Page 50 of Still Burning

“I grew up with a close circle knowing of my existence. When I became a teenager, I’d spent most of my time reading due to my being left alone so much that I taught myself several languages. But I will say, languages come easy to me. It wasn’t difficult.

“I was also stealthy and could slip in and out of places without being seen. Jokingly, one night, my uncle commented that I might be just what they needed to get their product farther into Europe and then into the States. The idea started to churn, and soon, I was being trained to do what I do now. Keeping the Murphy name in the clear while they continue to make hundreds of millions a year.”

I opened my bottle of water and took another long drink. Part of me suddenly understood why Eamon had kept this side of his life from me. He’d grown up with a brother his mother hadn’t wanted to exist because he was the product of an affair. And now that brother was their tool to smuggle drugs into more than one country, building their wealth. It didn’t make it okay, but I felt sorry for Eamon and Brady. What a dark, twisted childhood.

“We are going to need gas before we go much farther. Let’s stop off here and find some lunch at whatever quaint little town is onthis exit and fill the tank up,” he said as he turned on his blinker.

I glanced over at the sign that readMadison. The thought of food didn’t sit well with me, and my mouth watered. Crap, I’d been fine when I woke up. Maybe it was car sickness. I’d been traveling for a while, and my stomach was empty.

He drove to the first gas station and pulled up to the tank while I fought off the wave of nausea.

19

Tex

Banging on my door woke me with a start, and I looked around the dark room, confused for a moment. Another round of banging, and I stared at the door before standing up. I’d fallen asleep sitting up on the sofa when the sun was still up. As I walked to the door, I stretched my neck, trying to work out the stiffness.

“Tex!” Micah called out.

He hadn’t been here when I came to my room, and I didn’t recall hearing that he was coming to stay the night. He preferred to stay at home with Dolly.

Hurrying now, I jerked open the door to find him raising is fist to knock again.

“Fuck, you were out of it,” he said. “We gotta go.” He glanced down at my clothes. “Good, you’re still dressed. Boots and all. Let’s go.”

I rubbed a hand over my face, still feeling out of sorts. “Where are we going? What time is it? I need to grab my phone.”

“Private airstrip. Nine, uh, fifteen. Grab it and come on,” he shot back at me.

I flipped the light switch and scanned the room until I saw my phone on the sofa beside where I’d slept. I went to grab it and headed back to the door.

“Why are we going to the airstrip?” I asked.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Seems there was a Salem sighting,” he said. “And she ain’t in Ireland. The fucker stopped in Madison, Georgia, today, and they had some lunch.”

She was in Georgia?

I was wide awake now and walking past Micah and to the stairs. “Who saw her in Madison? How did they know to look for her?” I asked while hurrying down the stairs.

“Madison is where the Georgia family of the Mafia is located. Hughes sent out pictures of them to every branch he has. Told them what was going on and if they had a close connection that they trusted at the trafficking ports, to take the pics to them and see if they knew anything,” he said as we reached the door leading outside.

I shoved it open and stopped mid-stride.

Brick, Country, Jars, and Lick sat on their bikes, looking at me.

“You ready to go get your woman?” Brick called out.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Jars said.

My eyes cut to Lick. He cocked one eyebrow, as if to challenge me. I didn’t want him going, but fuck if I had time to deal with this shit. She was mine. She was always going to be mine. I didn’t want him helping to get her back. The others were here for me. He wasn’t. He wanted her for himself.

Micah slapped me on the back. “Let that go, yeah,” he said with a nod in Lick’s direction.

Then he continued what he’d been telling me before we walked out. “Anyway, King Salazar was eating lunch with Thatcher Shephard, and he spotted them. Recognized them immediately. He even got a pic with his phone and sent it to Blaise. Blaise had him and Thatcher follow them. They are currently at a motel in Greensboro, Georgia. Checked into room 104 under the name of Calvin Harris from fucking Alabama. And get this—the bastard has a Southern accent.”

I looked at him once we were both on our bikes before startingit up. “Are they going to keep them there?” I asked, the first ray of hope I could cling to. Shutting out the fact that Lick was a couple of bikes over.

“The entire Georgia branch is there now and have the place surrounded. They’ve not been seen, and Murphy has another man with him who’s watching the place. He’s armed and staked out near their room in a dark black vehicle. He followed them from the restaurant.”

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