Chapter 1
Meg
“Great, this is just great,” I mumble to myself as I kick the tire of my hunter green Bronco. The beast clocks in at just 6 years younger than my 34 years. I look around to see where my usually reliable ride has left me. I’m on the corner of Smith Street. Normally, this wouldn’t be such a bad thing… but it is almost midnight. Definitely not the right time of night to be stranded on the side of the road alone.
I check my ancient phone. I was due for an upgrade 4 years ago. I still have half a charge left. That should get me a few phone calls at least. I struggle to keep my mind from roaming to all of thoseUnsolved Mysteriesreruns I binge-watched last weekend. I look down the alley, half expecting to see Robert Stack in his signature trench coat. “Stop,” I mumble to myself.
Looking down at my contact list, I weigh my options. I could call…mid train of thought I am interrupted by a noise. Jerking my head up in the direction of the commotion I see two shadows duking it out. I stand frozen.Where did they come from? My eyes scan around, looking for something—anything. The little voice in my head is urging me to jump in my truck and hide, but a bigger voice is yelling that I should help. Thanks a lotconscience.
“I go my whole life without getting beat up…,” I mutter. Grabbing the umbrella that is on the floor of my truck, I slowly start to approach the two very large, very built males that arepounding each other into bloody pulps. It is hard to tell which one is the victim, maybe neither one is. I’ve come this far though, I think. By the time I get as close as I dare, one of them has the upper hand and is choking the other one. Before I can lose my nerve, I run up and whack the guy upside the head with the wooden handle of my umbrella.
The move startles him and he falls to the side throwing his hands up to protect his head. “What the hell! Who the fuckareyou?”
I start to back up slowly still holding the umbrella in front of me.Yeah, right—you really think that is going to help you?My brain taunts, as the large angry man is getting to his feet and approaching me. I quickly look at the ground towards the other man, hoping that he will start to stir. “I, I---“, I start to stutter, panic clawing at my vocal cords. He is closing in on me and I realize how stupid I am. I’m skittering backwards-- also realizing my horrible choice in footwear. I just had to be wearing wedges tonight.“Please, I was just….”, I trail off. WhatWASI thinking? I must have a death wish.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the door in the alleyway flies open. The shadow of aHUGEman is standing there. He must be at least 6 and a half feet tall. Broad shoulders block the light from the doorway, and it is hard to see his face.
“Get the hell out of here”, his gravelly voice thunders out in the alleyway. The man that was probably going to send me to an early grave, stops and turns around to face the newcomer. Now would be the perfect time for me to make an escape. There is just one problem. My feet seem to be superglued to the cement. Yep. I totally don’t want to make it to see my next Birthday.Broken out of my internal ramblings, the two men are now facing off. They seem to know each other. “I kicked you BOTH out for a fucking reason—now get gone,” spoke themountain of a man. He was now out of the doorway and the light was falling across his face.Holy Hell!He looked like he had stepped off the pages of some magazine. Dark hair, light eyes, the perfect amount of scruff on his angular jaw. At least if I was going to die, I got to look at something pretty first.
“I’m going to tell you one more time, Wes, go! And take your damn brother with you!”
Brother? I almost died because of a scuffle between brothers?I would hate to think what family reunions were like at their house. I watched as the man named Wes followed orders. He dragged his brother to the end of the alley and into the parking lot behind the buildings.
Sagging in relief, I turn to thank the giant. “What the hell were you doing,” he grits out through a clenched jaw.
“I’m sorry, I was just trying to-,” I attempt to get out, but I’m interrupted. “Trying to get yourself killed,” he angrily cuts in.
“I was trying to help,” I finally manage to get out. The stress of the moment making me sag. The feeling of relief is quickly morphing into irritation.
He sighs and runs his hand through his dark hair. Hair that I have already dubbed ‘sex hair’. “Do you make running into dark alleys at 12:30 in the morning a habit? Of all the stupid-”
“No,” I say shortly, cutting him off this time.
“As of 10 minutes ago, I have lived a relatively drama free life.”
He is still glaring at me, so I turn to walk off toward my vehicle. Forget thanking him.Big Jerk.Only once I get to my vehicle, I realize the initial reason for me being here. I get in and turn the key. Still nothing.UGH!I pull out my phone and realize that it is now down to 10% battery. I knew I should have sprung for the extra roadside assistance package through my insurance company. Leaning my head against the steering wheel, I sigh.Now what?
I don’t want to go back and askhimfor help. I don’t know him, but I can imagine the reaction I would get. He hadn’t called me stupid yet, but I’m certain it was on the tip of his tongue.Tap, tap, tap.I jump and my eyes fly to the window.
It’s him standing there with the only expression I have seen him wear—a glare. I roll my window down. “Yes?”
“Problems?” he asks. I hate to admit it, but I should probably just suck it up. This night can’t get much worse, right? Sighing, I forge ahead.
“It sputtered and died—it is usually super reliable—I never have trouble…,” I trail off. He looks completely unimpressed by my ramble.
“Pop the hood,” he grits out. His eyes hard, his hands clenched by his side. My eyes travel his form. He definitely takes care of himself. He has muscles on top of muscles. I quickly avert my eyes, looking down at my body. Not exactly model material there. Obviously, he is a man of few words, at least when they are directed at me.
I tuck my chin length, dark brown hair behind my ear and reach down to the lever. He has already made his way to the front of the truck. His arms are crossed, and he is waiting impatiently. Once he hears the click, he reaches forward and pushes up the hood. I tap my un-manicured fingers against the tan steering wheel.I hope he knows what he is doing.
I get out of the truck, climbing down. My five-foot-four-inch height makes it a bit of a jump. Tentatively, almost afraid to poke the bear, I speak. “Can you tell what is wrong with it?”
His head turns in my direction and he huffs. “Looks like someone has been messing around under this hood.”
I blink, not quite understanding what he means. I open my mouth to speak but he is already cutting me off.
“They didn’t know what the hell they were doing, you were lucky—but someone has been under this hood, and they wanted this to happen.”
I swallow and look around, as if I’m being watched. “How can you tell?” My mind is racing with the possibilities of who would want to do that. I mean by everyone’s standards I’m pretty boring. Perpetually single, check. Full time job, check. Same two friends since I was 12, check. Kind of chubby, check. I notice that he is giving me a look—it isn’t a glare so I can’t decipher it.
