Tarnished Soul: A Nine Minutes Spin-Off Novel

by Beth Flynn

  She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence as Jonas scooped her up and turned toward the curtained opening to the bedroom. He took a few steps and stopped. Lucy giggled when she realized he was pondering how to squeeze through while carrying her. He could barely fit through the opening himself. She was getting ready to tell him to put her down and she would walk herself into the bedroom when they both momentarily froze.

  Jonas slowly let her slide down his body as they both turned toward the front door. Voices were floating in from somewhere outside the cabin.

  “Stay inside, sweetheart.” Jonas’ tone sounded ominous as he grabbed a gun from the small dining table and tucked it into the back of his jeans. He went out to the porch and swiftly closed the door behind him.

  Lucy ran to one of the two small windows that flanked the front door. She peeked out, easily able to see and hear what was transpiring. She watched Jonas’ back as he engaged with two men who’d walked up to the cabin. They were dressed in camouflage, carrying hunting gear, and dripping wet. They were obviously hunters who’d gotten drenched in the earlier downpour.

  “We were tracking a huge boar,” the one man was explaining, “when we saw your cabin and thought we might take shelter on your porch.” Lucy sized him up. He was of medium height and build. His dark hair was plastered to his head and he looked like he needed a shave. She thought his eyes were too close together, almost giving the appearance of being crossed.

  The other man was slightly taller and wider. He had a buzz cut and a thick red beard. His eyes were focused not on Jonas but on the motorcycle Jonas now stashed on the covered front porch to keep it out of the weather. At that moment, the man appeared to have zeroed in on the bra Lucy had hung across the motorcycle’s handlebars. She’d recently noticed the sun had been bleaching out her lingerie, so she had taken to draping some of the darker apparel across Jonas’ bike to dry. Her lacy red bra was as obvious as a flashing neon sign on the Vegas strip.

  “But since it stopped raining, maybe you and the missus might invite us in and show us some hospitality,” the one with the red beard said with a lazy whine.

  “You’re both trespassing,” came Jonas’ firm reply.

  “Don’t mean to be,” the dark-haired man replied. “We’re camped a few miles away. We’ll be on our way.”

  “If you’re camped a few miles away, you’re still trespassing. If you’re eight miles in any direction, you’re on my property,” Jonas informed them with an icy stare.

  Jonas was already huge and intimidating. Lucy couldn’t imagine what he looked like from their perspective as he towered over them from the raised porch.

  The one with the red beard scratched at his jaw. “How about a beer and towel and we’ll be on our way?”

  Jonas charged down the steps so suddenly both men and Lucy jumped. “How about you get the fuck off of my property now,” he growled.

  The hunters backed up, holding both hands in front of them. The one with the dark hair said, “Sorry, mister. My friend can be a little pushy. We don’t want any trouble. We’ll head back to our camp, pack up our stuff, and be on our way.”

  Jonas’ reply was a curt nod. He stood with his arms crossed until they were out of sight. When he returned to the cabin, he heard Lucy in the back room talking to herself. As he approached, he could hear her saying, “No, no! Not now. Why today?”

  He pulled the curtain aside and saw her digging through the dresser. Her face was beet red as she glanced over at him.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  She turned to face him. “I can’t be sure, but I’m pretty certain.” She stopped talking and closed her eyes. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” She looked at him and winced. “I just got my period.”

  “Don’t be embarrassed, Lucy,” Jonas told her, his tone mild.

  She had turned back to the dresser. “What makes you think I’m embarrassed?” she asked.

  “Because you’re redder than a ketchup bottle.”

  She found what she was looking for and faced him. “Why would I be embarrassed by my menstruation, Jonas? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s to be expected in pubescent females. Don’t you?” she snapped. “Not that I’m saying I’m pubescent. I’m obviously past that. Or that puberty is synonymous with menstruation since females develop at different ages. Just that women get their periods!” She hmphed out a breath. “At the most inconvenient times!”

  “I get it. You’re not embarrassed.” He laughed.

  “You’re darn right I’m not embarrassed,” she barked. “I’m irate!”

