Redemption Road (Roughneck #3)

by Nicole Hart

  Me: Sounds perfect, leaving now. Be there in a few.

  I got in my car, made sure the doors were locked, and looked around before I headed out - my usual damn routine. I was driving home, listening to the radio, and when I turned down the dirt road, my car started to feel funny. At first, I thought it was just this old bumpy road, but then realized I must have a flat. I guess. In all my years of driving, I had never had a flat before, but I’m sure that was it. I pulled the car over and killed the engine. The sun was setting, but it was still bright enough to check the tires, so I got out and checked the front tires. They were good, so I walked to the back of the car. That’s when I saw bright lights pulling up behind me. It wasn’t dark enough for the lights to be that bright, so I couldn’t tell what kind of car it was. It wasn’t loud enough to be Kash, and I immediately got nervous. The other car engine died and he got out. Jake. Shit. Shit. Shit. My taser was in the console of my car. Oh, my god, why didn’t I grab it? Why did I get out of my car? Why didn’t I call Kash and tell him I had a flat? A million questions were running through my mind as he quickly walked towards me. I started to run around the car back to the driver’s side, but he grabbed me by the arm before I could reach the handle.

  “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Jake said, as he squeezed my arm and pressed his body against me. I was pinned between him and the car.

  “Let me go,” I said with a shaky voice.

  “Are you looking for this?” he asked, as he held up the valve stem cap. Oh my God, I should have known. How could I be so careless?

  “You’re crazy,” I said, as I struggled to get out of his grip. It wasn’t happening. He was bigger and stronger, I couldn’t overpower him.

  “And you’re a fucking dirty whore who deserves to die,” he said. His eyes were filled with evil. They were darker than usual, almost black with dark circles around them. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.

  “You think you can send your new fuck buddy to try and scare me, bitch?” he said through gritted teeth.

  “What? No,” I said quietly, trying to find a way to escape.

  “Shut the fuck up!” he screamed, as he shoved me against the car again.

  “Please, let me go,” I said quietly. Trying to talk him down had sometimes worked in the past. I was willing to try anything to get away from him. He just stared at me, squeezing my arm. He threw the cap down and grabbed my other arm, squeezing it just as tight.

  “I’m sorry, Jake, I’m sorry for leaving. Please, don’t do this,” I begged. I was desperate to get away. I would say anything to get away from him.

  “You’re sorry?” he asked, looking confused, and his grip loosened a little.

  “Yes, please, just let me go,” I said quietly through the lump in my throat, forcing the tears to stay away. I had to keep calm; I had to get away from him.

  “No!” he screamed, as he started to shake me. I hit my head on the car as he continued to shake me, harder. I cried out in pain; my head was burning.

  “You’re a liar, Mackenzie! A liar!” he screamed, and put both of his hands around my throat.

  It was getting harder to breath as his hands gripped my neck. I clawed at his hands with mine, but it didn’t loosen his grip.

  “Please, stop.” I struggled to talk as he started to squeeze tighter. I felt hot tears falling down my cheeks. My face was on fire.

  I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. All I could see was his face. His teeth were clenching as he stared at me. My feet started to lift off the ground as he groaned. My chest started to burn. I couldn’t see clearly. Was it my tears blurring my vision? Everything was burning - my eyes, my face, my neck. I tried to reach the ground with my feet, but was kicking air. God, please, I don’t want to die. Please. Please. Help me. It was getting darker. Darker. Darker.

  Kash

  Chapter 19

  Something was wrong. I fucking knew it in my gut. I jumped in my car and took the route to the clinic. I sent Sam a quick text to give her a heads up.

  Kash: Mackenzie isn’t home yet. Bad feeling.

  Sam: On our way.

  She should have been home a few minutes ago, and I was fucking worried. I sped down the dirt road and quickly spotted the two cars on the side of the road.

