Encounter
Morgan
Patrick took Tristan home after he watched Hans and Franz scold me for approaching Shane. At least I finally got to make Shane bleed, I waited years for that chance. All he had to do was let Callie and Addie come to me and we would leave town. I would take them as far away from Indiana as I could and try to give both of them better lives. Unless we got lucky, Shane somehow crashed that stupid bike and was at least paralyzed or dead. I knew without a doubt he would never allow Callie to leave. She was his meal ticket. She worked night and day to support them, and he never cared one ounce about her working herself to the grave. Even if he took my money he wouldn’t let her go, he loved having power over her. Hell, he would blow through the money in a matter of months then go looking for her.
Callie was more than just my best friend. She was my sister, not by blood, but by love. I loved her so much for never pushing me away when things got tough. It wasn’t easy to be my friend, but Callie never backed down. If it wasn’t the girls in school it was the paparazzi. Callie had made it into articles about me and the nicest things weren’t always said. They exposed her for having a dead beat dad and an alcoholic mom. They called her my charity case and that was ridiculous.
Then she had Addie, and that little girl made her so happy. I’d FaceTime with Callie at least once a week and Addie was always there to make me smile. She called me Auntie Morgan, and she was the funniest little girl. She had big blue eyes, and she started wearing glasses when she was two years old. Her blond hair was usually a mess, and she had a bit of a speech problem. She always made me laugh because she thought she was rough and tough. One Christmas she asked for a tea set, and of course Auntie Morgan made that happen. The next Christmas she wanted WWE figures, and Auntie Morgan made that happen as well. Another year for her birthday, I got her a little Barbie Jeep for her to ride in and she was so mad. She said she wouldn’t drive that girly car for nothing. Then I learned she did, and a little neighbor made fun of her, so she laid the kid out. Callie would always tell me to quit sending so many gifts because they had nowhere to put them. My response was if she’d finally leave Shane I’d buy her a house and she would have plenty of room. Her response was that she wanted to be a good role model for Addie and if she didn’t earn it herself she didn’t need it. I never said what I wanted to say. That she would have been a better role model of she left Shane.
Shane was always a point of contention between us, because I never understood that relationship. How could any woman love Shane Doyle? He was mean and a drunk. He never took care of her and only cared about himself. He was toxic and the worst decision Callie ever made. We would argue then she would remind me that if there were no Shane, we wouldn’t have had Addie.
I laid in bed and thought about where I would take them. Florida might have been nice, or maybe Louisiana. I always liked New Orleans. I’d give up everything I ever earned just to have one last chance to save Callie and Addie. Hell, I’d give it all to Shane if he promised to leave them alone for the rest of their lives. Callie and I could get jobs waitressing or something if we wanted to lay low. I never acted for the fame or the money. I acted because it was what I loved. Maybe I could actually put my education to work. I had a masters in education and a bachelors in performing arts. I could be a drama teacher somewhere. Over the years I was tempted more than once to leave Hollywood and go to Broadway or take roles in small theaters. I would never go as far as to say I didn’t like the money, that would be stupid because I loved having nice things, but it wasn’t my driving force in life.
I remembered when Callie and I had sleepovers as kids. We would dream about what our lives would be like as grown ups. I would have been on Broadway, and Callie would have written novels. We would have owned the prettiest dresses and marry brothers so we would never have to leave each other. Even though she had the harder childhood, it was usually me crying about the way the girls at school treated me. She was always there to comfort me, and I would do the same when her mom got rough with her. My parents told her their door was always open, and she never had to worry if she had to leave her house. Uncle Darren was in the Marines back then, so of course he couldn’t help her. I couldn’t count how many times my parents called social services, and they even approached her mom and asked for Callie to move in with us. That was the only time I remembered Callie being grounded by her mother. The woman treated her like a possession, not a daughter. Her mother was offended by my parents request and punished her for it. She always had to be the center of attention and Callie was only supposed to live in her shadow. Callie would get a job to save for college, and if she couldn’t give her mom the money she wanted, she would cause a scene at her job and get Callie fired. My best friend was always fighting an uphill battle.
