Page 100 of A Little Naughty

Going into the bedroom, I try to shake the bad feelings, the tendrils of the dream. All of that is packed away. Far, far away. I’m not there anymore. I’m not her.

“Come home, Raif,” I whisper, my throat aching with fear.

I step into the lace panties, drop the nightgown over my head. It’s chilly, so I pull on the plush robe withWifemonogrammed on the pocket. Everything is quiet and dark now. The darkest hour is before dawn.

Picking up my phone, I stare at the black face. It’s after four, too late to text anyone. Or is it too early? How much longer? Has it been two hours? I didn’t note the exact time he left me.

Looking at my hand, I slide the delicate gold ring around my finger. I lift it to my lips then hug it to my chest. Are promises real if they’re said as a means to an end?

Only, I meant it when I said those words in front of that old man. For better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health.Til the end of time…

A noise outside makes me jump. Something is moving out there. My heart beats like a rabbit in my chest, and I go into the living room to turn on a light. Before I do, I peek through the curtain. I don’t see Porkchop. I don’t see anything. The moon isn’t on my side tonight.

Still, someone is there. Looking to the kitchen, the gun is on the table. The door is locked, but I hear footsteps on the walk. A quake moves through my torso, shaking my shoulders, and my phone lights up in my hand as the door starts to move.

CHAPTER28

RAIF

Bill Wolf has seen me, and I can tell by the glitter in his black eyes he knows it’s me. He knows I’m not letting him get away with this. The countdown has officially begun.

I jump to hide, but my boot hits pea gravel and slides out from under me, twisting my knee. It hurts like a motherfucker, and I bite back a swear. But I don’t have time to recover. Footsteps are approaching fast, and I’ve got to run.

Digging in my heels, I push through the pain, doing my best to stay in the darkness, to retrace my path to the gate. They’re right behind me, and they’re not injured. I hear a whistle and another sound like a signal, and I’m afraid I’m not going to make it. I’m afraid they’re going to circle around and cut me off.

I only saw four guys, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more. I don’t know where the fuck Bull is hiding, and he won’t hesitate to take me down.

The guard shack is in sight, and I lower my chin, pumping my arms and grasping with my fists. It’s ten yards away. The heat of another runner is at my flank. Pain shoots through my knee, but the adrenaline pumping in my veins turns it into fuel, helping me block out everything and focus on that break in the fence.

Someone grips my sleeve, but I snatch it away, tearing the fabric as I dive through the gate. Lights appear on the road, coming up fast, but I don’t stop. I run hard across the street, just clearing the second lane when the semi-truck barrels past, horns blasting.

It gives me enough time to hide, and I dive into the scrub on the side of the narrow road. Curling into a ball, I clasp a hand over my mouth to quiet my gasps for breath, my scream from the pain in my knee, the branches cutting my skin.

Holding steady, I listen as the two men run around, up and down, shining lights and whispering to each other. My hand tightens over my mouth, and I grind my teeth as minute after minute passes. I don’t dare use my phone—the light would draw their attention straight to me.

So I stay, vibrating in place, waiting for them to give up the search.

Bill saw me. He recognized me. He knows I’m in with the Stones, and for all I know, he’s calling off the job right now—or better yet, that snake is passing the reins to another guy while he slithers out the back door.

My brother would be dumb enough to think it’s a promotion. He’s in charge now, and he’ll be the asshole holding the bag when the cavalry rides into town.Don’t do it, Bull… I think, but I can’t warn him. I can’t do anything.

The guys are slowing down, and my chest is tight. I imagine Bill in his truck right now, making a fast exit, leaving these dumbasses to take the fall.

What will he do next? Go back to Branson? I can’t imagine him walking away that easily. A guy like that would want revenge. It’s when the answer hits me like a sledgehammer.

A guy like that would go to my place.

He’d go after me—or he’d go after the one thing that would hurt me more than death.Jemima…

I can’t wait any longer for these assholes to go away. Pulling out my phone, I’m about to light it up when I hear them talking. They’re finally giving up, and I hold, waiting, rocking softly in place until finally they’re far enough away.

My hands shake as I unlock my phone and rapidly pull up the texting app. A text is already waiting for me from the same number.

Unknown

What happened?

I ignore it, instead sending a message to the one person I know will get here fast.

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