Page 127 of Nate

Chapter Eighteen

Saturday morning, Nate strode along the barn’s aisle with an uneasy feeling. He stopped, glanced around, but after seeing nothing, he continued toward the back doors where his truck was parked. He hadn’t told Markie about his tire. She was scared enough.

They’d spent last night together but this morning, he had some things to do in his barn. The stalls always had to be cleaned. He knew he should move his truck, but it was where he’d parked it last night so Markie could put her SUV in the garage when she arrived last night.

“Hey.”

Nate turned to see Markie strolling toward him and it made him grin. He knew she was the love of his life. He chuckled remembering their first meeting. She hadn’t thought much of him then, but he knew she loved him now.

“About time you got your ass out of bed,” Nate said, then kissed her lips when she reached him.

“What do you want to do today?” she asked as she slid her arms around his neck.

“Whatever you want to do is fine.”

“I’d love to go into town and go through all the shops. I have never gotten around to it.”

Nate mentally groaned. Shopping was not one of his favorite things. Markie must have noticed the look on his face because she stepped back from him.

“That’s okay. I can do it one day.”

“No. We’ll do that. It’s fine. I don’t like the idea of you out alone if Knowles is around. Hey, let me give you Rafe’s number in case you can’t get a hold of me for some reason.” He removed his phone from his pocket.

“My phone is at my apartment,” she said, nibbling on her bottom lip.

“Why?”

Markie smiled. “I was in such a hurry to get here last night that I forgot to get it. It’s still plugged in on my nightstand.”

Nate chuckled. “Okay. Well, I’ll give it to you later.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You can give me anything you want.”

Nate grinned and lowered his head to kiss her lips when a voice stopped him, and he felt Markie shaking in his arms.

“How fucking touching,” Knowles said as he entered the barn from the opposite end. Nate noticed the gun in his hand, and turned to face Knowles, keeping Markie behind him.

“Get out of here, Markie,” Nate said.

“Don’t you move, Markie,” Knowles snapped. “Now, this is how this is going to go. You, Markie are going to go into the hospital and get me those drugs while I keep an eye on your boyfriend. If you’re not back in thirty minutes, I’ll kill him.”

“It takes twenty minutes one way, asshole,” Nate growled.

“It could take me longer than that, Jarrett. There’s a lot going on in town. I could get stuck in traffic, or—”

“Fine! I’ll give you an hour. That gives you fifteen extra minutes.”

“Twenty. Not good at math, huh?” Nate grinned. “By the way, the new hair color and cut isn’t a good look for you.”

“Shut the fuck up! You’ve got an hour. Do not call or talk to anyone. If the police show up, Jefferson will be dead before they get inside the barn. Are we clear on this?”

“Will you leave if I do this?” Markie asked.

“Yeah, I’m heading toward the border, but I’m not telling you which one. It’s just too bad I won’t have a chance at you.”

When Nate clenched his jaw and stepped forward, Markie stopped him.

“Don’t. It’s what he’d love to see you do,” Markie whispered, and Nate nodded.

---