  Chapter 33

  Jonas made sure Lucy knew he was equally, if not more, disappointed that their potential romantic tryst had come to an abrupt halt. Not only by the intruding hunters but by her menstrual cycle. He explained he was a patient man. He’d been willing to see how their time together in the cabin played out, and just knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her gave him the strength to push through another week without getting physical. What he hadn’t anticipated were the awful cramps that came with her period. However, she didn’t use her discomfort as an excuse to get out of any physical work even though he tried to get her to rest. Lucy forged on like a trouper, gaining even more admiration and respect from Jonas. If there was one thing Lucy Renquest wasn’t, it was lazy. After two days, the cramps had passed and Jonas asked Lucy if she’d like to take a ride with him.

  “What do you mean take a ride?” she questioned.

  Jonas had been sitting on the couch and lacing up his boots. He looked up at her. “I wanna make sure those guys are gone. I’m going to take the truck out and drive around the land. I’ve not done it in years, but I know this property like the back of my hand and there are serviceable paths for the truck. I’ll just look for common footpaths they might’ve taken. I’d really like to find their camp to make sure they’re gone.”

  “Sure,” she replied.

  They spent an hour or two scouting the property and were relieved they’d not seen any evidence that the men were still around.

  “Still, it’s a lot of acreage,” Jonas explained on the drive back to the cabin. “I could kick myself in the ass for not tracking them that first day. We’ve had a couple more showers since then that erased their footprints. I’m going to keep checking until I find their campsite.”

  “You’ll be able to find the campsite without their footprints? And you’ll be able to find the site even if they’re no longer there?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah, if I can track an animal, I can track a human. Footprints aren’t the only evidence they leave. Even if they’re gone, they’re probably not skilled enough to completely erase evidence of their campsite. Not to mention, they didn’t strike me as the types to bother.”

  As they were pulling up to the cabin, Jonas asked Lucy, “What day is it?”

  “I believe it’s Wednesday, right?” she asked with a slight tilt of her head.

  He scratched at his jaw. “Wednesday the fifth?”

  “I’m pretty sure but can double-check.” After going inside, Lucy found her purse and retrieved a small planner. “Yep, it’s the fifth. Why?”

  “I almost forgot. I arranged something for us before we came here. I was told it would take some time and I’ve had no way to contact the person to see if they came through. Anyway, I’m supposed to show up on the sixth.”

  Lucy blinked twice. “Show up where?”

  Jonas’ answer was a wink followed by, “It’s a surprise.”

  The next day Jonas made the hour-long drive back to civilization. They both agreed to forego any public places where Lucy might be recognized. Not that they were trying to hide the fact she was with Jonas, just that they didn’t want to offer up any explanations as to why she wasn’t on her cruise. They pulled into a movie theater that Lucy had frequented all her life.

  She leaned sideways and eyed him inquiringly after looking at the movie marquee. “Taking me to see Animal House at a public theater is keeping it low-key?
”

  “It’s not Animal House,” he informed her as he parked in the vacant lot. He got out of the truck and walked around to open her door. He then ushered her into an empty movie theater. They were greeted inside by a middle-aged man wearing tan trousers and a casual light blue striped shirt that buttoned up the front. His thinning hair was more gray than black. He looked from Jonas to Lucy and back to Jonas again. He cleared his throat and said with what appeared to be a forced smile, “I was wondering if you were going to remember.”

  “I almost didn’t,” Jonas admitted. “Ike, this is Lucy. Lucy, this is Ike. He’s an old family friend.” Almost as an afterthought, Jonas added, “He’s Marty’s father. You met Marty.”

  Lucy didn’t let her surprise show and secretly hoped Ike was nicer than his daughter. She held out her hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Ike.”

  Ike took Lucy’s pale hand in both of his and said, “Likewise, young lady.”

  Jonas then explained that Ike was retired but moonlighted at the movie house as a way to stave off boredom. “I told him he could moonlight at the Bait & Tackle, but he prefers movie stars over mackerels.”

