Page 23 of Locked Down

In her less confident moments, she wasn’t sure she could pull it off.

Doris and Larry had been so disappointed in her when she had written her uncle to come to save her. They were crushed that she did not want to stay with them and share their lifestyle. But honest to God, what fifteen year old wanted to be in bumfuck Texas with no one around but their weird parents and other whacked-out people like her weird parents. She wanted to go to the movies with friends…hell, she wanted tohavefriends. To go on dates, go to a real school, not some communal study room learning about proper techniques for farming beans, building beehives, or worming cattle. They hadn’t understood and once she moved to Massachusetts to go to boarding school, communication between them had dwindled to a card at Solstice. They didn’t believe in Christmas.

She turned off the water and toweled off. She usually wore her hair up but her head ached so she decided down would have to do. She pulled out a navy pant suit with a white blouse and got dressed. Her uncle liked her to wear dresses or skirts, but she’d been shot at last night, and if she was defiant in response, well, tough shit..

She looked in the mirror to apply her make up and studied her reflection. Dark smudges under her hazel eyes emphasized how tired she was. A few small cuts on her face from the debris from the shot-up door stood out against her pale skin. She didn’t bother to use concealer to hide anything. Her freckles and cuts could just have their moment in the sun today. She swiped on some mascara and eyeliner, then tossed the tube back into her makeup drawer. She grabbed her purse and had her hand on her doorknob when it hit her that she was going to have to take public transport.

Her shoulders drooped. She didn’t mind it usually. Opting to ride with a bunch of other people was better for the environment but today she was feeling a little battered and bruised. Taking the bus just seemed like a monumental task. She could take an Uber, but she was saving as much money as she could. She had no idea about the condition of the solar farm, and she was sure she’d have to live on her savings for a while.

She could call Ryker. Heat filled her cheeks. She’d kissed him last night. She’d been half drunk from the whiskey and totally discombobulated after what had happened. Mortified heat climbed into her cheeks, and she patted her cool hand on her face. The idea of calling him made her slightly nauseated again.

He’d kissed her back though. She brushed that thought aside. What was the other guy’s name? Rush. That was it. She scrolled through her phone and found it. She bit her lip and called the number.

“’Lo?”a groggy voice on the other end answered.

“I’m sorry. Is this Rush?”

“Vic?”

“Yes. I was wondering if I could get you to give me a ride to my uncle’s?”

“I’m off shift but?—”

“Oh, my god. I am so sorry. I didn’t think. You go back to sleep. I’ll take the bus. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay I’ll?—”

“Really, go back to sleep.”She clicked off the call and swore silently. It hadn’t even occurred to her that he’d stayed in front of her building all night, even though Ryker had said he would, and now she’d just woken him up.Shit. Shit. Shit.The bus was going to have to do.

She left her place and two minutes later, walked out of her building. She turned and headed to the bus stop. Two men got out of a silver car and stood on the sidewalk in front of her.

“Are you Vic Carlyle?”the taller one asked. He was dressed in camouflage pants and an olive-drab t-shirt. The shorter man beside him was dressed in black cargo pants and a white and red plaid shirt. He was wearing a red ball cap.

“Can I help you?”Vic asked, her voice an octave higher than it normally was.

“We’re here to protect you.”The shorter one said.“I’m Mike. That’s Tom.”He pointed to the other man.

Her breath caught in her lungs.“Protect me?”She tried to clear her throat. If her voice got any higher only dogs would hear her.

“Yeah. Your uncle wants us to protect you.”

Oh, good Lord, these guys were part of his base. Those people had volatile reputations.

Mike shifted and she saw the butt of a gun peeking out from under his t-shirt.

Tom said,“After what happened yesterday, you can’t be too careful.”

“That’s very kind of you both, but I’m okay. I wasn’t the target.”She started to move around them.“I’m just heading to the office. Thanks so much for the offer, but I’m good.”

Tom and Mike shifted so they were blocking her path.“I don’t think you understand,”Mike commented.

“The lady said she’s fine but thanks for your offer boys.”Ryker had come up behind her without her knowing. He wrapped his arm around her and turned her back the way she’d come.

“Who the hell are you?”Tom demanded.

“I’m the head of Senator Davis’s security team. He’ll be happy to hear you offered to help, but I’ve got it from here.”

He moved her quickly to his Porsche and assisted her inside. He crawled in behind the wheel and then drove away quickly.“You can’t go out on your own.”

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