Love Untrusted

by Tressie Lockwood

  “I thought we had settled things between us,” he said.

  She blinked at him. “Oh, did you? Right, I get it. I let you do me, and it’s all good. What was I thinking?”

  “Don’t be crass. You’re not that type of woman.”

  “You don’t know me that well.”

  “If you have a problem, Jas, just say so. Tell me straight out.”

  “My problem is you’re keeping me from my duties. Unlike you, I work here. You’re the boss.”

  “Yet, you were just saying you’re closing the kitchen like or not. You have a lot more leeway than you’re pretending to have now.”

  There was no sense in explaining to him that she could convince the family that it was pointless to cook tonight. During heavy summer storms, dinner was often light. He didn’t know their routine.

  The day grew darker as they argued back and forth until Jasmeka couldn’t make out his face. That meant no one else would probably see them standing there either. She could almost read his mind, as his grip went from her arm to her waist. He dragged her tighter to his length, and her body caught fire.

  He nuzzled her cheek and found her lips. A searing kiss left her breathless, and he drew her higher so that she went up onto her toes. This man was killing her with just a touch.

  “I don’t want to think about anything except this,” he whispered.

  “I’m not like that.”

  “Forget everyone and everything except me.”

  She panted.

  “I have to get back in there, but come to my room tonight. If the storm is still raging, no one will notice.”

  No, no, no! Forever, no!

  She swallowed because the word yes trembled on her lips. When did she become so weak? Just as she spoke a crackle of thunder split the sky, and lightning lit the surrounding area. They sprung apart.

  Jasmeka squinted in the darkness because she thought she saw someone at the end of the building. Nothing stirred, and there were no sounds except the rolling thunder. Beneath that was the moo of the cattle and a few horse neighs.

  “I thought I saw someone,” she said.

  He moved close enough for her to feel his body heat, but he didn’t touch her. “Where?”

  She missed his arms but tried to pull herself together. “Over by the end of the building. You think they saw us?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does, Miguel. I’m not… We’re not…” She didn’t know what to say or think.

  His steps retreated away from her, and she stumbled after him. Where the heck was the moon when she needed it? More steps sounded in the darkness. She swallowed, all of a sudden nervous for no reason.

  “Watch out,” Miguel called back to her.

  “For what?” The ground dropped away, and she tumbled forward. His hands came out of nowhere and caught her before she could do a face plant. “Crud. That hurt. Thanks for catching me.”

  He said nothing.

  “Miguel?”

  “Shh.”

  She squinted in the darkness but could only make out small lights in the distance. Were they from the other side of the lake, or had she gotten turned around? How far had they come?

  Darkness pressed in on her, and her stomach grew queasy. This was ridiculous because she had grown up in the country. Travel along a dark road was no big deal for folks around there, including her. Of course, she always knew where she had started out and where she was heading during those times. Right now she was nervous rumors would get out about her seeing Miguel while his ex-girlfriend from New York was visiting.

  She is ex, right?

  “Hey, Miguel, I want to ask you—”

  “Stay here,” he commanded and stood. She realized they had crouched on the ground and remained there.

  “Hang on!” She sprang up, and as soon as she did, a shot rang out. It might have been her imagination, but she felt like the bullet whizzed past her ear, just missing her head. Fear gripped her, and she cried out.

  Miguel sprang at her and thrust her onto the ground. At the same time, she heard something she couldn’t mistake the sound of. He was drawing the weapon he always kept on him. Her heart hammered in her throat.

  “W-wait, Miguel, please.”

  “Don’t get up,” he growled.

  “A-are you kidding? M-my knees wouldn’t hold me if I tried.” On the last of her words, her voice cracked and rose. She slapped a hand over her lips and willed to calm down. Gunshots weren’t that big a deal in Texas, she reminded herself.

  But they’ve never come near your head or whizzed by while you’re stuck in the dark!

  “M-miguel?” she whispered.

