Chapter Fourteen
Reed
Nikki stands beside me, hands clammy and shaking as we watch her father’s truck come to a stop at the edge of the little oasis we’ve been hiding in.
I’ve known the man for two decades, and by the time he steps out of the truck, I already know he knows…
though the gun in his hand gives a lot away too.
“I don’t want to hear a fucking word from you.” He’s looking directly at me as he speaks. “Nikki, what’s going on here?”
She drags in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, her hand squeezing mine as she steps forward. I’m gathering she wants the space to handle this on her own, but I don’t want to fucking give it to her. I want to sweep her up and drive her far away, protect her from everything and everyone forever.
“I’m in love with Reed,” she says, hand trembling in mine.
I brush my thumb against the back of her hand and whisper low, “Good girl, kitten.”
She turns back slightly, acknowledging my voice, though she doesn’t speak.
No one does. There’s complete silence except for the rumble of thunder, the patter of rain, and the chatter of dispersing birds.
The air has changed too. It’s cooler now, more metallic.
The worst part of the storm will be here within the hour.
We need to leave if we’re going to get back to town in time.
Pete cocks the trigger on his gun and aims the pistol at my head. If I were in his shoes, I’d probably be doing the same damn thing.
“Dad, how did you get in here?” Nikki presses, her hand still buried in mine. “This is—”
“I drove through the barrier arm.”
“What? This is private property. You can’t—”
“I didn’t know what happened to you, Nikki.
I had Troy calling late last night asking if I knew any big guys on motorcycles.
Thankfully, he had the license plate number.
I tried calling you all night long, so I showed up at Reed’s house.
Then I figured I was being over the top, so I gave you time to cool off, but when you didn’t show up for breakfast with Mulligan today, my patience ended.
” He pauses and readjusts the suit coat I’m sure he sleeps in.
“This is unacceptable. You’ve lost four sales in a matter of twenty-four hours, all due to this.
” He glances toward me again, gun still aimed and ready.
“He’s manipulating you, and it’s my fault.
I trusted him,” Pete’s voice shakes as he calls out, “I trusted this man to help our family, and he’s…
a disappointment. Come on,” her father motions her forward, “let’s go home. ”
“No,” she says before I can respond. “I’m not going back with you, I’m not working for you, and I don’t want anything to do with you if you can’t be kind to Reed and I. I love him, Dad. He’s always been there for me. He cares and—”
“Get in the fucking truck, right the fuck now,” her dad presses. “You’ve always been a little slow on the uptake, but you’ll thank me for saving you from this later.”
See… I was happy to let her handle this herself if he was being respectful, but now he’s acting like himself again, and that’s not an acceptable way to talk to my kitten. Now, I’m going to have to shoot a man with his own gun.
I let go of her hand and kiss the top of her head, half expecting him to let off a warning shot.
A moment later, I hear Kade's diesel truck, the low, throaty rumble cutting through the quiet like a warning. Tires snap over twigs and pop over gravel, muffling the sound of the thickening clouds.
“Look,” I nod back toward the jacked-up Chevy driving toward us, “you’ve been my friend for a damn long time, so I’m going to give you a head’s up.
That man whose property you just rolled onto just spent the last five years in prison, and I’m sure his guns are a lot bigger and a lot less traceable than that little handgun you’re playing with.
I don’t want bad things to happen here today, but I reckon you best apologize to your daughter and drive the fuck away before your life ends right here on this dusty, old, mountain road. ”
He stares at me as Kade slows before us, his engine cutting out quickly before he hops out with a shotgun already cocked.
For a moment, Pete holds steady, his hand shaking as though years of paper deals have made him soft to real confrontation.
“Dad!” Nikki groans. “Come on. It’s not worth it. Go home.”
He shakes his head and lowers the gun. “Your mother would hate this for you, Nikki. You’re such a disappointment.”
If I had a gun in my fucking hand, I’d shoot it myself. He deserves a bullet hole or two for that one, at least.
What the fuck happened to him?
I squeeze my girl tighter as Pete tucks the gun back into his jeans and turns back toward Kade, who’s currently barking out orders.
“Get in your vehicle. I know where you live, I know where you work, and I expect there to be fucking cash at my door tomorrow morning to pay for the damage you just did to my gate. Oh, and make sure there’s a little extra to cover the inconvenience of it all.
I’d hate to let these trigger-happy urges I’m feeling linger. ”
Pete nods once and turns away, climbing up into his truck without a single look back, and I know now that’s where this ends. There’s no friendship here anymore. No reason for me to keep trying with him. He’s hurt my girl one too many times, and he can rot in hell for all I care.
Kade lowers his gun and steps out from behind his truck, though he doesn’t say another word.
“I’m so sorry,” Nikki says, wrapping herself against my chest. “He’s—”
“We’ve all got some bad apples on the family tree. He’ll pay for the damages, so don’t worry. I get the feeling he likes breathing.” Kade offers a soft smile as he says, “You two better get out of here. That storm is coming in fast. There are already reports of downed power lines in Whiskey Falls.”
Shit. I glance up at the sky to see that the black, churning clouds are moving in closer. He’s right. We need to move now!
“You got a lot of folks out here camping tonight?” I ask, climbing up onto my bike before reaching for my girl.
“Nah. Just that couple up on the hill, and a solo camper looking to get away for the weekend.” He nods toward me and turns back to his truck, the rain picking up. “You two stay out of trouble.”
Nikki climbs onto the bike in front of me, leaning back into my chest as though she’s done this a hundred times. I thumb the ignition, and the engine vibrates as I kick up the stand.
The sky above is nearly black now, swallowing the last of the daylight as wind pushes in from the side. If we were going in any other direction, I’d say we were fucked. But right now, the road home is blue skies ahead, and I’ve never been more excited to get there.