  “I don’t blame him,” Lucy confessed. “You probably get to see all the new movies before they’re even released. Don’t you, Ike?”

  Ike’s answer was a broad smile. “I’ve got what I’m told is a special movie for the two of you. It took me a couple weeks to get it, but I did.”

  Lucy tilted her head to the side. “We’re not here to see Animal House?”

  Ike shook his head. “This whole theater has been rented out to Jonas for the day.” He noticed Lucy’s startled expression and asked, “Are you surprised I called him Jonas when I know he goes by Brooks? Or are you surprised he rented the whole theater?”

  Lucy adjusted her glasses and looked over at Jonas then back at Ike. “Both, I suppose.”

  Ike shoved his hands in his pockets and said, “I’ve known Jonas for a long time. And I also know he paid a ridiculous amount of money to the owner of this theater to spend two and a half hours to watch a movie that took me almost two weeks to track down. But then again, Jonas never does anything small.”

  Lucy took Jonas by the hand and looked up into his face. “We’re here to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, aren’t we?”

  He nodded.

  “And you arranged this when you were arranging our time together?”

  Another nod.

  She let go of his hand and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “You’re full of surprises, Jonas Brooks,” she whispered into his chest.

  “So are you, Lucy Renquest,” he said over her head as he watched Ike’s forehead crinkle with curiosity and a tad of concern.

  Ike walked behind the concession counter. “Why don’t you two get settled in theater two. I’m going to fire up the popcorn machine and go upstairs to start the reel. Jonas, you can come back out for the popcorn when the previews start.”

  Ten minutes later, Jonas found Ike shoveling popcorn into a huge tub and dousing it with butter. Ike looked over his shoulder and said, “Lucy told me she likes 7UP. Do you still drink Coke?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take a Coke.” Jonas then asked him for two different types of candy.

  Ike laid Sno-Caps and Milk Duds on the glass counter. “Tell me what you think you’re doing with that sweet young lady, Jonas.”

  “I’m watching a movie with her.”

  “That’s not what I’m asking.” Ike’s tone was serious as he placed the drinks in a cardboard tray.

  Jonas scoffed. “You’ve seen me with other young ladies and never questioned it, Ike.”

  Ike frowned. “I’ve seen you with lots of women. But I’ve never seen you with someone who looks like she just stepped off the Good Ship Lollipop. Tell me. Does she know?”

  “Yeah, she knows what I’ve done. She knows what the teardrops mean. She knows everything.”

  “Your criminal history isn’t what I’m asking about and you damn well know it. Does she know all of it?”

  Jonas gave a non-committal shrug as he stuck the candy in his pockets. “She’s been to my grandpa’s cabin and she’s met Marty. I’ve not hidden anything from her. We have no secrets. She knows.”

  Ike gave him a skeptical look. “I don’t believe you.”

  “No disrespect intended, Ike, but I don’t care what you believe or not. I care about her and I’m pretty sure she feels the same. And that’ll have to be good enough.”

  Jonas grabbed the drink holder in one hand and the bucket of popcorn in the other before making his way back to the theater.

  Ike watched until Jonas disappeared around a corner. “You of all people know how what you’re not telling her could hurt that young lady down the road, Jonas. You shouldn’t play with people’s lives like that.” He shook his head and sauntered back up to the projection booth.

  Chapter 34

  “So what did you think?” Lucy asked Jonas as they left the theater hand in hand. “Book or movie? Which did you like best?” she questioned as they entered the lobby. When he didn’t immediately answer, she followed his gaze to the glass exit doors and knew why. His truck was surrounded by bikers. Lucy stopped abruptly. “Friends or foes?” she queried, concern evident on her face.

  “They’re from my club, but nobody I consider a friend. More like acquaintances.” After opening the door, he casually steered her toward his truck.

  “Told you it was his truck!” someone shouted.

  There was some laughter and conversation when another person commented, “Thought you fell off the face of the earth, Brooks.”

  A woman sidled up to them both and ignoring Lucy, ran her hand up and down Jonas’ bicep. “My bed has been awfully lonely these past few weeks.” She looked at Lucy and purred, “Sorry, there’s only enough room for you, Brooks. Your friend here will have to get in line behind me.”