I finally fell asleep with dreams of starting a new life with Callie and Addie. The next morning, I took the dreadful trip to visit my grandparents. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them, it had more to do with my grandmother’s disapproval of the movies I made. Once I was there maybe twenty minutes, grandma started her rant about how I’d never find a suitable husband. That husband’s should be the only men to see their wives bodies and how my past ruined my future. She said I would die alone and have no children. If I did have children my past would bring them shame.
Then my great grandpa who suffered from dementia entered the room. He forgot I was his granddaughter and said some disturbing things. He even pinched my butt. Then my grandpa walked in and started arguing with my grandma. He believed what I did was art, and any man would have been lucky to have me. I snuck out when their argument became too heated to notice I was leaving. Unfortunately, that wasn’t before my great grandpa who suffered from dementia asked me out on a date. Suddenly, I remembered why I wasn’t always homesick. After laying rubber in front of my grandparents home, I stopped by Callie’s again, but just like every other day, she wasn’t home.
The guilt was heavy, and I felt like I was in limbo. I couldn’t leave Cold Springs until Callie was safe. I also couldn’t focus on my family until Callie was safe. I couldn’t live up the hiatus and decide what I wanted for the rest of my life until Callie was safe. My entire life was on pause until I knew my best friend and goddaughter were no longer in danger.
Then there was the fact that the Devil’s Rejects wanted me to back off. I considered bringing Jason to town for security but then realized that he was only one man. If the Devil’s Rejects wanted me, they would find a way to get me, and I was not backing down. My only hope was Creed and his men. I prayed Callie and Addie would be turned over to him as Creed demanded. I knew Tristan thought I was overreacting, but I knew Callie, and something was wrong. Not just because of her absence in my life, I swore I could feel it in my bones.
I didn’t feel like going home after dealing with my grandparents, so I decided to visit Mrs. Hoffman and get some lunch for Uncle Darren. It was an attempt to get back on his good side and try to get more information out of him. I had just turned on old State Route 32 when I heard a pop and felt the Suburban swerve.
“Fucking great!” I pulled off the side of the road, hopped out and went to the passenger side only to see a flat back tire. It was when I opened the back to look for a jack and the spare when I heard the loud rumble of multiple engines. My first thought was how my dad told me to stay home, but I didn’t listen, and the Rejects spotted me. I ran up to the drivers side, hopped in and locked the doors. Then I cursed myself for never getting that pistol I always said I should have carried. Instinct told me to hide, but of course that wasn’t an option. My hands squeezed the steering wheel, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I prayed it wasn’t the Rejects.
When I heard the bikes pull up, I realized they were not surrounding me, but behind me. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and my grip of the steering wheel loosened when I saw a familiar bearded man through my rear view mirror. A breath I must have been holding released with my relief and I let my head rest back for just a moment while I thanked God for answered prayers.
By the time I hopped out, there were three handsome men looking down at my tire while the others sat on their bikes talking amongst themselves. “Thanks for stopping, but I’ve got this.” I opened the back and began searching again for the jack and spare tire.
I paused when I felt those prickly feelings spread from head to toe. I knew Creed was behind me, so I drew in a slow deep breath to calm my racing heart.
“And what exactly is it you plan to do, Miss Rossi?”
I gulped. “I know how to change a flat.” I didn’t turn to look at him because I knew those gorgeous green eyes would make me feel weak. For my own sanity, I had to avoid those eyes.
“You sound confident for someone that was just hiding inside your vehicle. From what I understand, you were told to stay home until proper security could be put in place.” That rough deep voice oozed with what I could imagine would be the hottest sex of my life. My traitorous mind imagined that sexy as hell voice whispering my name while my nails embedded themselves deep in his muscular tattooed back.
“If the Rejects meant me any harm they’d find me at home alone easier than on the side of the road.” I thought it was logical.