  What the fuck? No. No. No. I’m going to fucking kill this mother fucker. I slammed on my brakes, spraying gravel on that piece of shit’s car, but he didn’t even look at me. He had his hands around her throat. He’s dead. Fucking dead. I jumped out of my car, and ran over to the both of them. I grabbed him around the throat with the crook of my arm and slammed him to the ground. I heard Mackenzie gasp for air and start to cough as I jumped on top of him.

  “You will never put your fucking hands on her again!” I screamed at him, as I pounded my fists into his face. He wasn’t even fighting back. Fucking pussy.

  “Kash!” I heard a female scream my name. But I couldn’t stop hitting him. I wanted him to feel my fucking wrath. But, immediately after I heard the voice, I felt a pair of huge arms wrap around my shoulders and pull me off the piece of shit.

  “Kash, stop, that’s enough,” Moon said through gritted teeth, as he held me against him.

  “Mackenzie,” I said when I snapped back, and realized I needed to see her face. I spotted her crouched down on the ground, with Sam next to her. I lunged towards her, and Moon let me go.

  “Are you ok?” I whispered to her through my heavy breaths, as I moved her hair out of her face. I needed to see those eyes.

  She opened her eyes and looked at me. Her normally big, brown eyes were watery and blood shot. His hand prints were around her throat and she was still trying to catch her breath. She nodded her head at me and her lips started to tremble. I reached my arms out for her and she fell into them. She started to shake and cry. My anger took over once again at the pain he caused her.

  “Mother Fucker,” I said through my teeth, and pulled away from her. I ran towards him again for round two. I didn’t care that he was lying on the ground whining like a bitch.

  “That’s enough, Kash. You don’t need to go to jail,” Moon said, as he grabbed me again and held me back.

  “He fucking needs to pay for what he’s done to her!” I screamed in his direction.

  “I know, but you can’t protect her if you’re locked up,” he said calmly.

  He was right. And I had to protect her from this fucker.

  “Go back over to Mackenzie, please,” Moon said. “She needs you.”

  Moon Jacobs. Always the fucking voice of reason.

  I shook my head and he dropped his arms again. It took everything I had inside me not to jump back on that mother fucker, but once I saw her still crouched on the ground, my focus shifted. I knew where I needed to be. Right beside her.

  I got down on my knees and wrapped her in my arms.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” I whispered into her ear, as she tried to hold back her tears. I could feel how tense her body was. I noticed Sam stand up and give us some space.

  “You’re here now,” she said quietly; her voice was raspy, and it made my body start to tremble with anger again.

  “Do you need to go to the hospital? Or should we call the cops?” I asked her.

  “No,” she whispered. “Let’s just get out of here.”

  “Get the fuck up!” I heard Moon in the distance. The piece of shit was talking, but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I didn’t want to turn around, because I didn’t trust myself not to go after him again. I needed to be here for her, I had to control myself. For her.

  I had Mackenzie in my arms and I was rubbing her head, with her face buried in my chest. I heard footsteps coming in my direction and I held her tighter so she wouldn’t move. Moon had him by the arm and was dragging him to his pussy car. Sam opened the driver’s side door as Moon shoved him inside.

  “It’s up to her whether the cops get involved or not,” Moon said, as he leaned inside the car. “So, you need to get you
r pussy ass out of here, and I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut,” Moon said, as he slammed the door.

  “We need to get out of here,” Sam said, as she walked back over to us.

  “Hold on to me,” I said as I stood up, and pulled Mackenzie into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck and didn’t open her eyes. I knew she didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want her to. Sam opened the passenger’s side door of my car and I gently put Mackenzie inside.

  “Are you ok?” I asked her.

  “Let’s just hurry, ok?” she whispered, staring straight ahead; she looked like she was in shock.

  “Are you sure we don’t need to take you to the hospital?” I asked, as I looked from Mackenzie to Sam, and back to Mackenzie.

  “Home,” she said.

