“No. I’ve got this. Actually, I think someone is following us,” he said.
I gasped and started to spin around.
“Don’t turn around. Stay down. I’m going to have to lose him.”
“Oh God,” I breathed. My heart started pumping erratically.
“You’re going to be fine, okay?” His voice seemed calm, but I knew it was all a front. His fingers were trembling on the steering wheel.
My gaze fluttered to the right side mirror. “He’s getting closer.”
"The windows are tinted. He can't see you right now. Here's what I want you to do." He grabs one of the handguns from his waistband and hands one to me. "Get in the back seat and get down on the floor."
“Ace, please…” I shook my head, trying to hand the gun back to him.
“I know you’re scared, but if you don’t listen, this won’t work. Get down on the floor and don’t get out until it’s safe. You know how to use the gun, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Reluctantly, I squeezed my body between the seats and over the console and got down on the floor of the back seat. The car revved forward. He drove the car for what seemed like one whole heart attack long. Then the car came to a screeching halt, and my body was shoved against the back of the seat.
"Stay down." Ace leaned over the console and thrust the keys into my hands. "I'm sorry. Do what I told you. If anybody tries to come in here, shoot ‘em. If I’m not back in ten minutes, you start the car and go. Do you hear me? Ten minutes and I want you to leave. I’ll find you.”
“Ace…?”
“Ten minutes. Starting now.”
He exited the car and the door slammed shut. I whimpered and looked down at my wristwatch.
I realized my whole body had become deathly still, waiting and weeping. My only view was of the torn leather seats and ripped up, dingy carpet on the floor. I dared not to poke my head up and look out for fear that whoever was following us would realize that I was hiding out in here.
My breath panted in and out, steaming up the interior of the car. I listened intently. Cars were driving by. I even thought I heard the sounds of an emergency vehicle. Red and yellow lights were flashing on a sign right above me, but I couldn’t make out the words. There were people—happy, excited people—walking past the car. Still, I kept myself huddled over in a fetal position, looking at the minutes tick by and gripping the gun tightly.
Chapter Fourteen
Ace
I rushed out of the old beat-up car, leaving Khloe inside. I slipped behind a crowd of rowdy college students and followed them into the nightclub. The red and yellow sign read: The Red Pony. It wasn’t hard gaining entrance inside, so I suspected the stalker was fresh on my tail.
Wouldn't you know, that stupid bastard followed me straight into the trap. Either he was stupid or just plain dumb. I could tell that he wanted information pronto because he followed me right down a darkened hallway.
“Hey!” He yelled, stopping me in my tracks.
I spun around and sized him up. I could tell that he was strapped, but so was I. In fact, we both knew that the other was heavily armed.
“I saw you stopping to get gas back there and then when you saw me, you raced back onto the highway. Are you hiding something?” He inched closer. “You Ace, right? Are you looking for that girl?” He chewed hastily on a wad of tobacco and spat it right out on the floor.
He must have heard of me through connected underground circles. He thought I was bounty hunting too. Even though I was still on my territorial hunting grounds, I didn’t do that anymore.
“I’m alone,” I said, with a straight face. “Why the fuck are you following me?”
“I followed you. I seen you turn off the road real fast and walk in here with some chicks,” he stuttered.
“Man, you’re high as fuck,” I shot back.
My stalker grabbed at the bulge lining his waistband. “I’m also packing. So, are you gonna tell me where you dropped the girl off at? Or did you kill her already?”
“I don’t know anything about any girl. Unless you want this heat, you need to stop following me." I wrapped my finger around the trigger but left my gun attached to the holster, just in case a bouncer rolled up on us.
My stalker grinned. “Ohhh…I see now. You’ve got her. What did you do? Put her in the trunk?” He chortled. “What…you wanna play with her before you off her.”
Taking a step back, I said nothing.
“That’s what it is.” My stalker backed off from me. “You’ve got that bitch strapped up in that trunk.”
I reacted quickly just as the stalker tried to race off down the hallway. I knew there was only one course of action on his mind. He was going to check the car. I needed to hold him off for ten minutes while Khloe got the fuck out of here. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to make it out of this club when I gave Khloe the key back in the parking lot. It was up to her now. She needed to run.
I brought my elbow down hard on my stalker’s back. He hollered out in pain, spun around, and stumbled backward. At this point, no one could tell we were fighting down the halls leading into the bathroom. Everyone was either busy fucking or chasing tail.
My stalker threw a punch, clocking me upside the head. I came back at him with two straight to the nose. Then, I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the brick wall. I shifted out of the way just as he spat in the direction of my face. The messy glob landed on the floor by my boot. Without letting go of his collar, I socked him a few good times until his nose was bloody.
He slumped to the floor, falling on his ass. I was going to knock his lights out to make sure he never made good on his promise. My fists slammed into his face, knocking out teeth and breaking his nose. When I thought I was only a few punches from beating him to death, something told me to look up.
And she was there.
Khloe was standing there with her hands held up to her mouth, mortified at the sight in front of her.
“Ace?”
Everything began moving in slow motion. My stalker came to and coughed up blood and then trained his gaze on Khloe.