“Darren had deputies driving by your home every half hour. Do you like to defy men so much that you’d risk your life?” He asked.
I swung around, ready to put my finger in his face and straighten him out, but instead, my eyes met his and I had no words. People always said I had the most shockingly beautiful eyes in the world, but they never laid eyes on the turquoise ones that were studying mine at that moment. His arms were crossed, making his already muscular arms seem even larger.
“I…well I…umm.” I couldn’t form a single thought other than imagining those eyes looking into mine as he made me scream his name.
His arms fell to his side just before he took a hard gulp and his eyes softened. He didn’t as much as mutter another word as we stood in place, taking in each other’s features. His turquoise hunter eyes sat behind long lashes, his nose wasn’t big or small but straight with nostrils that turned down. His lips were plump, but not too plump with a rosy look to them. He wasn’t smiling for me to see those teeth, his hair was sandy, but his beard was darker. His messy textured haircut only added to his insanely good looks. I could tell he wasn’t as old as he appeared, I wondered if he was my age or maybe a year or two older. His beard threw me off and I was dying to see what was under it.
I remembered his question and suddenly spewed the worst possible answer. “Only if he promises to punish me in the best ways.”
His eyes shot open big as I slapped my hand over my lips. If I ever wished the ground beneath me would open up and swallow me, it was that exact moment. My brain quickly scanned the possibilities for a rebound statement, but I only added to my own pain. Creed’s lips parted like he was about to drop his jaw to the black asphalt under our feet.
“I mean I don’t take orders from men. No men have power over me. I…well I mean…fuck my life.” I whimpered then took a deep breath as I realized the two other men standing next to us were bursting with laughter at my stupidity.
My eyes shot up to his when I heard a deep chuckle. I meant it, fuck my life. I needed a hole to crawl into more than ever at that moment. “I believe we were speaking about your dad and uncle.” He was able to contain his laughter far better than his two friends.
I thought I’d give it a better try. “I do not take orders from men, no matter what position they hold in my life.”
“Okay, Miss Independent, let’s see these tire changing skills.” He stood with his arms crossed like I was some idiot he was going to enjoy watching as I made a bigger ass out of myself. His challenge only made me more determined to prove him wrong.
I crossed my arms and gave him a hard stare. “I’m perfectly capable, so go on. Leave me to independently take care of myself.” My stupid eyes wouldn’t look away from his. In one moment, I saw kindness in them, then the next I saw a total prick. The man thought he was better than me, and I didn’t quite understand why he ever acted that way.
“Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to change that tire?”
I stomped my foot. “Fine!” I turned and spoke under my breath. “Asshole.” The jack was under the floorboard along with the spare tire. The stupid men watched me as I struggled with the huge ass tire, it was heavy. Once I got it on the ground and started rolling it to the side of the car I looked at all the assholes watching me. “You can all leave.”
Creed didn’t even turn around but held his hand up and pointed in the direction we were all heading. Their engines started and they slowly drove around me, but that prickly feeling stayed on my skin. Creed, Josh, and Drakos all stood watching me with their arms crossed, but thankfully the rest left.
“I don’t know why you think I need watched.” I placed the jack under the car then I jacked up the Suburban. I could admit to myself it was much harder to do on a larger vehicle. Unlike many people I knew, my dad made me learn how to change a flat, change my oil, and how to use jumper cables before I was permitted to get my license. So, the joke was on Creed.
I grabbed the lug wrench and used the one side to remove the hub cap, then took off the lug nuts and put them inside the hub cap that was laying on the ground. The first nut was surprisingly hard to remove, but there was no way in hell I was going to let any of them help me.
“You really have nothing better to do?” I asked as I used all my strength to take off the last lug nut.
“Not really, this is entertaining enough.” Creed had a smirk on his face.
“Then you must live a boring life.” The tire was even heavier than the spare tire, but my pride wouldn’t have allowed me to ask for help. Once I had the flat off, I rolled it to the back of the vehicle and rolled the spare tire over to put it on.
