Page 15 of Outlaw

Freedom or thirty years in prison?

He’s clearly going to turn left. Why wouldn’t he. I should’ve run. I shouldn’t have trusted him.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

He rubs my leg and leans to the right.

What the hell?

We didn’t go left. Maybe there’s another way around… except I’ve studied the map of this town inside out. I know roads that lead to paths that lead to other roads. I had to in case I had to run. There’s no way to go north from here.

I swallow hard and lean against his back as his big hand holds my calf. I don’t know what’s happening, but right now, I’m okay with that. I don’t need to know. Outlaw is in charge. He’s making the moves. He’s making the decisions. All I have to do… is hang on.

We drive like this for what seems like minutes, but judging by the shifting in the sun, I’m sure it’s more like hours.

Outlaw turns onto a stone path, and we ride up a few miles before a turquoise lake unfolds in front of us. The shoreline is rocky with giant glacial rocks and colorful gravel in shades of green, red, and white. Waves lap gently at the shore and seagulls dive and pluck at the grass along the lake. The sight is so incredible that I’m shocked to see we’re the only ones here. Not only that, but this place doesn’t look touched. It’s like it’s been set aside in space and time just for us.

Wind whispers through the trees and the popping gravel beneath the tires comes to a stop as Outlaw parks behind a pine tree.

The peaty smell of algae and fresh air takeover as he climbs off the bike and reaches for me. My hair blows in the wind and he stands in front, blocking the sun from my vision.

I stare up into his dark brown eyes, his hat turned back. There’s something different in his gaze now, something that hadn’t been there before. A feral look that’s both wild and protective, like he wouldn’t let anything hurt me.

My stomach tightens and my heart speeds up.

He cups my face with his rough hand and leans in slowly, kissing my lips ever so gently.

Tingles spread upward from my toes as our lips brush together.

He pulls away. “We need to talk.”

I’m dazed. I don’t want to talk. I gulp down a breath and then another, still staring up at him.

“Do we need to?”

He nods. “Yeah. We need to.”

I sit back on the bike and dig my feet into the rocky shoreline, staring out at the lake as waves splash gently. For a second, I picture myself free.

I imagine just the two of us, pushing oars through the water as a slew of turtles plop into the lake. I can hear the rustling of food wrappers and the pop of a can opening as we laugh and enjoy a picnic on the beach. I envision his hands on my skin under the warm sunlight and the soft brush of his lips against mine.

“My buddy Ruin recognized you from the salon. I have to tell him something.” There’s pain behind his eyes as though he wants to protect me, as though he has an obligation to.

My stomach turns as I stare at him. “Take me in. It needs to be done. I did something wrong. I should pay the price. It’s what’s fair, Outlaw. This was too much to ask.”

He stares down at the ground and kicks the gravel with the toe of his boot. “Yeah, I’m not doing that.”

I narrow my gaze and look up at him. “What?”

“I don’t know,” he sighs. “You’re like this ameba and you’ve crawled under my skin. I don’t want to let you go yet.”

“Ameba… crawled under your skin? How… romantic?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “You know what I mean. I suck at this shit. I haven’t felt like this… ever. You were wrong to rob those banks, but you do things for the right reasons. You… love and you care and… I called St. Michael’s late last night. Your nephew is there, room two twenty-eight. They gave me shit, but eventually they put me through to talk to him. He’s sounding good.”

“You talked to him?”

He nods. “Good kid. Says he’s really looking forward to that trip to see the buffalo. I’m not sure you can disappoint him now.”

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