Page 4 of Love Me Dangerous

“Yeah,” I say as a tight pain grows hot behind my breastbone. I’m torn between wanting to insist I pay the girl back and continuing to the horse trailer. The driver hasn’t returned yet, so my window of opportunity is still open.

Shit.

What about the guy in the bathroom popping pills? It could be Tylenol, but what if it’s not, and he gets behind the wheel?

Walking purposefully, my head tipped low to screen my face from any cameras, I slip between two semis. Shaded from the bright sun and sheltered from the freeway noise, I make my decision. It might be stupid, but it’s also the right one.

Yet when I round the back of the semi, the groups are already climbing into the Jeep and two other cars.

I’m too late.

What’s worse, the man driving the horse trailer is on his way back with a travel mug and a package of powdered donuts.

Time to move. Walking steadily and shielded by the angle of the trailer, I approach. There’s no time to evaluate if the horses will mind a companion. It’s a classic slant load with three stalls, each separated by a half-wall made of sturdy aluminum that swings on a hinge during loading. The big chestnut quarter horse in the middle eyes me warily as I pass, giving a low nicker. I’m guessing he’s the pickup horse. The boss. I offer him one of my orange wheels through the slats in the window. His soft lips quiver across my palm. If I wasn’t in a hurry, I’d take the time to pamper him a bit more. While he chews, I step to the back and lever the handle.

The horse in the back slot pricks her ears, but before she can get too anxious about a visitor, I run a confident hand along her hindquarters and slide in next to her.

“Easy, girl,” I say in a low tone.

If she got really freaked, she could slam me into the side of her stall. If I ended up behind her, one kick could do me serious harm.

I offer the mare my secondorange wheel.

She jerks back, then comes in for a sniff. When she lips it into her mouth, I smile.

“That’s it,” I praise in a low tone. The boss in the middle stall nickers again, his ears perked. He’s protective of his ladies. I get it.

The truck door slams and the engine starts. I brace against the aluminum divider with my shoulders and give the mare my final orange. She takes it, then dusts my palm with her soft lips, searching for more. I stroke her neck, inhaling the comforting scent of animal and sweet hay while the trailer swings in a wide arc, the hitch squeaking and the diesel engine a comforting rumble. The driver gently accelerates onto the freeway.

Now, there’s nothing left to do but be still.

And stay ready.

Chapter Two

SOFIE

I eye my big brother.“You want me to drive?” All of us have been awake since we left Finn River yesterday morning, but Jesse’s the only one I’m worried about.

“I’m good,” he replies, sending me a wink.

“The car’s clean?” I can’t help but ask. The U.S. Border Security doesn’t mess around.

He rolls his eyes. “Relax, okay?”

We climb into his Jeep, and I settle into the cushy seat. Jesse starts the engine, its throaty rumble rattling my bones. He engages the clutch and slowly reverses out of the parking spot. At least we’re the caboose in our convoy. All he has to do is follow Gabe and the others home.

“Can you come for dinner tonight?” I ask while Jessie accelerates onto the freeway, the beefy tires humming on the pavement.

He’s so focused on adjusting the air vent that he’s starting to drift to the right. “Um, Jess?”

He steers us back into the center. “Will Dad be there?”

That would be the point—all of us together. “Linnie misses you.” It’s a low blow, but it’s also true. I don’t want our little sister to be collateral damage in the fight to savemy family.

“I miss her too,” he says, and at least this time, there’s real emotion in his reply. “Want me to pick her up from school today?”

“So you can put your moves on Miss Evans? Sorry, no.”

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