It was heavy as hell and getting it on the lugs took all my strength, plus a little more than I knew I had. “Shit, dammit!” I broke a nail and Creed stepped forward. “I’ve got this!” I snapped at him, and tried to act like my finger wasn’t bleeding. Once it was finally on, I looked up at Creed. “See, I’m perfectly capable.”
I remembered not to put the lug nuts on in order but to do one at the top, then one at the bottom and make my way around. Then I grabbed the hubcap to put it back on, but Creed grabbed the lug wrench. “For peace of mind.” He said then bent down and was able to turn the lug nuts three more times. I watched those muscles as he tightened them and my imagination came into play once more, until he looked at me and smirked.
I bit my cheek so I wouldn’t snap at him. “Thank you.” It was said in a snarky tone.
“You did fine, they just needed tightened.” He grabbed the hubcap and put it on before lowering my vehicle. “But you know, you could have called the rental company and had them come out and bring you a different vehicle. The old tire had wires exposed on the inner side, so it needs new tires. You can’t drive around on this spare or just have the other one patched.”
I rolled my eyes. “I knew that…well I wasn’t going to sit on the side of the road for two hours while I waited.” I really didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of me admitting I didn’t already know.
He put the tools and the tire in the Suburban. “We will follow you to the general store where you can call the rental company. I think you can handle that without an assistant doing it for you, don’t you think?”
I glared at him. “I don’t have an assistant, and if I did I wouldn’t call them for something so petty anyway.” Usually, I would have called Jake but there was no reason to bring that up.
He shut the gate then looked at me. “Okay fine, you’re semi independent for a spoiled chick.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Spoiled chick? You don’t even know me!” He was as irritating as hell.
He looked down at my hands then up at me again with a smile on his face. “You’re hands are dirty and now so are your clothes.”
I rolled my eyes again. “I know how to do laundry. What the hell is your problem?”
He shook his head as he swiped his hands together like he was knocking off dirt. “No problem, just pointing out the obvious.”
“Everyone said you were a kind man, but I guess I must bring the asshole out in you.” I walked around him and to the drivers side door.
“Irritating.” I heard him say under his breath, but decided to ignore him and got into the Suburban. When I looked in the rear view mirror, all three men were shaking their heads with amused looks on their faces. I expected it from Creed but not Josh. Creed was like one of the mean girls from high school.
“Fuck him.” I muttered to myself.
They waited for me to pull onto the road then followed me to the store. Once parked, I took the rental information from the glove box and pulled my phone out. Just as I was dialing, I jumped when the bearded man was at my passenger window, and I didn’t see him walk up. I opened the door. “I’m perfectly capable of making a phone call.” I jumped down just as an agent answered and walked around Creed. I gave them my reservation number and Creed took the phone from me.
“Is it your normal practice to rent cars with bald tires? The tire that blew had exposed wires, so I expect someone to bring a new rental car to Cold Springs. The Suburban will be at Hoffman’s General Store and the new rental will be delivered to…” He looked at me. “What’s your parents address?” I turned my nose up at him. “Never mind. Bring it to Creed Lake Motorsports, which is also in Cold Springs.”
I tried reaching for the phone, but he turned away and kept talking to the agent. “I expect this to be a complimentary rental…” I tried jumping for the phone and he kept turning away from me. “Sure, if you don’t want the talk of social media being that you rented a dangerous vehicle to Morgan Rossi, and she could have been killed.”
“I can afford a fucking car rental, you jerk!” I was pissed. What happened wasn’t the agent’s fault and that company employs people. One screw up didn’t mean they were a bad company, and I didn’t know if he was getting the nice people that rented cars at the airport in trouble. It was on the inner side, and it was just a mistake. They simply overlooked it.
“Two hours, the keys to the Suburban will be inside the general store. Just ask for them from the woman working behind the counter.” He was still talking and pissing me off.