Page 15 of Nash

I entice the Mercedes to pull up on my left as I press my window down, racing over the bridge. I won’t risk Vale. I won’t shoot across her. Then, I grab my gun, thankful I’m a leftie, too, as the black Mercedes with its tinted windows appears, menacing and racing beside us, gunning its engine.

“Oh my god.” Out of the corner of my eye, I clock Vale burying her face in her hands. She’s losing it. “Oh my god, I’m gonna die.”

“You’re not gonna die.”

“Yes, I am. I’m gonna die.”

“I won’t let you.”

“News flash: you’re still not the boss of me.”

“Vale, I got this.”

I steady the steering wheel with my right hand, the gun itching to fire in my left.

“No, you don’t. You think you’re in control, but we’re going too fast, and there’s too much speed and bullets and shit.” She’s rambling. “I’m gonna die on a fucking scary bridge, plunging into a cold, dark river below, drowning in an ugly-ass, preppy mafia minivan with a mean man.” She’s losing it. “And I’ve never even been in love or had a good kiss or even a legit orgasm. Lewis Hamilton will never know my greatness.”

I can’t reply. I can’t process.

I wait for their tinted passenger window to lower, and as it does … I aim my muzzle with its silencer and pull the trigger, unloading the clip.

The Mercedes swerves left, and I speed up. I don’t know who I hit, but I watch in the rearview mirror as they lose control and crash into the side rails of the bridge.

For miles and minutes, Vale doesn’t speak. She stares out of the front window as I drive north, with my gun resting on my lap.

I let my heart rate drop, my pulse calming. I make my mind work, guessing who that was and knowing what to do next.

We’re out of danger for now. It’s clear. We’re safe … but then I glance over, and my heart starts racing again, facing a different threat.

In her panic, Vale hasn’t noticed how her naughty black dress is bunched up, exposing her milky legs in those thigh-high stockings with little white bows. Then I let my glance linger over what I shouldn’t and stifle my groan when I see what I’ve always wondered, obsessed about actually, and now I know…

Vale wears white cotton panties with a little red bow.

Oh, fuck.My teeth grab my bottom lip as I force my stare back to the road. In a moment like this, I should be focused on business, but I can’t. I chew on guilt and lust, and yes, fear, too.

I’m not afraid to kill evil men. I’m not afraid to protect my family and the ones I love. I’m not afraid of my vow to six men and every dark and salacious ritual we perform that ensures it.

But what I’ve been afraid of … ever since she was eighteen and I was thirty-two … is that I crave Vale Monroe like I’m an evil, starving man.

CHAPTER FIVE

VALE

We’ve crossedto the north side of town. It’s nowhere near where I live, but I’m not speaking. Snark, terror, or the truth keeps flying from my mouth.

It’s best kept shut.

For now.

Nash turns into a car dealership. Pressing a button on his rearview mirror, the security arms to the car lot swing open.

Once again, I’m shocked, but I don’t utter a peep this time.

He pulls around to the service bay at the back, pressing another button on his mirror. The last bay door on the right rolls open, and lights flicker on when we pull in. Pressing the button again, the bay door closes behind us as he cuts off the engine.

The silence is awkward. The stillness is weird while he stares at my profile. “Since when do you shut up?”

I turn my face away. “I’m busy ignoring you.”

---