by Kara Parker
The Bandits were right behind him and they were getting closer. The other two Los Desperados stayed in position to protect the truck, but they were two against seven, what could they do? For a moment they both slipped behind my blind spot and I couldn’t see anything and then I saw one biker go flying into the woods and then a few seconds later, the other.
It was just me and Julian and he pulled up along my passenger side and fell into my speed, matching my pace. His eyes were straight ahead. Behind me I could see Los Desperados still fighting The Bandits and despite, our crappy odds, they were doing well out there. Slowly, but steadily The Bandits numbers were shrinking while Los Desperados were growing as men who had been thrown off their bikes shook off their accident, got their bikes, and raced to rejoin the fight.
Julian gave two loud taps on his horn and David went even faster and I pushed the truck into sixth gear as we hit ninety down a country rode. It was very fast and I somehow needed to keep my eyes on the road in front of me and the enemies around me all at the same time. With Julian on my right The Bandits were gaining on my left and when there were three alongside me I swerved into the left lane and sent them scattering while Julian shot back into the men on his side.
Then I heard it. The sickening thud and a slight ding in my speed as weight was added to the truck. A Bandit had just jumped on. I pulled down on the horn and gave out one long solid blast. I was in trouble; an enemy on the truck is a bad sign. Then I felt that same thud and that same dip in speed; there were two of them now.
I slammed on the brakes shifting the car into neutral and heard a scream and watched one of my attackers going flying over my hood. I swerved to avoid running him over and pushed the car back into third gear increasing my speed as quickly as possible. Julian used the time to circle around and gun out he raced to the rear of the truck. I waited to hear the bang that meant he hit whoever was there, but I only heard the roar of my own engine.
He was still on me somewhere. I reached into my holster and pulled out my gun turning the safety off and laying it in my lap. Then I began to swerve back and forth like a dog trying to shake himself dry. But whoever was up there was still up there as I kept racing down the street.
“Pull over!”
I cried out in surprise at the face that had appeared in my window. The window was rolled up but it didn’t matter as the attacker pulled his hand that was clutching a gun back and then brought it smashing down breaking the window into a million pieces that fell into my lap and hair.
I focused on keeping the truck straight. The Bandit was hanging off the roof, his body half in my window. I reached for my gun as he tried to get his pointed at me, but then a second later I felt another thump and more weight on the truck.
How was there another Bandit so close that I didn’t even see him, who was that good? But no, it was no Bandit. It was Julian. He was climbing up on the roof and I slowed down slightly as I heard him make his way up to the cab. Then, the guy who had been hanging off my window gave out a surprised yell as Julian ripped him off the roof of the truck and sent him flying back into the woods.
I slowed down and reached over, opening the passenger side door. Julian opened it the rest of the way and then pulled himself down into the passenger seat as my eyes flicked from the road to him and my jaw fell open in amazement.
“Well,” he said, “I’ve never actually done that before.”
“You did it really well,” I said.
Behind me The Bandits were falling back as Los Desperados took control of the road. We had done it. We had just stolen ten million in gold bars and destroyed our biggest rival all in one swoop.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
“To my new second in command, Julian Gonzales,” Marco called out over the sea of Los Desperados members. He raised his beer and we did, as well. Marco was standing on the bar his arm wrapped around Julian who was looking to the side and nodding. I could tell the attention made him nervous and I smiled up at him.
“And to Daniela! Who has proven her worth to me. She is now officially a full member of Los Desperados and she’ll be in charge of her own heists moving forward. So take note, she chooses her own crew, so I suggest you start kissing ass now!” He raised his glass again and from my seat on the bar stool I raised mine to him and the then the room and I threw my shot back. I was officially a member of Los Desperados.
There must have been two hundred people here; the place was filled with bikers and their ladies and their kids. The night was festive and, most importantly, safe. The Bandits had finally been beaten into submission. They had sent over a message to beg for a parlay, a break in the fighting. Marco was only too happy to agree. They would stay on their side and we on ours and I could only hope we could keep that peace alive for a very long time.
“Congratulations,” I said to Julian as he jumped off the bar and came to stand next to me.
“And to you, as well,” he said and we clicked our beer glasses and took deep sips. He rested his hand on my knee and I smiled at him before I grabbed him by the collar and kissed him fiercely. Around us a cheer went up as everyone laughed and clapped and I finally had to break the kiss. Everyone knew now; there was no more hiding it.
“So, what do you have planned for your first heist?” Julian asked. “You and I should really discuss it since you’ll have to run it by me. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m second in command.”
“Well, well, look who’s suddenly gone mad with power,” I said with a smile. “As for my first heist I was thinking somewhere warm and tropical where I can get a drink in a pineapple brought to me while I lounge on the beach.”
“That doesn’t sound like work,” Julian said, sidling up next to me and resting his hand on my thigh.
“Oh, I’m not worried about it,” I said.
“Really? Why not?”
“Because the boss will be the one bringing me the drinks, of course,” I said giving him a peck on the cheek as he shook his head at me and laughed loudly.
“That is a lovely picture,” Julian said. “But I was thinking something more fun, a night in the city. We could go to Vegas, stay in a hotel suite, gamble our money away, party with rappers late into the night, drink champagne until the morning.”
“Well, that does sound tempting,” I said.
“You two,” Marco said coming up to us through the crowd. To my surprise he threw one arm around Julian and one around me. “I’m so very proud of you. Ten million dollars! Just think what we can do with that kind of money.” He clapped us both on the back and then hurried on as he congratulated everyone he passed.
“I didn’t know he smiled,” I said as I watched Marco leave. There was a bounce in his step and he was almost dancing.
“I’d never seen it myself until now. I thought it was just a myth,” Julian replied. I stifled a yawn and Julian looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “Tired already? I thought you were a tough biker chick who could party until dawn.”
“I might be a little tired.” I said giving a long, dramatic, fake yawn, stretching my hands above my head for affect. “It’s such a shame I live in the basement of this place. It’s so loud out here I’m sure I won’t be able to get any sleep,” I looked up at him through my lashes as I spoke and I saw understanding brighten his eyes.
“You know, I live right upstairs and it’s much quieter up there. What do you say we make our way up there and put you to bed?” he asked leaning over to kiss my neck and I sighed as I relaxed under his touch. I smiled as I realized that it would be like this every day. I could have him anytime anywhere. There was nothing keeping us apart anymore.
“Sounds perfect,” I said as I took his hand and jumped down off the barstool and followed him through the crowd. We passed the members of Los Desperados who gave us knowing smiles and patted us on the back as we made our way through the crowd. They were my family now and Julian was my family. I was welcome here, and I was grateful for it. We reached the stairs that led to Julian’s apartment and I closed the
door behind me and smiled as I realized I was finally home.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For as long as she can remember, Kara Parker has been fascinated by old westerns and the thrill of the open road. Irresistible rogues, seductive heroines, and explosive plots are things she loves reading and writing about.
When she’s not writing her next book, Kara can be found tending her backyard garden and playing with her two kids.
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