Page 79 of Texas Kissing

I drew back my leg and kicked him in the balls. He released my ankle and I ran down the aisle.

Outside, a rumble of thunder made me look up. It was dark—too dark. Clouds had pretty much blocked out the moon.

I looked at Antonio’s car. I could go back, get the keys out of his pocket, and move it so the bus was free to move, but then what? By the time I was back in the bus, Antonio would probably be on his feet.

Plan B, then. I ran to my Toyota, checked my Go Bag was in the back seat, and started the engine.

It caught for a second and then died.

Oh no. Oh, God, please not now.I tried it again. It gave an asthmatic cough and died. A third time, and this time it didn’t even turn over.Shit!Probably full ofdust from all those trips up to the stables to see Bull.

I grabbed my bag and dived out of the car. From the bus, I heard Antonio moving about.

There was nothing else for it. I shouldered my bag and ran off into the night.

66

Lily

At first, I just ran. I needed to get far enough away that I’d be out of sight when Antonio came out of the bus. Fortunately, the darkness gave me cover. I headed down the dried-up creek bed, just like in my nightmare. I didn’t dare use a flashlight so I had to go by what I remembered of the terrain from my runs. Twice, I missed my footing and almost went flat on my face.

When I ran out of energy, I walked. After the first hour, I figured that Antonio wasn’t coming after me—not alone, at least. He’d said others were on their way. I needed to get the hell out of town before they arrived. I followed the creek bed south for three straight hours.

And finally, when my legs gave out, I stopped. And, sitting with my back against a rock, I cried.

All of my fears, all of my paranoia—it had all been real. They’d found me, somehow, and everything I’d built had been lost.

Oh, not my work. I’d taken precautions withthat.Ihad enough money and fake identities in my Go Bag to get me out of the country. I had backups of my computer in the cloud—I could rebuild my business somewhere else. All of my careful planning had paid off, even if I’d had to resort to Plan C.

But Bull? The idyllic future I’d imagined? That was in tatters. I loved him and I was never going to get to be with him. Tonight had proven exactly what I’d feared. It seemed like Antonio had duped Bull into giving him my address. What would have happened if Bull had been staying with me in the bus, tonight, or had gotten wise to Antonio and tried to fight him? He’d probably be dead.

I loved him. That’s exactly why I had to leave and never come back.

It wasn’t that I thought he wouldn’t go on the run with me. It was that I knew he would—he’d put himself in danger and I couldn’t make that mistake again. Annette had already paid the price for my selfishness. I’d made my choice a long time ago—I couldn’t face witness protection and a trial, not on my own. The only option was to be out on my own, where I could stay free without hurting anyone.

Free.Funny how it didn’t feel very free, at the moment.

Mexico,I decided. I’d go to Mexico. I already had guaranteed customers there and the mob wouldn’t dare invade cartel turf, even for me.

There was another roll of thunder and the rain started to fall, drops as big as silver dimes splatting into the dust all around me. I knew I needed to get a fire going. I picked up some dried-up twigs and started to try to build a campfire, like Bull had showed me. But too late, I realized I had no way to light it.And I had changes of clothes, but nothing warm or waterproof. My Go Bag was meant for road trips and airports, not surviving out in the wild.

I didn’t belong out here. I never had and never would.

I pulled out one of my burner phones and dialed Bull.

67

Bull

I was pacingthe police station lobby. Calahan was in an interrogation room with Antonio, but he was refusing to talk until his lawyer got there and Calahan wouldn’t let me soften him up with my fists.

My phone rang and I had it to my ear before the first ring had finished. “Lily?”

I heard her swallow. A pitiful little sob. “Bull?” she whispered.

I closed my eyes and felt my heart swell with relief.She’s alive!I tried to keep my voice calm but it was thick and fractured with emotion. “Where areyou?”

“I’m leaving,” she said. “I’m okay. But I’m leaving. This is to tell you goodbye.”

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