closer.
“Hello? Do you need some help?” They don’t move.
Holding my breath I edge closer. The wind whips around us and when I’m practically on top of the figure they shift giving me a sigh of relief that at least they are alive.
I let the beam of light fall across her body, illuminating her face.
The world seems to slow down and speed up all at once as I make out the familiar features of the female that hasn’t left my mind in years.
Dropping to my knees I quickly put the safety back on the gun, tucking it behind my back. My hands shake as I hover over her. “Thea?”
Her name is a broken sound that the wind tries to take but against all odds she seems to hear it.
Her eyes blink open, glassy and unfocused as she frowns.
She looks frail, broken, and almost unrecognizable.
Her once blonde hair is dark and shorn off at her shoulders.
I think she mouths my name before something that looks like ‘go away’.
“Sorry Tink, can’t do that.” I growl right before I scoop her up. I hold her to my chest for a split second, soaking up the feel of her against me before the world seems to come rushing back and I’m sprinting back to the Jeep.
“Law!” I cry in a rush, throwing open the door to the passenger side.
Panic seems to wedge itself in my throat as I look at the blue tinge of her lips, a stark contrast against the abnormally pale color of her face, as if her soul is being drained away.
“Fuck fuck fuck!” I can barely breathe as I press my ear to her chest, praying to hear a heartbeat.
“Lo? What's going on? What is it?” Law demands, no doubt hearing the panic in my voice.
A small rush of relief pulses through me when I get a faint heartbeat. I pull away from her letting out a long sigh. “It’s… fuck me you won’t believe it. Just. Just get home. NOW, Law!”