Page 2 of The Grave Robber

My actions only fueled her rage. Every time she opened hermouth—the pretty one with lips like overripe peaches—I revved the engine again,not even trying to hide the smirk I wore as I adjusted the strap on my helmetwith my free hand.

If not for the tears shimmering in her eyes, threatening tospill over remarkably dark lashes and slide down smooth, flushed cheeks, Iwouldn’t have given up the game so soon. But she was clearly disturbed, so Iput the bike in gear and started to drive off.

The massive red truck behind me, waiting for the spot I wasabout to vacate, gave me pause. She was seconds away from losing the pumpagain, and despite her mental state—or maybe because of it—I didn’t want to seethat happen. I hooked a thumb over my shoulder, indicating the dually, thenpointed an index finger, half-shrouded by a black leather glove, toward herpickup.

She caught on quickly. Her eyes widened with realization,and she hurried back to her single cab. As she eased it forward, I backed awayfrom the pump, blocking the red truck’s entrance until she’d staked a solidclaim.

The bird I got from the other driver for that maneuver satbetter with me than the tears I’d gotten from the woman, so I left the stationbaffled, agitated, and oddly satisfied.

I’d laugh about it later. Much later. For now, I prayedthere wasn’t an actual video. Surely, people had better things to do.

It took Jason crossing his arms over his chest and leaningback in his chair to assess me in more depth for me to snap back to thepresent. I glanced at the kid again, checked my watch, then questioned myfriend with a gentle arch of my brow. I was sophisticated like that.

Jason’s expression was both curious and cautious. Hesquinted and circled an index finger at me as he went through a mentalchecklist. “Same dark hair with the requisite bad haircut.”

“Bad?” I asked, only slightly offended.

“Same shifty eyes.”

“Shifty?”

“Same stubborn jaw.”

I lifted one corner of my mouth. “Some would call itstrong.”

“Even with all of that—”

“Masculine.”

“—you’re different.”

“Rakish, even.”

“You’ve changed.”

I picked up the beer, downed it, and set the bottle on thetable before tossing the guy a reassuring smirk. “You haven’t.”

He scoffed. “You might be surprised.”

I gestured toward Betty. “Besides the fact that you’ve uppedyour game, that is.” I studied the brunette, who was several years older thanJason, and peered into a moment nobody had a right to see. Nobody in theirright mind, anyway.

Sadly, I’d never been in my right mind, even as a kid. But atraumatic event five years ago made me even more of a freak, and over time Ilearned to do things that would challenge even the most open of minds.

And this instance was no different. I relaxed and let themoment drift into my mind. Decades from now, Betty would lay in a hospital bed,surrounded by the diverse family she’d accumulated. A ragtag collection ofcastoffs, children she and her husband had taken in, a surrogate aunt here, alost-and-found grandfather there, and a small but tight-knit army of bikers,the most loyal people on Earth. And by her side, holding her fragile hand, washer husband, Jason, aged yet somehow still handsome. Fucker.

I gestured toward the brunette with a nod and looked back atsaid fucker. “She’s a good person.”

“She meets your approval?” Jason asked, surprise registeringin the barely perceptible rounding of his hazel eyes. “That’s a first.”

It was, indeed. “Maybe you’ll actually listen this time.”Three failed marriages were enough for most people to swear off the age-oldtradition. Not Jason Vigil. The man was nothing if not determined. “There’s justone problem,” I added.

Jason made a resigned hissing sound and sat back in his chair.“Here it comes.”

“She’s too good for you.”

After a long, contemplative moment, Jason nodded. “I’m veryaware.” He watched me, his gaze glistening and sharp as though he were tryingto see into my soul.

Good luck with that. It was as black and murky as athunderhead at midnight. No amount of staring could penetrate that muchswirling darkness.

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