I stared at the monitor, my heart stuttering in my chest. If Wrecker had found me, really found me, it would be a miracle if he didn’t send someone to my house to drag me out by the roots of my hair. Unless he has already set that plan into motion.
“Rocket, I’m doomed.” A tear ran down my cheek as I picked up my little goofy dog, his bottom teeth protruding a little more than the top, his tongue hanging out. “I’m sorry buddy. I wanted to make your life better. Looks like I won’t be around to make that happen.” I had to figure out what I’d do with him. It might be a mistake, but I’d send an email to the Iron Valor Luna. I’ll just ask her to take him and make sure he gets a good home in the event that she hears of anything happening to me. I’d heard she was someone you could trust. I set him down so I could find the wordsto type.
I flinched, expecting to see the black mask in the kitchen window, or behind me in the living room. But the only thing there was the pale morning light and the chill that wouldn’t leave my bones.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbed my wrists where the marks he’d left were brightest. I thought about last night, about the way he had taken me—no, not taken, that wasn’t right—about the way I had given in. It was unlike anything I had ever let myself imagine. I was a control freak, a rule maker, a girl who could get herself off with two fingers and a cheap toy in under three minutes. But last night, I’d let go. I’d lethimdecide what happened, and the world hadn’t ended. In fact, it had gotten better.
I tried to focus on the work, but my thoughts kept looping back to the man in the mask. The way he’d spoken, the way he’d touched me. I’d never met anyone who could make me feel in danger and safe at the same time. I prided myself on being a giant when it came to intellect and independence. I liked being in control of my situation. But not last night. I’d put myself in a stranger’s hands. And the unrestrained freedom that came with that was enlightening. No one had ever managed that trick, no matter their size. It went against every instinct I had.
The coffee finished brewing. I poured a cup and then added a splash of cream. I saw from the dirty tan color that I hadn’t added enough, but I drank it anyway. My hands were steadier now. I needed to figure out what I was going to tell Silas. He would want to know the progress of the hack, and he wouldn’t want to hear about setbacks. He’d want results. He wasn’t exactly patient.
I went into the bedroom closet and stared at my clothes. I had to be careful about what I wore. Nothing seemed right. I didn’t want to look too good. I didn’t want to look weak either. I pulled out a plain black hoodie, one size too big, and a pair of dark jeans. A pink tee and an older pair of Docs completed my nondescript look. If I went too far, Silas would know I was deliberately trying to look off-putting. He was nofool.
My hair was no problem. It’s my favorite thing about myself, if I’m honest. Full and wavy, with just a little bit of product in my palms, a quick fluff and my locks swept to the side in short and long chunks, pink highlights mixed in with the natural brunette color. I’d risked having my stylist take the razor and shave the left side of my head with a guard, so it’s pretty close over that ear. Looking at myself, I laughed at the lie I told the world. The one that said I’m edgy. Quirky is closer to the truth.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my feet. Rocket trotted over to me as if he wanted to comfort me. To tell me there was one living being on the earth who cared if I lived or died. I picked him up and nuzzled him under my chin. I’d let my memory drift to last night, reliving every detail. The sting of my jeans rubbing against my ass made it unforgettable. Then the way he held me so gently after. Has anyone cared for me like that ever? Not since my mom and dad. Not that I can remember.
I checked my phone. No more calls from Silas or Axel. I had about fifteen minutes before I needed to be on the road. My stomach twisted with dread. I put the phone down, then picked it back up and stared at it. For a second, I wanted to text the masked man. To say thank you, or fuck you, or just to see if he’d respond. But I had no number, no name, nothing except the memory of his voice in my ear.
“You’re not in charge here,” he’d said. But he was wrong. I was always in charge, or I had been up until last night.
“Ok Rocket, enough cuddling.” I put him on my bed and headed to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, avoiding my reflection. I grabbed my bag, threw in my laptop, grabbed my Sig P238 from my desk drawer and put it in its special pocket then zipped it shut.
I let Rocket out the backdoor so he could take care of his business one last time before I headed out. At the door, I paused and looked at my little dog not knowing if I’d ever see him again. He must have sensed my emotions as he ran and jumped into my arms. “Hey buddy, I’ll be back as quick as I can, okay? I’mgonna try my damnedest to come back to you. I promise.” I set him down and quickly wiped the tear that had escaped my eye. I went through the routine of locking doors and setting the alarms and heading out. The cold waited outside, but I didn’t care. I was ready for it. I could handle anything.