“You fucking pussy,” the stalker hollered, springing up from the ground. “Isn’t that the bitch they’re offering the money for? You just want the bounty for yourself. I’m gonna fuck you up and then kill that bitch.” He reached for his weapon.
I charged him. We tumbled down onto the floor and I held him down into a choke hold.
“Khloe, run!” I ordered.
She took one step back, and then another. Her eyes were wide with trepidation.
Two whores in red leather started coming down the hall behind Khloe, giggling and laughing and dancing, but when they saw the fight and the blood, they screamed and ran in the opposite direction.
My stalker punched me hard, sending my head reeling. Next thing I knew, I’m witnessing as he slides across the floor and reaches for his gun.
Khloe just stood there, as if frozen by time.
My stalker gripped the gun, slipping his finger against the trigger. I didn’t want Khloe to die.
The stalker fumbled as he lifted the gun.
I unveiled my pistol, pointed the barrel at my stalker and fired two silenced rounds into the back of his head. Stepping over his dead body, I grabbed hold of a dazed Khloe and we race from the club just as a two security guards ran to the back to see why people were suddenly screaming or huddled up over by the hallway.
“Do you understand why you should listen now?” I asked her.
“I understand.” She pumped her head in agreement and threw herself into the passenger’s seat of the car without another word. Not even a question left her trembling lips.
Once inside the car, I slammed my foot on the brakes and got the hell out of there.
Chapter Fifteen
Khloe
It felt like a rock was buried deep inside the pit of my stomach, but that stone was solid and formulated out of an intense fear that nearly paralyzed me. I was struggling to breat
he through the avalanche of trouble that threatened to wash me away in the wake of this new and destructive path.
I took a deep breath and swallowed hard in an attempt to pacify myself. I needed to calm my nerves. I squeezed my eyes shut and envisioned Ace's hungry lips tasting me once again, making me tingle with creamy desire. It was a stretch, but even through the turmoil and conflict we were currently absorbed in, I was able to impulsively acquire and maintain that passion-filled heart pounding sensation, even if it only lasted a few minutes.
I wasn't angry with Ace. I knew that he wasn't outrightly to blame for the predicament we found ourselves brewing in. It was like being stuck in quicksand, and we just needed to figure out the formula for escape.
We were both in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was struggling to flee my past, and Ace was currently wrapped up in the sins of his. I knew that he was working diligently to redeem himself, especially now that he had found me against all the odds. This was a minor setback. If we could get through it, we would come out stronger in the end, no matter where the journey took us.
There were so many unanswered questions. The engine of the old beat-up stolen car was spectacularly noisy. We had put this car through the ringer. The howling wind was giving me a migraine headache, but it was better than being dead. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, there was a sliver of hope that chimed through my ears when Ace spoke again.
“We’re going shopping,” he said.
“Huh?” I did a double take. Did he just say we were going shopping?
He pulled into a car dealership. Shiny new cars sat in the lot with huge yellow tickets and tags on them, proclaiming sale after sale, and what seemed like miles and miles worth of deals. Salesmen in business suits wandered through the lot like hungry sharks, just waiting to pounce on a potential customer.
“We need to switch cars,” Ace stated casually as if he were relaying the weather forecast.
My heart plummeted through my chest and into my gut. If Ace was worried enough about the situation to switch cars so that we became less recognizable to the point of unidentifiable in the sea of other cars on the highway, that scared me to the core.
“Don’t worry,” he added. “You really don’t want to ride around in this stolen thing for the rest of the trip, do you?”
I was living in constant fear that I was sure was probably causing ulcers in my belly. I had to admit it. Even before Ace rolled up into my life, I was in fear. I just wanted to close my eyes and wake up in a different place. The cabin was a fantastic starting place. I was thankful it was even an option for us at this point.
Sure enough, an enthusiastic salesman approached us with a giddy smile and beaming eyes, hiding his desperation for a respectable commission.
“Hi folks.” He gave us a wave. “How can I help you all today?”
“I’m looking to buy a car, maybe a truck,” Ace replied, and then turned to glance at me. “What do you think? Car or truck?”
“Hmmm, you’ll need something big. Especially to haul your Harley around when you need to,” I offered.
Ace grinned, smugly.
“Smart lady,” the salesman chimed, nodding politely. He shoved his hands into his suit pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Is there anything, in particular, you're looking for today, sir? We've got a full lot, and we've added some major incentives for those who ride off the lot today in a brand new vehicle."
"Just show me to your newest truck, and then we'll decide."
“Alright. By the way, I’m Larry. Let’s head right this way.” Larry gestured towards a row of tricked-out muscle trucks.
As we perused the aisles, I wondered whether I was ever going to be able to get out of this situation. I knew I should have been leery of that landlord, but it was the only shop I could afford. Was my past always going to be able to catch up to me? One way or another, I was going to end up running away forever, or being stuck in a situation where I was always going to be the target or a pawn in someone else’s game.
