Page 48 of Captive of Outlaws

Tuck’s face falls. “Just that...you know,” he stammers. “You lost them in an accident. A car accident.”

Will sweeps his blue eyes from Tuck to me to Tuck again. He doesn’t say anything, and neither does Tuck, but something is off. I think back to yesterday, to my conversation with Tuck in the kitchen, to what we had discussed.

“I never said it was a car accident,” I say slowly. “I just said they died.”

Tuck blinks. “Really?” he says, and frowns, “because I could have sworn you—”

“Just a lucky guess,” Will cuts in. He pivots his gaze to me. “Given the family obsession with cars, it does make sense, doesn’t it?”

I grip my coffee mug a little harder. It does. I mean, car accidents kill tons of people every year. I was kind of obsessed with the research in the days after my parents died. But still...

“Yeah, I guess so,” I say, but I don’t fully believe it. “Can we talk about something else? Like just cars?”

Tuck nods. “Absolutely.”

I loosen my shoulders a bit. “Okay.” I take a deep breath. “Anyway, so I need some parts. A lot of parts, actually. But there’s a guy just outside of Nottingham with an auto supply store where I can order them up. Do you think Rob would mind if I went this morning? I can take my car.”

“You shouldn’t go out by yourself,” Will says. “Probably shouldn’t go out at all, really. Let one of us go.”

I let out a short laugh. “Yeah, right.” I lean forward onto the table. “Here’s the thing: I’ve known Jimmy for years. And unless you’re a friend of his, he’s going to rip you off or outright refuse to sell to you. No offense,” I add, even though my tone is dripping with offense, “but if any of you pretty boys show up at his shop, he probably wouldn’t give you the time of day. Just flip the sign toclosedand turn off the lights.”

Will works his jaw. Tuck snickers. I glance at my phone.

“It’s Thursday, so he’s open today, at 11. It’ll be a quick drive. I can be there and back in no time.”

“Can’t you just order these things online?” Tuck says.

I smile, tip my head, and reach out to pat the back of his hand. “I’m afraid some things are still pretty old school. Andthe world of specialty car parts is one of them. These are guys who still write paper checks and use fax machines. But if you need something, they’ll get it to you next day. You kind of just have to work the network. You know what I mean? It’s like a secret society.”

“I see,” Tuck says. He and Will share a look. I’m starting to get really sick of the sense that they have some inside joke I’m not in on.

“Today, you say?” Will says. “I think that you and me are going to be busy.”

Tuck nods. “Rob too.”

“But maybe...” Will sucks in a breath.

Tuck’s eyes go wide behind his glasses. “Oh, that’d be something to see.”

“It’d be good for him,” Will says. “He needs to learn a little respect. And you’re not going to get more intimidating-looking protection than him.”

A sinking feeling settles into the pit of my stomach.

“You guys don’t mean...”

They both look at me.

“Yeah. We’ll send LJ with you.”

Chapter Thirteen

A FEW HOURS LATER,I lean against the body of the Mustang, biting the edge of my thumb nervously, the terrible habit I’ve had since I was a kid and haven’t indulged in quite some time.

Jimmy’s place opens at 11, and it’s 10:15, when I told the guys that I’d be ready for LJ—but of course, it looks like he’s going to be late. I sigh, spit out my thumb, and fold my arms. I added some motorcycle boots to my outfit, and my hair ties also arrived—an embarrassing array of choices, but I opted for a plain black elastic; no need to be froofy for Jimmy. Or for LJ.

I drum my fingers on my biceps. It’s bright and clear and sunny, with a hint of Virginia heat creeping in. It’ll be summer before we know it.

Will I still be here then? Stay through the long dog days of August into the Indian summer of September and beyond?

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