Chapter 6
Parker
The drive to Tulia from Plainview cut through pastureland so flat the wind could shear the paint right off a car. I pressed the pedal harder, trying to outpace the sick feeling in my stomach, knuckles bleaching out on the steering wheel. Every mile marker was a countdown to something worse. The dashboard clock said 8:14 a.m., which meant I had exactly forty-six minutes to deliver a decent excuse to a pack of sociopaths and pray they let me keep all my teeth. I kept the heater on low even though the temperature outside read in the high teens. I liked the cold, the way it made the inside of my head go numb and hollow.
The outskirts of Greenbriar territory looked abandoned, half the buildings shuttered with plywood or missing windows altogether. In the daylight, you’d mistake it for one of those fake towns the government built for bomb tests. At night, it looked exactly like what it was: a graveyard for the unlucky, the dumb, or the doomed. I was a little bit of all three.
It stood to reason that Greenbriar hid their wealth. They didn’t want to bring attention to the fact that they made the kind of money they did on all of their enterprises. The fact that they were likely worth close to a million dollars or more would surpriseevery pack in the country. They wouldn’t reveal their wealth until they wanted to use it for some nefarious purpose I’m sure.
I braked at the turnoff for the pack territory entrance, the front gate a welded latticework of razor wire and repurposed Harley parts, more art than architecture. There was no sign, but the security cameras were newer than anything within twenty miles. I flashed my headlights three times and waited for the metal gates to part. They did, slowly, like a mouth opening for a very small snack.
I parked in the visitor slot, doors angled away from the main building—two stories, no windows except for slits you could barely fit a crowbar through, much less a body. I almost turned back, but then I thought about Axel. About what Silas would do to him if I flaked, and about what he’d do to me also. I killed the engine and forced myself to sit there a full minute, rehearsing the speech I’d patched together on the drive. The bank’s fail-safes are evolving. I’m in, but they may be on to me. I’m searching for a different approach. Iron Valor will bleed out, I’d make sure. I just needed another week. I repeated it until it was as real as the frost building up along the bottom edge of the windshield.
Inside, the air reeked of hot metal, sweat, and the kind of mildew you get from never once opening a window. The secretary was a guy in a Greenbriar crewneck, missing two fingers on his left hand and all the joy on his face. He grunted when I said my name, then thumbed a button under his desk. For a pack that I knew had amassed over a million dollars in ill-gotten gains, this place was a dump. Maybe it was made to look that way, so pack members wouldn’t want to know where their fair share was.
“Silas is waiting,” he said, and didn’t look up again.
The inner office was all cinderblock and fluorescent lights, the hum of the ballast louder than the heater running at full tilt. Silas sat behind a large metal desk, hands steepled, his shaved skull glinting under the blue-white glare. He might have been handsome at one time, but years of hate and hard living had destroyedanything attractive about him. He wore a black t-shirt, sleeves straining against muscled biceps that showed off his heavily tattooed arms—lines and angles that coiled down his veined forearms. His barrel chest showed from under the V-neck of his shirt, tattoos disappearing into the solid, tar-black beard that ate half his face. His eyes were so dark they barely registered as having pupils.
He didn’t stand. He didn’t need to.
“Sit,” he said, pointing to the lone wooden chair in front of his desk. The word had the finality of a coffin lid.
I took the chair across from him and scooted it up to close the distance. The desk between us was neat but had spots of what could have been motor oil or blood, but I put my hands on it anyway, palms flat, nails bitten to nothing. I put on the best air of confidence I could muster. Never let ‘em see you sweat and all that.
“I don’t like it when people don’t take my calls, little girl.” His voice was like sandpaper.
The term “little girl” was not said in a manner that was playful. He was dressing me down. Putting me in my place. I grit my teeth.
“No sir. I would imagine you don’t. I apologize.” I was trying to sound contrite and not like the smart ass I felt like being. “I was just in the zone trying to work out the code needed to get your job done as efficiently and quickly as you require.” I swallowed hard, hoping he would buy that. The real reason was I hated his fucking ass and would rather have my nose hairs plucked than have to hear it.
He relaxed a fraction. “I appreciate your commitment to excellence. Your reputation said you were the wolf for this job. I trust you won’t let me down.”