  “I’ll follow y’all in her car. The tire’s flat, but Moon said it will make it, we need to get out of here.”

  I shut the passenger door and ran over to the driver’s side. I pulled out with Sam behind me, and Moon following her. The piece of shit was still sitting there as we drove out of sight, dust kicking up from the dirt road.

  I tried to keep my eyes on the road on the way home, but I needed to watch her. Was she really ok? She was just staring straight ahead, not moving. Luckily, we weren’t far from home, so I could make her my only focus. My only priority.

  We pulled into the driveway as Moon and Sam pulled in right behind us. I jumped out of the car, went over to her side, and opened the door. I reached down to scoop her up.

  “I can walk, Kash,” she said quietly, but still wearing that blank stare.

  “But I want to carry you, ok?” I said, as I put my arm under her leg, and held her against me. I kicked the door shut, and Sam was waiting with the front door open.

  “Thanks,” I said, as I walked inside. Sam was just staring at both of us and she gave me a sad little smile.

  “We’re gonna go, but please call if you need anything,” Sam said, as she started to close the front door.

  “Will do,” I said, as I turned around to take Mackenzie to her bed.

  Chapter 20

  I gently put her down on the bed, and then pulled her socks and shoes off. She didn’t move. Her clothes were covered in dust and her hair was in knots. God, it was hard seeing her like this.

  “I need a shower,” she whispered, in that same raspy voice that made me want to punch something.

  “Ok,” I said as I ran to the bathroom, and started the shower. She was sitting up when I walked back into her room. She started to stand, but I could see her knees shaking.

  “Hold on,” I said, as I walked over and scooped her in my arms again.

  “Kash,” she said.

  “Shh,” I said, and kissed her temple. I put her down when we got into the bathroom and started helping her undress. I noticed bruises forming on her arms, and it made my jaw start to flinch. She reached back to unbuckle her bra and I listened to her muffle a little cry.

  “Let me,” I said, as I walked behind her, and noticed the straight line bruise on her back. I had to take a deep breath to calm myself down. I took her bra off gently, and then pulled her pants and panties down slowly. I grabbed her by the hand and led her to the shower. I got a towel out of the cabinet for her, and started to walk towards the door.

  “Kash,” she said. “Please, don’t leave me.”

  I immediately kicked my boots off, took the rest of my clothes off, and got in the shower with her. She had her back to me, and I put my arms around her gently. I didn’t know where she hurt, and I didn’t want to cause her any more pain than she was already in. She started to cry and turned around, falling into my arms. She was trembling, and I fucking hated seeing her like this.

  “I thought I was going to die,” she said. “I really thought he was going to kill me,” she said through her tears.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry, baby, that I didn’t get there sooner.” I could never apologize enough for not being there quicker.

  “It’s not your fault,” she said, as she rubbed my back.

  “He won’t hurt you again, I promise you that,” I told her. And I was determined to keep that promise.

  “Thank you for saving me, Kash,” she said, as she looked up at me. The water was dripping down her face, and her eyes were swollen and bloodshot. But she was here, thank God, she was here. That fucker could have killed her. I would have never forgiven myself had I not gotten there in time. But, I couldn’t say all the things I was thinking. I couldn’t say anything. So I gently kissed her lips, and then her forehead. I turned her around, gently, and grabbed the shampoo. I lathered it into my hand and started to wash her hair. I felt the knot on the back of her head, and she jumped a little as my hand went over it.

  “Sorry,” I whispered, as I tried to massage her scalp gently. I watched as the soap ran down her back over the bruises. The fucker deserved way more than what he got today.

  The Next Morning

  It was getting daylight, and I could finally see her face while she slept. She looked so fucking innocent and frail. She had tiny purple dots surrounding both of her eyes, and the handprints on her neck had bruised. I really wanted to hurt that mother fucker for doing this to her. Everything I was feeling for her was so new to me. I wanted to protect her and defend her. I needed to. These feelings were really fucking with my head. I hadn’t even given a shit about a girl in years, but this was different. This woman was different. And it wasn’t just because she was in danger, there was more. She’s been in my fucking head for months, since that first time I got a taste.

