“I love her,” I say out of nowhere. “I can’t live without her.”
“I know, son, I know.”
“I’m nothin’ without her. All these years… I should’ve stopped bein’ a coward…”
“Everythin’ happens for a reason,” he says. “You and I both know that. And wherever Willow is, she won’t be goin’ anywhere without a fight. That I can promise. She’s one tough cookie.”
A few seconds later, Brew comes marching out of the diner, his eyes dipping when he spots us on the ground. “You good?”
“We’re good,” Cash says. “What’s up?”
“Sawyer got a ping on a burner phone connected to this Jane bitch’s phone. A couple of miles from here.”
I look up at him, and suddenly all the hope in the world fills my chest, my heart. “We’re gonna go get her, and bring her home.”
Brew nods. “We are, brother. Time to pull up those big girl pants and get movin’.”
“No rest for the wicked,” Cash chuckles. “You good to ride with Hally?”
I nod as they both help me up. “Cash?” I say, as he turns back to the diner. “I’m sorry… about that?—”
He holds up a hand. “Don’t ever be sorry to me, Haze. I know you love her, and we’ll do anything for our women.”
“Ride or die,” the three of us say in unison.
Ride or die.
That’s all there is to it.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
Willow
Goddamn ropes!It feels like I’ve been at this for a fucking lifetime, and the damn thing won’t come loose. My other tactic is trying to get the rope under the latch and pulling instead. I ignore the burning of my skin. I ignore the way the sweat rolls down my back, my forehead, and everywhere else. All I can think about is getting the hell out of here before that bastard comes back. I can’t let the frustration get the better of me. As much as I want to hop on out of here, I can’t risk it. Because A. I don’t know where I’m going. B. I’m tied up — not great if I run into Darius, and I still don’t know how many others there are out of this cell. Clearly, there’s nobody else in this room, so that’s something, but there could be guards outside. I’d be defenseless.
I know I’m bleeding by the time the rope feels frayed on my fingertips.Yes!If I can just get this fucking rope off, I’ll have half a chance of getting out of here alive. I have a gun, and I pray to all that is mighty it’s loaded.It has to be loaded.
“Bastard!” I mutter, wincing as the pain stings every time I yank on the rope, but then I manage to get my finger around one loop and pull.
Movement from the far end of the room has me doubling back. Daylight for a second, then darkness.
“Jane?” Darius yells. “You still in there, you sick bitch? You’re supposed to save some for me.”
Clare. I don’t give a fuck what her real name is, she’s dead.
I’m terrified as I frantically work at pulling the ropes free.Fuck!I can hear his footsteps getting closer.
“Yeah, I’m here!” I call out, hoping he’ll not realize it isn’t Jane talking. “Bitch needed a friendly reminder of who is in charge around here.” I slink as far away as I can into the corner, my heart hammering in my chest.
He laughs. “Yeah, and who’s that? Because it definitely ain’t us.” He glances at the body slumped on the floor and then he cusses. “You fucking bit?—”
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
