Page 133 of Truck Up

Ricky grabs his radio and answers. “I’m right around the corner. On my way.” He hooks his radio back to his chest and looks at us. “Well, boys. I’m sorry, but this is going to have to wait.”

“Of course, we understand,” Chase says.

“We’re going to get a crew in here to sweep the place and log evidence. Until they’re done, I need you two to stay out. Clear?”

“Yeah, not a problem.” Chase calls after him. Ricky is halfway to his police car when Tanner Koch’s truck speeds past like he’s in the race of his life.

“What the fuck,” Chase says.

My heart plummets as I watch his truck disappear down the road, the tires screaming in protest as he accelerates. Fear grips me, clouding my judgment.

“No,” I whisper, the word a desperate plea against the rising tide of dread.

Only one scenario could explain that reckless burst of speed, only one reason for the frantic urgency propelling him forward.

My blood runs cold, the chilling realization sinking in with a sickening thud.

I sprint past Ricky, ignoring his startled calls, and jump onto my bike. My girl is in danger. I can feel it, a primal instinct, a desperate need to protect her.

Today is the day Badger pays the price for his sins. Today, he will feel my wrath. I’ll make sure of it.

Chapter 29

My kind of chaos.

Amelia

This is an impossible situation, and I have no idea how I’m going to escape.

I’m trapped in Badger’s grip and surrounded by a group of people as old or older than my parents. The only person younger than me is the cashier. He’s barely out of high school. At some point, he snuck around back and slipped into the storeroom. He’s currently guarding the door that Badger dragged me through moments ago.

I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to do if Badger decides to exit through the storeroom. If Badger wants to get through him, he’ll do it without difficulty.

“The police are on their way,” Betty calls out. “They should be here soon.”

She runs back to us, out of breath and frantic. She slipped away without a word and disappeared shortly after we were discovered. The only saving grace in this situation is Badger doesn’t have a gun or weapon. The only person he can hurt is me, making it possible for Betty to make that call.

“Ha!” Badger snorts. “We’ll be long gone before they arrive. Ricky’s probably sitting in some open field taking a nap.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I say. “Just let me go. I won’t press charges.”

My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising panic as I wait for his reaction. I claw at his arm. His grip around my neck is too tight. It’s hard to breathe. Dark spots form in the peripheral of my vision as his grip does the opposite. I don’t know how much more of this I can withstand before I pass out.

If I pass out, I’ve lost. He’ll drag me out of here with ease.

I’ve always known he had the potential to hurt me, but he’s never acted this erratically. It’s as if he’s lost his mind.

Badger’s grip tightens, digging into my flesh. Pain shoots through me, but it’s nothing compared to the fear that’s constricting my throat. I try to twist away, but he’s too strong.

He snarls, his face contorts in a grotesque mask of rage and lust. “You think you can just walk away from me? After all this time? No, princess. You don’t get to walk away from me ever again.”

Please, God, hurry.

I squeeze my eyes shut, the image of Christian’s furious face flashing before me. If he knew what Badger was doing to me, he’d kill him. But he doesn’t because I pushed him away. All I want is to see him one more time. I’d tell him how much I love him. Tell him that the stupid poker game doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I have him.

“Please,” I beg, my voice trembling. “I don’t love you. I never have.”

He leans closer, his breath hot against my skin. “You will,” he growls, his eyes burning with a dangerous intensity. “You’ll learn to love me.”

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