  She started to stir, and a little whimper came from her throat as she moved around. Her eyes fluttered open, they were still blood shot.

  “Mornin’,” I said quietly.

  “Hey,” she whispered, and gave me a weak smile.

  “How ya feeling?” I asked, as I moved her hair away from her face.

  “I’m ok, just sore.” She squinted a little as she sat up on her elbow and looked at me.

  “Please don’t look at me like that,” she said.

  “Like what?” I said with a little laugh.

  “Like I’m pathetic and you feel sorry for me,” she said, as she poked that bottom lip out a little, in frustration. Damn, she was way off.

  “You’re not pathetic, Mackenzie,” I said, and kissed her gently.

  She scooted off the bed and headed towards the bathroom, but stopped in her tracks at the mirror attached to the dresser.

  “Holy Shit!” she said, as she stared at herself in the mirror

  “I look like a zombie.” She continued to stare at herself. “I can’t leave the house this weekend, I’ll scare people.” She shook her head as she pressed her fingers over her eyes.

  “Fucking dick,” she mumbled, as she walked to the bathroom and shut the door.

  I went to the kitchen and started the coffee pot. I was filling our cups when she walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, and then kissed my bare back. My stomach did a little flip, which fucked with my head. I wasn’t used to this kind of stuff. I wasn’t sure how to handle it, but I knew I didn’t want it to go away. I didn’t want her to go away.

  “So, our weekend plans will include, movies and rest,” I said as I turned around, and wrapped my arms around her gently.

  “Kash, you don’t have to stay here all weekend to babysit me,” she said with a sigh.

  “Oh, I’m not babysitting,” I said with a laugh. “I’m tapping that ass as soon as you feel better.” I squeezed her ass cheek.

  “Even looking like this?” she said with a look of disgust, and pointed to her face.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said, and kissed her. I couldn’t believe those words just came out of my mouth. What the fuck? But I couldn’t help it, it was true. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Mother fucker.

  Chapter 21

  “You don’t think you should press charges against the dickhead?” I asked her, as we sat on the couch eating frozen pizza and
drinking a beer.

  “Not in this town,” she said, as she took a sip of her beer.

  “They have to charge him, sweetie, look what he did to you,” I said, as I covered her legs with the blanket we were sharing.

  “It will backfire on us,” she said, as she put her plate on the table.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. Us?

  “Because I heard what that cop said to you; the cops in this town will only make everything worse,” she said.

  Fuck. She wasn’t going to press charges on the prick because she wanted to protect me. I really didn’t deserve her.

  “Don’t,” I said, and shook my head.

  “Don’t what?” she asked, as she took another swig of her beer.

  “Don’t let him get away with this shit because of what I did.”

  “What exactly did you do?” she asked. She was on her third beer, and it showed.

  She deserved an honest answer. I didn’t want to give it to her, but fuck, I had to.

  “You heard what the cop said.” I repeated her words; I didn’t want to look her in the eyes and tell her the shit I’ve done.

  “Just talk to me, Kash,” she said sweetly.

  “I messed around with a married woman; it was a shitty thing to do.”

  “How did that cop know that?” That was a good question.

  “I really don’t know. Her husband is the sheriff of Riverside. Maybe they know each other,” I said, as I shrugged my shoulders. I had wondered the same thing myself.

  “Maybe they meet up at a big donut shop and have monthly gossip meetings,” she said with a giggle. She didn’t seem mad at all, but it was probably just the beer. She must have noticed the confused look I was giving her.

  “I’m not judging you, Kash. I just wanted to know.” she said, as she finished her beer and put in on the table.

  “You want another?” I asked.

  “No, I think I’m good.” She smiled.

  “So that’s why you moved to Bailey?” All these questions.