  He was gone. She strained to see if she could catch his footsteps and even held her breath. Nothing. The man moved like an animal, all stealthy and predator-like. She hoped he caught the person who shot at them.

  What if the guy gets past Miguel and comes after me?

  She crouched on her hands and knees, ready to spring back the other way and run for all she was worth. Voices rose in the night air, above the coming storm, and she figured they were the workers. They must have heard the shot. Her sense of panic started to ease.

  A sharp cry rent the air, and Jasmeka surged to her feet. She recognized that voice. Running at full tilt even though she couldn’t see, she headed in the direction she heard the sound. More steps pounded behind her, gaining ground. A light illuminated the path ahead. That’s when she saw them—Miguel, Antonio, and Angel.

  Antonio and Angel wore night goggles on their heads, and Jasmeka knew they had seen her and Miguel together. Angel held a rifle, which Miguel snatched away. He tucked it under his arm while he put his own handgun away.

  Jasmeka ran over to the twins and hugged them both. “What in the world were you doing? Are you two okay?”

  “Okay?” Miguel snapped and jerked Antonio by the collar, the closest twin to him. “You’re asking these fools if they’re okay? They shot at us, Jas.”

  Antonio did his best to yank out of his brother’s hold and failed. He looked at Jasmeka and must have seen the horror on her face. “We only wanted to scare him, Jas. I swear. We would never hurt you.”

  “I know that, sweetie.”

  By that time, a whole crowd of the other men had gathered, and Jasmeka noticed that it was Hector who had run up behind her and shined the way toward the boys. More lights illuminated the entire scene. The boys were struck dumb with pale faces. She started to tell Miguel to get them back to the house and talk to them there, but he cut her off.

  “Scare me?” Miguel snorted in disgust. “Here’s a clue. I’m a U. S. Marshall. I deal with criminals all day, many of which would like to take my head off given half the chance. And you think you’re going to scare me with a gunshot in the dark like a coward?”

  Jasmeka grabbed his arm. “Miguel, ease up. They’re—”

  “They’re what?” he growled. “Kids? I could have killed them. Not only that, threatening a Marshall is a federal offense.”

  “Miguel,” she began.

  “Look, it’s not a big deal,” Antonio shouted.

  Miguel pulled him closer by the front of his shirt, his face a mask of fury. Jasmeka wrapped both her arms around Miguel’s and pulled. She felt like a gnat trying to stop a mammoth. Miguel and Antonio argued back and forth, their voices rising. The skies opened, and rain poured, soaking everyone in seconds.

  “Enough!”

  Jasmeka blinked in surprise when Thiago squeezed through the crowd, swaying on his feet. She wondered at the fact that he was coherent enough to find his way to them.

  “I won’t have my boys fighting each other. You’re family. We love each other.” He ran his hand over his face, trying to clear off the excess water. The move weakened the full impact of his lecture because he stuttered with every word. If the situation weren’t so serious, it would have been funny. “I’m surprised Angel isn’t with you, Tony.”

  Antonio stopped glaring at Miguel long enough to look around at
his dad. “What are you talking about? He’s right—” Antonio stopped.

  Jasmeka scanned the crowd. Thiago was right. Angel was nowhere in sight. The rain stopped abruptly, and an eerie calm came over the area. Dread rose in Jasmeka’s chest. She couldn’t explain why, until the sirens went off.

  “Tornado warning,” several people shouted.

  The area cleared of bystanders in seconds. Worry gripped Jasmeka. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted. “Angel, Angel!”

  “I’ll go find him,” Antonio said, but his older brother grabbed his arm.

  “You stay here,” Miguel ordered.

  “You don’t know where he might go! I do.”

  “Then tell me.”

  Antonio said nothing, and Jasmeka ran over to him. “Please, Tony. Let Miguel handle this.”

  The young man frowned. “He doesn’t care about us. He’s probably hoping Angel gets caught up in the tornado and dies. Then he’ll kill me later.”

