Page 1 of Chasing Storm

Chapter 1

What started out as a forced marriage to forge an alliance has now become the life I was meant to lead. Joey is more than I could have ever imagined. My childhood friend, nemesis, and now husband, has gone from stranger to lover in a matter of months. Wanting out of our environment was the main factor that brought us together. A gangster’s princess and a street fighter, determined to uproot our Chicago lives and start anew. And it’s easy to do it now since our fathers are out of the picture. Mine died and Joey’s dad is missing in action. But we haven’t got time to worry about his disappearing act now, and as soon as Joey transfers leadership over to one of his bodyguards, Frankie, we’ll be on our way.

The air is heavy when we reach Frankie’s house. I stare at it, and dread steams the car windows as I notice the influx of men.

With a last plea, I ask Joey, “Promise me you won’t change your mind?”

He grins at my comment. “Not in a million years.”

My Romeo.

Inside the house, I’m told to sit outside a door while Joey goes into a room to talk to Frankie. Snow balances on the window ledges behind me, while spider ice forms along its frame. Another man stands at the end of the hall, hands folded in front, eyes straight ahead, but watching my every move. My leg bounces, wondering what’s being said since it’s so quiet. Too quiet. I hope Joey didn’t walk into an ambush, except why would he? He’s giving over his reign to Frankie without hesitation. No argument. Frankie has a good rapport with many in Cooper’s Crew, and Joey has planted the seed in many people’s heads.

The man in the hall presses his finger to his ear like he’s listening for instructions. Maybe instructions on what to do with me? This gesture doesn’t help my growing anxiousness. It isn’t until Joey comes barreling out of the room, grabbing my arm and rushing to the car, that every nerve screams and pokes at my skin.

I stumble, glance over my shoulder, waiting for someone to come running after us. What happened? A rush of blood pounds in my ears, muffling the questions I’m firing off at Joey. He’s too focused on getting to the car, ordering me in, and squealing the tires down the street. My mouth has gone dry, eyes darting to the side mirror, anticipating a swarm of men gaining traction.

My questions go unanswered until he tells me to call Sean and then he reveals everything. Words vibrate in my head. Black market. A hit on Joey. Five million dollars. This was a done deal. Frankie was supposed to take over Cooper’s Crew and we’re supposed to be starting a new life. Instead, Frankie wants in. He claims he needs the money to overthrow Leo. Leo! My brother. Not only did Frankie double-cross Joey, but he also plans on destroying my family. It might not have been the family life I wanted, but it’s my brother.

I’m crying. Sweating. There are no words to explain this change in events. Joey and I peeled away our layers—an exposed rawness—in order for us to move on. Make a boring life for ourselves. This was our time to flourish and follow our dreams. Now, those dreams are wrenched from us. Silenced by a vindictive, unknown person who has put us in the direct line of a tornado as danger barrels down on us.

We’ve been on the road, swapping out the car, and then BAM, Joey tells me he’s going to drop me off in a town I’ve never been to. Without him. Did I get sucked into the Twilight Zone? What about us? Our goals? We are a package deal.

Tears corrode my argument. Joey wants to keep me safe. I want a life and death with him. He doesn’t see it my way. All he sees is running and violence. Joey believes I deserve to finish college; move to a house with a white picket fence. Marry and have children. Except I want his heart.

Joey has become my life. A man draped in danger yet who treats me like a queen. And not just any queen, buthisqueen. I’ve never been anyone’s anything, let alone a queen. He’s my lifeline, and it doesn’t matter if our lives are cut short. It wouldn’t be much of a life if Joey wasn’t in it. My heart swells, and my body buzzes from an ethereal sexual craving at his mere touch.

I throw myself at him. My kisses, fondling hands, and words convince Joey that we belong together. We’re committed to marriage and our promises to find a better life. This road might not lead us to the life we want, but at least we’ll die in each other’s arms trying.

Joey’s driving, me snuggled against his side, thinking nothing could go wrong this soon. Then his regular phone rings, and when Joey answers and puts it on speaker, the menacing voice of James, his father, a man burning in the fires of hell, responds. The black-market hit was his doing. He’s coming after us.

Out of nowhere, someone clips our car, and we’re spinning. In my head, I can hear James’ laughter while my eyes squeeze shut and Joey’s hand presses my body against the seat. This is it. We didn’t get much of a chance. Our lives gone because of a man seething with revenge. A man diseased by the streets, and loyal to no one. Hungry to take control of all the dirtiness men do to become rich, no matter the cost to innocent lives.

The car comes to a halt, and I take a second to catch my bearings. I slowly rise into a seated position, looking at Joey. His head is bleeding.

Grabbing the bottom of my shirt, I kneel at his side, dabbing at the cut, and ask, “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Joey sits me back down, pressing his palm against his head. “Sit, Tea.”

I follow his eyes to the other car. The driver is getting out, walking toward us, and Joey pushes me to the passenger’s side floor. He moves his hand to his left calf, shoves up his pants leg, wrapping his hand around a gun, and my eyes lock onto it. He inches his hand until the pistol rests against his thigh. The man is near his window. Joey shoulders the door open, shoots out of his seat, yet remains behind the door for protection.

The man’s hands rise in surrender when he says, “Dude, I’m sorry. I was…” His eyes flit to Joey’s head. “Shit! You’re bleeding. Let me call—”

“No, I’m fine.” Joey slips the gun back under his pants and falls into his seat.

“But you might need stitches.”

As Joey is backing up, he says, “I’ll have it looked at. Have a good day.”

There are sirens in the distance, so Joey doesn’t give the guy another response. In seconds, we’re back on the road, his gaze dancing between the mirror and the road, remaining silent.

Joey turns onto a dirt road, kills the engine, and turns to me. “Tea, don’t ever get up unless I tell you to. That guy could have had a gun and shot you.”

My mouth drops open. “You’re bleeding. I’m not about to cower under the seat while your head is gushing blood.”

“Damn right you will if your life is in danger.”

I throw my arms in the air. “Don’t boss me around, Joey Cooper. We’re in this together, which means we help each other out. This isn’t—”

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