Page 27 of Easy Rider
“No.” Chase wraps an arm around her. “You stay here with Jenny and the kids, honeypot. We’ve got this.”
“You sure?” Jenny asks.
“Yeah,” I say, heading down the hall, hearing Chase’s and Shane’s heavy footsteps behind me.
Outside on Jenny’s porch, Chase points to his Rover. And after Shane and I retrieve our pistols from our trucks, we all climb into Chase’s ride.
I take the passenger seat, and Shane is next to the car seat in back. It’s a short drive. The road is barely paved, but we don’t feel the potholes and bumps much in Chase’s car. The thing rides like an airplane.
Chase has the music off, and we’re all silent, until Shane asks, “Was Emma expecting some kind of trouble?”
“No.” I say, stretching my fingers, trying to loosen the joints in my hands. I’m so tight I’m sure I could break a bone just by moving. “But she threw a chair at Cletus the other night, and he’s been following her.”
“I’m guessing she had a good reason for the chair,” Chase mutters, hanging a left.
“She did,” I grumble. “He was trying to strangle Marguerite McCurdie.”
Shane sighs. “And Buck was just arrested for breaking into Mrs. Alby’s place during her husband’s funeral. Goddamn, those Johnsons are all fuckers. Aren’t they?”
“Every last one of them.” I focus on the shadowy view out the window as Chase slows the Rover. We wind our way down Misty’s long, dark driveway.
“What’s the plan?” Chase asks tightly, but he doesn’t wait for an answer. “I say we park before we get too close and go the rest of the way on foot.”
“Exactly. I’ll take the front.” I take a deep breath, gearing myself up for whatever’s coming my way, as Chase pulls off the road. The wheels crunch over a patch of pine needles before coming to a stop.
“I’ve got the back,” Shane offers.
Chase cuts the engine. “And I’ll stay loose, so I can be wherever I’m needed.” He leans across me and opens his glove compartment. “I brought my best friend.” He gives me a sly smile before taking hold of his massive Smith & Wesson 500.
I don’t need anything except the Colt Cobra I’ve had for years, and I know Shane is probably carrying his. We’ve all had guns for as long as I can remember. You can’t be too careful when you have the Johnsons and their drug operation as neighbors.
We exit the car, and the second before my feet touch the ground, I hear a scream. “Get away from me, you freak!” Emma’s voice echoes into the night. And my fucking plan goes out the window.
The thought of Emma in danger, the sound of her fear, drives a hot fire poker through my heart, sending me charging.
I track up the driveway, staying close to the trees, only vaguely aware of Shane and Chase behind me. I don’t know this property well, but I’m certain there’s only one way out. My blood is boiling.
I don’t even have to see him. Fucking Cletus. Iknowit’s him, and he’s not getting past me, unless he decides to four-wheel it through Misty’s back field.
I stay low, creeping closer to the house with my gun at the ready. The yard is dark, but the front porch is lit up. And it looks like every lamp in the house is on. My fucking heart makes a complete stop when I see him in the window.Fuck. No.
“Cletus might not be alone,” Chase whispers next to me, reminding me that he’s here.
“With Buck in jail that leaves Billy and Jeb.” Shane flanks my other side. “Remember, I’ve got the back door,” he growls. Chase and I watch as he takes off into rustling bushes.
“I’ll cover you,” Chase says in a flat tone. He has his game face on. Leaving me no doubt that he’s ready to do whatever it takes to help me rescue Emma.
“Roger that.” And then I’m off, rushing to the house. When I get to the edge of Misty’s lawn I slow down, staying close to the trees for cover.
I do a quick scan around me. I’ve lost all track of Chase.
Misty’s front door opens, and Cletus storms onto the porch. Christ, he has Emma over his shoulder and she’s screaming and pounding on his back. Red-hot anger rages through my veins, turning my blood to fire.Get your filthy hands the fuck off my woman.I use every ounce of willpower I have not to break into a full run and go batshit crazy on that motherfucker.
I keep hold of my emotions, hearing my heart bash against the walls of my chest as I watch Cletus tromp through the gravel. He has his back to me, carrying Emma to his truck. Oh hell no, he’s not going to get inside.
When Emma lifts her head, I think—I hope—she sees me. Cletus is preoccupied with her, he doesn’t notice as I creep up the lawn, crouch around his truck, and approach him from behind.
Emma locks eyes with me, and I bring my finger to my lips, silently asking her to keep quiet.