  Jasmeka rolled her eyes. “Can you be more dramatic? You need to help your dad into the house and make sure Aunt Rosa is safe. Miguel’s trained for times such as this. Just let him look for Angel. Besides, Angel might have run back to the house upset.”

  A look of hope came into Antonio’s eyes, and he reluctantly moved to take Thiago’s arm and led him back toward the house. Jasmeka watched them go, surprised to find the day had lightened up some. She glanced toward the sky, and it looked like the storm had passed. That could be the most deadly time. The sirens meant funnel clouds were spotted. They needed to seek shelter, but she was terrified for Angel.

  “Go with him, Jas,” Miguel ordered. “I’m not starting out until I know you’re safe.”

  “Well, you can rethink that idea. I’m coming with you.”

  Chapter 12

  “I don’t know why I brought you,” Miguel grumbled. “You’d be safer at home.”

  Jasmeka crossed her arms over her chest, drawing his gaze for a second from the road to her soft frame. He recalled the feeling of holding her in his arms and how he had vowed to himself he wouldn’t do it until he was sure he knew what he would do. That plan went south in a hurry, just like the one where he searched for his brother alone.

  “I’m guessing Angel is so ticked off at you, he won’t give you the time of day. Those boys don’t always act out of common sense.”

  “Evidenced by shooting at us.”

  She frowned at him. “Don’t bring that up again.”

  “The situation isn’t resolved.”

  “You’re not arresting your brothers. Period.”

  “You don’t have a say in it.”

  She eyeballed him from the passenger seat of the pickup. He told himself he brought her along to have a second set of eyes to watch the sky while he drove. The truth was, while part of him was worried about Angel, a bigger part didn’t like the thought of her back at the house where he couldn’t keep an eye on her. He didn’t like those thoughts, but the emergency situation kept him from dwelling on it.

  “I do if you want me.”

  His teeth clicked together so hard, they hurt. She couldn’t be serious, could she? To think a woman would manipulate him. It was unheard of. He had liked Carmen because she had never bucked against what he asked of her. Women in his past had been dropped because they were too clingy, or they tried to get him to do what he didn’t want to do. Yet, here was Jasmeka threatening to withhold her body. Wasn’t he leaving soon? It didn’t matter. Did it?

  “We don’t have time for this,” he growled. “We need to find him. Where did Tony say he would go?”

  Jasmeka started to speak when his cell phone rang. Miguel barked an answer without checking the display.

  “Jeffe,” Hector said over the line, “it looks like the boy has taken a horse.”

  Miguel swore. “Did anyone see which way he went?”

  “No, but he likely would have headed toward the mountains rather than the road.”

  “Thanks.” Miguel disconnected the call. “There was a cabin I remember going out to when I was a boy. Do you think either of the twins know about it?”

  She shrugged. “A cabin? I don’t remember hearing about one.”

  He rubbed his jaw. “They might have kept it secret, but if they explored the area as much as I did when I was growing up and wanted to get away from Thiago and his drinking, then they might have found it. I’m going to take a chance.”

  “I don’t know, Miguel. Don’t you think Tony would have said something about it when he told us the different places we might find Angel?”

  “Not if they determined to keep it secret. It might not have come to mind.”

  She chewed her bottom lip, looking worried. He started to reach across and free it but kept his hands to himself. For now. He intended to convince her that manipulating him was a fool’s game she would lose. As long as she wanted him, he would find a way to make her surrender to their desire for each other.

  Miguel focused on the road, but a sharp cry from Jasmeka brought his attention back to her. The view beyond her window displayed a tornado swirling dark and threatening, just touching down to the ground. Ahead and behind, the road stretched with nowhere that looked like it might provide shelter. He tightened his fingers on the steering wheel until they squeaked and jerked to the left. “Hang on!”

  “What are you doing, Miguel?” Her seat belt clicked as she loosed herself. “We have to find somewhere safe.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing.” He burst through a wire fence, knocking it flat, and sped across someone’s field of cotton. Jasmeka threw herself against his shoulder, and he let go of the wheel to wrap an arm about her. Hauling her tight to his side, he drove like a madman. The tornado was now in his rearview, but he tried his best not only to drive away from it but also to get to the edge.

