Page 13 of Captive of Outlaws

Shit, so am I.All at once, I’m too tired to resist. Gettingout of here, even with these guys, feels like a better option that curling up and dying in my Mustang.

I spin on my heel and look at LJ. “It’sMaren,” I remind him. Then I pause. “You’ll really help me get my car out of here?”

“Already on it.” He whips out a phone and starts texting. I turn to Will.

“And you said something about food?”

Will straightens his arm, shaking what must be an expensive watch down to his wrist. “Breakfast—well, brunch—should be served any minute now.”

Served?Okay, whatever. I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic, but I decide it doesn’t matter. I’d scarf down a three-day-old gas station taquito right about now.

“Fine,” I say. “Take me with you.”

“Finally.” Will sighs. “Come on, then. The Porsche is parked up on the main road.”

He sets off, with LJ trailing and still texting, and I reluctantly, cautiously, what-the-fuck-am-I-doing-ly, follow.

Twigs and dead leaves crunch and crinkle under my work boots as I walk. The forest seems less deadly and ominous in the daytime, more alive and welcoming. The air is fresh and clear in my lungs—a welcome change from my usual oil and exhaust fumes—and it’squiet. Not silent, not fully, but not screeching with machinery and the grinding of car parts.

I don’t mind it.

We come to the lip of the road fairly quickly, which I recognize as the place where I skidded off last night. It’s much steeper than I would’ve thought from behind the wheel—honestly, I’m shocked I made it down so smoothly.

I’m about to grumble about climbing up what’s basicallya miniature cliff of rocks and mud, but Will and LJ are steps ahead of me. Will crouches and scrambles up to the left, nimbly scaling the rise of ground like it’s an automatic escalator, while LJ grapples with one hand and pulls himself up and over the edge with just the strength of his arms.

I stand, stunned. LJ’s built, so maybe no wonder he had the power to climb up like that, but Will’s easy, fluid climbing takes me by surprise.

“You coming?” LJ calls from up on the road. “Here.”

He extends down a hand, which I take. Will appears to the left and takes my other hand. Their skin on mine is warm, almost hot, and together, they pull me up like I weigh nothing. By the time my boots hit the dirt of the road, my breathing is coming hard.

“All good?” LJ asks. I nod, swallowing. Sure enough, the Porsche is there, waiting for us.

Will jingles his keys. “Let’s go,” he says, sounding just a tad irritated.

“Wait.”

I say it reflexively, not even sure why the word escapes my lips until it does. But both guys stop mid-stride and turn to me.

“Before we go,” I say, “before you take me anywhere, you should probably just know...I’m kind of on the run. From the law,” I add, even though it sounds stupid.

But it is true, technically. If that conservatorship is filed, then I’m legally way out of bounds. And I don’t doubt John already has the sheriff’s guys out looking for me.

Will looks at LJ. LJ smirks at Will.

And both of them laugh.

“What?” I say, folding my arms around my waistdefensively. “It’s true.”

“Nothing,” LJ says.

“Just...well, let’s just say we have that in common, greasemonkey.” Will flashes a smile. “Now, would you get in the damn car?”

Chapter Four

WILL DRIVES FAST.

And for me to say that, it means something.

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