  “Fu—” Jonas began before he was cut off by Lucy.

  Lucy had spied the woman approaching and was ready for her. After a roll of her eyes, she straightened her shoulders and purred back, “Sorry, but I don’t share.”

  There was a round of laughter and shouts.

  “Brooks found him a feisty one!”

  “Looks like Tanya just got dissed,” someone shouted.

  “She don’t look like one of his regulars,” came another reply.

  Lucy could tell that Jonas didn’t like the comment. And he confirmed it when he asked with a scowl, “Who said that?”

  Two men pointed to a third man who was straddling a motorcycle with a white gas tank. It had a huge silver knife that was dripping in dark red blood painted on it.

  Jonas let go of Lucy’s hand and strode toward the man who got off the bike and put his hands up. “Didn’t mean nothing by it, Brooks,” he said.

  Jonas stood in front of him and said, “Take off your helmet, Skid.”

  Skid’s voice was shaky when he replied, “I ain’t lookin’ to get into it with you, man.”

  Ignoring the remark, Jonas said one word: “Helmet.”

  Skid removed his helmet and handed it to Jonas, who turned around and addressed Lucy. “Come over here, sweetheart.”

  There was a subtle buzz that wafted through the crowd as the endearment given to Lucy by one of their most feared members settled over the shocked bikers.

  Tanya gave Lucy a fake smile before quietly hissing in her ear so she couldn’t be heard by the others, “Don’t think you’re special. He’s fucked every woman in the club and will keep fucking us long after the novelty of your sickly-looking pale ass has worn off.” She sucked her teeth before adding, “Sweetheart.”

  The comment didn’t have the intended effect because Lucy just laughed and whispered back, “Find someone new to sleep with. That is, if there’s actually somebody out there you haven’t spread your legs for.”

  Tanya looked like she wanted to punch Lucy but knew better than to mess with someone who was obviously important to Brooks. She’d heard wha
t he’d done to the new guy, Davey. Could this be the woman who’d triggered it? she wondered.

  The crowd knew something was transpiring between Tanya and the lady Brooks had yet to introduce. They watched as the newcomer made her way toward where Brooks stood holding Skid’s helmet.

  Handing it off to Lucy, he said, “Put this on.” He then addressed Skid. “Stop shitting yourself. I’m not stealing your bike. Just taking my woman for a ride.” A quiet murmuring could be heard as the group slowly grasped the meaning of Brooks’ last comment. Not once had Brooks allowed a woman to ride with him. Therefore, this woman must be pretty damn important. After retrieving his keys from his pocket, he launched them at Skid and said, “Take my truck. I’ll bring your bike to the Waffle House in a couple of hours.” He then turned around and addressed the crowd. “You heard what I said, right? My woman. No comments, no crude remarks, no questioning of my loyalty to her.” He stared hard at Tanya who’d sidled up to him moments earlier. “And I don’t care if you have tits. If you disrespect her in any way, you’ll answer to me. Just like Davey did. Got it?”

  Lucy had been stunned by Jonas’ declaration. He’d referred to her as his woman. Her insides were smiling so hard she was expecting a rib to crack. She perused the group’s reaction to his announcement. She saw a lot of nodding and thumbs-up from the men and recognized the disbelief as well as some resentment in the eyes of the women.

  Jonas picked that moment to turn around and tighten the strap under her chin. He then straddled Skid’s motorcycle and started it. He motioned for Lucy to climb on the back. She did so and after wrapping her arms around his solid bulk, settled her chin on his shoulder before they sped off into the hot afternoon.

  Jonas let himself enjoy not only the heat of the South Florida sun but the warmth that radiated from Lucy’s chest into his back. A warmth that invaded his veins and eventually camped in his heart. He found himself reaching for her hand and bringing her wrist up to his face so he could inhale her scent. He kissed her wrist and felt her shiver behind him. He’d never had a woman on the back of his bike. And even though this wasn’t his bike, it felt so damn perfect. Because she was perfect.