  “I don’t think we’re going to make it.” She buried her face against his neck, and he felt wetness. Guilt and anger rose inside him for putting her in this kind of danger. His selfishness had pushed him to bring her along, but he couldn’t let her die.

  “We’ll make it. I promise you!” He pounded the gas, and the engine revved, but they weren’t getting anywhere. Jasmeka screamed when the truck’s back wheels rose off the ground. Miguel swerved left and right, hoping to get some traction. His tires spun, shooting dirt everywhere. They went into a tailspin. He unbelted himself and pulled Jasmeka down before lying over her.

  The truck bounced several times, and he was sure the tires had blown out. His ears popped, and his stomach roiled. Jasmeka had stopped crying and was still, which worried him more. All he could do was pray that they wouldn’t go any higher or flip.

  Then just as suddenly as the tornado was upon them, it was gone. The truck stopped bouncing, and all lay in total silence.

  “Stay put for a minute,” he whispered to Jasmeka. She didn’t move.

  He raised his head and gazed around. The driver side window had shattered, and the windshield wipers were bent. Who knew how that happened. Beyond the truck, the peacefulness of the cotton field defied the fact that a tornado had just come through. There was only damage where they were parked and a few feet in several directions. The gray clouds were gone, and the blue sky with fluffy white clouds mocked them.

  “It’s over,” Miguel said. “You can get up.”

  Ahead of her, he climbed out of the truck and then helped her. She stumbled into his arms, shaking and crying. His heart ached.

  “Se acabó. It’s all over, baby,” he whispered as soothingly as he could.

  She clung to him in such a state he didn’t know what else to do to calm her down. Gently, he raised her chin and kissed her sweet lips. She surrendered to him, and he devoured her mouth while crushing her to him. Not until the tremors eased and she moaned did he raise his head to look into her eyes. A few tears were left there, so he brushed them away with the pad of a thumb.

  “Bueno?”

  She nodded. “I can’t believe I was so scared. I’ve lived here
all my life, and I’ve never been caught in a tornado.”

  “Yeah, pretty scary stuff. Let’s see if we can still drive. I want to find Angel.”

  She looked at him. “You are worried about him.”

  He ran a hand through his hair, embarrassed about admitting his fears. “Of course. Despite everything, he’s my little brother. I have to make sure he’s safe, even if he hates me.”

  “He doesn’t.”

  Miguel examined the truck’s tires. Three were flat. They weren’t going anywhere in it unless they wanted to damage the vehicle further. “We’re walking,” he announced and held his hand out to Jasmeka.

  She peeked at the sky and slipped her hand into his. He judged their position and determined the way they needed to go. Nothing in the way of traffic was coming up or down the road, but he headed back the way they came.

  He listened to the sound of small rocks crunching under their steps, while Jasmeka walked close to his side. Every now and then her hip bumped his leg, and he was so aware of her, it almost took his breath away. Not that he wanted to make love to her. Okay, he did, but that wasn’t it. There was something about her that drew him like a moth to flames. Even quiet, she was vibrant with life and energy. She gave off something in her personality that made him feel hopeful, and he couldn’t recall the last time he felt that way.

  So what do you want to do about it?

  The question rolled through his mind over and over. He thought of staying longer in Texas to see where things might go between the two of them. The idea terrified him, but not because of her. It was because of his family. A long time ago, he’d decided he would never open himself up to them, to allow them to destroy him. That resolve still held inside like an impenetrable wall. Whenever he thought of forgiving his dad, he thought of his mother and the pain she had gone through over that man. After they left Texas, for a while, his mother wasn’t doing well, and he had to provide for them.

  “What are you thinking?” Jasmeka said out of the blue.

  He searched for a different subject than what he’d been thinking. She continued to look at him with those big brown eyes. A desire to tell her the truth came over him, but he resisted as long as he could. What if he left and went back to New York? A protest stirred inside.