It made me want to cry. I stared up at the white fluffy clouds. It was a beautiful day. I just needed to focus on the right things, like the fact that I was still alive and well, pulling oxygen into my lungs. As long as I still had both my kneecaps and wasn't lying in a hospital bed, I guess that was something to smile about.
The salesman brought us to a jade-colored truck. It had an extended cab with four doors. It looked brand new, fresh off the factory lot. Its shine glistened proudly under the sun.
“This is our most popular model,” the salesman mentioned. “Can be too much for some, but this thing is loaded if you’re looking for that type of thing.”
Ace looked at me. I loved the truck. It reminded me of the one my grandfather used to own before we fell on hard times. I nodded eagerly.
Ace gave him a confident smile as he tapped the side of the truck. “I like it. We’ll take her. How much?”
“Don’t you want to take her on a test spin around the block first?”
“Nope. Unless you’re trying to sell me a clunker…?”
Ace and Larry shared a short laugh.
“No, sir. I’m gonna take real good care of you,” Larry said.
“Okay,” Ace replied. “I’m ready to pay cash if you give me the best deal you’ve got.”
“Hmmm.” Larry nodded as if he were trying to figure out what was going on. He looked us up and down, probably trying to figure out how such an odd couple came across cash to pay for an expensive new truck. "Let me run some numbers with my manager, and we'll come back to you with an offer."
“I can’t wait, Larry. We need to get back on the road,” Ace stated with feigned interest.
I didn’t even know what to say. “What are you doing? Are you going to buy that truck outright?” I whispered as soon as Larry was out of earshot.
I thought there was more to buying a car than just walking on the lot and offering up the cash. I thought people needed excellent credit, references, their real name, and all that stuff. But then again, I didn't even own a car. Never had. I took the bus or a cab everywhere. I could never afford to buy anything, and I doubt I had good enough credit to take out a loan either.
“I want us to have something reliable to ride around in after we’re settled. Wouldn’t you rather drive around in a truck instead of a motorcycle?” he asked.
I nodded. “That would be nice.”
“We can add another car later. I promise. I just thought we’d need something to haul stuff back and forth to the cabin,” he said.
I smiled. He was thinking about the future. Something about that made me feel all giddy and loved and cared for.
“You’re right,” I said.
Ace returned my smile. His eyes sparkled as if he wanted to kiss me again. I was pretty sure I wanted to kiss him back. He was so cool, calm and collected even under pressure.
A few minutes later, Larry came out holding a sticky note. “How does this number look to you?” He held the paper up for Ace to observe.
Ace frowned. “Can you knock a couple more thousand off? I’m paying cash. No bells or whistles or anything like that added to the bottom line. I’m not looking for any fancy underwriting calculations. I just want to pay you the cash for the keys and go. And if you can get this done with little to no paperwork, I can slide something real big in under the table. Just like a tip for good service. Know what I mean? Think you can work something out for me?” He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
Larry promised to be right back with a deal. Meanwhile, my stomach continued to churn in my chest. It's too bad I wasn't much of an adrenaline junkie, but clearly Ace was. I was running on fumes.
He still seemed to be clutching an enormous amount of energy even though we had been on the road all this time. I felt grimy and wished I could take a hot bath. I just had to reassure myself that we would be at the cabin soon enough.
Larry strutted back out to the parking lot, and a deal was made. The men shook hands and the single paper
Ace was required to sign was signed with one of his aliases I hadn’t even heard of. As Ace promised, he gave Larry several stacks of cash just as we were about to leave. Then, as quickly as we had arrived, we drove off the lot in the new truck that would get us to our mountain destination in one piece.
There was a burger joint across the street from the car lot. He rolled up to the window and ordered a bunch of burgers, a side of fries, and two large sodas. We ate in silence until we were stuffed.
“Are you alright?” I asked him wearily.
“Sure. Why did you think I wouldn’t be?”
I shrugged. “Well, you left your bike back at the motel. That was yours, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I actually bought that from an old friend. I had to leave her. I’ve done it before. I’ve got two other bikes in storage, so there’s no need to worry. If that one’s not in the parking lot when I get around to picking it up, I can get another. It’s not like I need three bikes or anything.”
“I’ve always wanted to own a bike. Just like my mom did. Remember that Harley you used to drive to my grandfather’s house when you were a courier? My Mama had one just like that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. She rode all the time. I guess that was the other thing she enjoyed.”
“So you want a Harley too?” he asked.
I nodded.
He grinned. “I can sell you one. I’ll cut you a good deal. You’re a pretty nice girl.”
I swatted his shoulder. “Naw…how about I just let you drive me around in this big boy? I think a man in a truck is sexy.”
Ace's lips curled into a humored grin as he looked out ahead at the road. “Then I’ll keep her.”
I sighed and glanced out the window. “So, just how much longer are we going to have to pull a Thelma and Louise?” I laughed as I watched the pastures and rolling plains whirl past us.
“You’re funny.” Ace chuckled.
“You’ve never seen that movie?”
“No, but I’ve heard of them," he said. "I highly doubt we'll run into any more problems…or shootouts."
Claimed by the Ex-Con: An Ex-Con Second Chance Contemporary Romance Novel Page 8
