“Right. Uh, sure. I’ll let you know what day.”
“Sounds great, bro. Still remember how to get here?”
“Of course. See you soon.”
“Yep…Soon.”
The line goes dead, and Cash remains silent. His fingers clench and unclench the steering wheel. His eyes keep shifting to the side mirrors, then back to the road. Side to side, checking everywhere.
“Cash?” Alexandria whispers as she places her hand on his shoulder. “Everything, okay?”
“He knows…”
“What? How?” I snap as I sit up.
“I just know…The way he stalled at the end there. I think he was running a trace on my phone. That’s why he said things the way he did at the end.”
“Fuck! What if he kills her now that he knows we’re coming? How much longer until we’re there?”
“Hour and thirty-six minutes,” he says quietly. “I gotta call Dex.”
He calls to let Dex know what’s up. We all pull off at a rest stop and try to figure out a new plan. Especially now with the element of surprise gone.
When everything is finished, Alexandria walks away toward an area overlooking the river. I start to walk toward her and check on her, but Dex suddenly jogs over and starts talking with Alexandria.
Dex is younger. I think he’s in his late twenties likeCash. When it comes to brute strength, I can definitely see why Cash said Dex would win in a fight. The guy’s got at least forty pounds of pure muscle on him compared to Cash. I can see him flirting with Alex. He keeps running his hand through his spikey, dirty blonde hair.
I keep an eye on him. Just because he is Cash’s friend doesn’t mean I trust him fully. Look what happened with Quin. My eyes are locked on the pair as Cash walks up in front of me waving a hand.
“What’s going on?” Cash asks. He follows my gaze to where Dex and Alexandria are talking. Dex says something, and it makes her laugh. I act like I don’t notice Cash’s lip twitch at the sight before he snaps his attention back to me. “We need to figure out a plan if shit goes south.”
She laughs again, and Cash closes his eyes. He tilts his head back and forth cracking his neck before letting out a slow exhale. When his eyes open, I can see jealousy in them.
“If shit goes south, you guys get Mina out. Even if it means leaving me…”
“Alexandria won’t let me leave you there.”
“Then you knock her out and drag her out of there, too. Both of them if you have to. Promise me.”
Alexandria and Dex’s voices are getting closer. I glance toward the pair, and Dex’s jacket is around her shoulders. Cash notices and his jaw clicks from how hard he’s clenching it.
“Cash, what the hell, man? You didn’t tell me you had a muñequita?” Dex laughs as he pulls her closer. She looks confused by the word.
“Muñequita?” she asks.
“It’s Spanish for little doll. And she’s not mine,” Cash huffs before returning his attention to his phone.
Alexandria removes Dex’s arm from around her and hands him back his jacket.
“Thanks…So I guess I’m with you?”
“Hell yeah, you are. Don’t worry, Muñequita, I’ll protect you. Then, maybe after all this is over, you and I can get a drink,” Dex winks before heading back to his truck. Alexandria glances at me, and I can’t help but smile.
“What?” she snaps.
“Little doll?” I laugh.
“Yeah, that was even cheesier than Angel.” She rolls her eyes when she looks at Cash.
