Page 23 of Jake's Angel

Deciding I need to tell her something, and not wanting Sadie to take all the heat for what we’ve done, I fill in the gaps where I can.

“I lived with my grandparents in Baron’s Edge. Me and Sadie, we went to the same school and became best friends our freshman year. She helped me get out of a shitty situation and brought me to Oak Ridge to start a new life for myself.” Skyler’s eyes narrow, but she remains silent, and I continue explaining. “I can’t go into specifics. It’s not safe. What I can tell you is I wasn’t about to stay in that house any longer than I had to, and when Sadie found out I needed help to get away, she brought me here.”

“How does Mack fit into all of this?” I’m about to answer her question when Sadie grabs my hand, giving me a subtle shake of her head.

“You know as well as I do, Sky—if any of the guys figure out I helped her sneak out of her house and run away, I’ll never get my freedom.” Sadie’s eyes are pleading as she holds Skyler’s eyes in the mirror. We quickly pull into the mall parking lotand Sadie grabs the first available parking spot and shuts off the car. Spinning to face Skyler, she says, “They have Hawk tracking everything I do. He’s in my phone, my car, even my home security system. If they knew I could bypass all their tricks to keep me under their thumb, I’d be placed on lockdown in the clubhouse until I turned thirty!”

Something resembling sympathy crosses Skyler’s face. She drops her head in her hands and rubs them back into her hair.

“All right. I see your point. But Sadie, when they find out, and you know they will …” Skyler looks between the two of us, “You’re both fucked! I won’t snitch on you and if anyone asks, I won’t tell anyone who you are,butyou owe me big time for this!”

We both let out a long sigh of relief and move to open the car doors. Skyler emerges from the back, still glaring at both of us.

“Come on. Let’s get you into the mall and figure out what clothes go with the new `do.” Sadie says. Her mood swings are so crazy sometimes I can’t keep up.

On the way in, we come across a beautiful 1965 Ford Mustang GT-350 with a stunning young woman leaning against the door.

“Hey, Jayde!” Sadie calls out. The young woman smiles widely.

“Now I know I’m in trouble.” Skyler grumbles. “Both of you girls and a fugitive? My day keeps getting better and better.”

“Fugitive?” The woman named Jayde asks, looking puzzled. Sadie waves her off. “Skyler’s being dramatic.”

“Is this yours?” Almost squealing, I rush over to get a better look at the car.

“You like my baby?” Jayde asks. She’s slightly shorter than me, curvy, with long deep burgundy hair. Streaks of blonde high lights cascade down her back, her blue eyes are striking. She’s beaming with pride, talking about her car, as she should be. It’s dark purple with two gold racing stripes running downthe center. It’s made to stand out and draw attention. This is a beautiful car, and the color looks like it fits the owner perfectly.

“Aves, this is Jayde. She's going to help us with your makeover.”

“Daddy wanted me to learn on a stick shift. I didn’t care as long as I got it in my color, and it rumbled when it started. It’s not a Harley, but it’s loud like one,” Jayde says smiling.“Close enough.”

“I couldn’t agree more. If it has a loud rumble, beautiful body, and moves fast, I’m all over it.” Sadie laughs at me, nodding her agreement with my admission.

“Who knew Mack had such great taste in cars, right?” Skyler calls out. I pause, feeling my face pale, not sure if I heard her correctly.

“Mack?” My head snaps in their direction. “Mack is your dad?”

What the hell was Sadie thinking bringing me to a town where the one person who could blow this entire plan to shit obviously lives and has family?

I know Sadie said she had a home and family here, but it never occurred to me we would be among people who personally know my grandfather’s bodyguard. The same bodyguard who will be on a mission to find me by now.

“Yeah, he and my brother, Jake, like their bikes and cars like their women—fast and beautiful. But don’t tell my mama I said that.”She smiles widely. “You look like you’re having amomentover there.”

Jake? The same Jake I kissed and ditched earlier?I feel heat creeping up my neck and face.

“You all right?” Jayde asks, laughing at my glowing complexion. I’m thankful she’s ignorant of the fact it’s her brother and not her car that has me so flushed.

To deviate the attention from my glowing cheeks, I return her attention to the car. “I’m definitely having a moment, and I’m shocked you don’t have the same feeling every time you drive it. I mean, do you have any idea what you have here? Is it a 289?”

“A what? You’re speaking axle grease and motor oil to a shopping and makeover kind of girl. I don’t know anything about this car except how to put gas in it and look cute driving it,” she answers, still amused at my drooling over her baby, but she has no idea what a dream this car is.

Sadie laughs from behind me. “She’s not kidding. Jayde knows nothing about cars. She loves numbers and girly things.”

“Hey! My love for those girly things is why you asked me to help. Don’t forget that.” Jayde snaps back.

“Where I'm from, this car is the stuff guys cream themselves over. Hot girls and hot cars.Of course, they wouldn’t know what to do with a car like this or a girl like you,” I laugh. “It’s not a dig, it’s the truth. They don’t know how to handle girls who speak their mind. They assume we’re all supposed to look pretty and not think. Those boys know nothing beyond the sticker price when it comes to cars, or women for that matter. If it’s fast, easy, and purrs—they’ll take it,” I joke.

“Ha! Good luck getting any kind of action in this car. She’s beautiful, she growls, and she moves with quickness, but she’s not equipped for foreplay or fornication. She’s too tight of a fit.”

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