Page 5 of Hell or High Water

I cleared my throat, deciding not to open the door just yet.

“Yes,” I replied loud enough so that he could hear me.

“I’m Linc Shephard, and this is Than Carver. Your father sent us to pick you up.”

Jericho had sent them? They didn’t seem like men who worked for the governor. Nor could either of them be the writer of the letters. Stalkers who looked like that were only on Netflix shows and in romance novels.

Should I open the door?

It will be fine, I assured myself. I had my Taser. There was a busy street out there. It was daylight. It wasn’t like they would grab me and run. Why would they do that anyway? My imagination was a product of little sleep, crazy stalker notes, and watching too much crime television.

I reached up and unlocked the chain, then the bolt before I took the cold metal knob in my hand and turned it. Taking a deep, calming breath, I stepped back as I pulled it toward me. And…wow. They were even more impressive without the smudged peephole.

The briefest glance at the younger man sent an odd, tingly feeling through my body. Surprised by the reaction, I swung my eyes to the older man, who had introduced himself as Linc Shephard.

“Wh-where does he want me to go?”Please don’t be taking me to the bus station.

“I will explain everything to you on the drive,” he replied. “Can we help you with your bags?”

That wasn’t going to work. My momma hadn’t raised a fool. And since I had been getting sick, twisted notes from a stranger, I wouldn’t be jumping into a vehicle with men I didn’t know. Even ones who looked like they had walked off the Sexy Bad Boys calendar my momma used to get every year.

“I need to talk to Jericho first,” I replied. “Do you mind waiting out here while I make that call?” Because I wasn’t inviting them inside with me.

“Of course,” Linc replied.

Unable to help myself, I gave the younger one, Than, another glance. His expression and even his stance seemed annoyed. The glacial-blue eyes that stared back at me weren’t friendly. In fact, there was accusation and disgust. I’d been so enamored with his body, hair, and even his mouth before that I hadn’t paid close attention to his expression. My cheeks flushed, and I felt unsettled.

I closed the door quickly and went over to get my phone from the bed. Steeling myself, I pressed the saved number and waited. It rang twice.

“Hello?” he clipped out.

“There are men here to take me somewhere.”

“Yes, you demanded I help you. Do whatever Linc Shephard says. He is acting on my request. But be warned that he is a powerful man.” He hissed out the last two words. “And if you do anything to ruin me, he will take care of you. Do you understand what I am saying?”

I blinked as I stared at the wall. I wasn’t sure. It sounded like a threat, but to what? Was Linc a special cop? Could he get me arrested? For telling the truth? Nothing about either of them looked very law-like. In fact, they’d given off more of thewalking on the line of dangervibe. Which was another reason I’d balked at getting in a vehicle with either of them. No matter how hot they were.

“I, uh…I just need to graduate high school and get enough money saved so I can get a place to live.”

He let out a short, hard laugh. “Sure. You say that now. But you’ll start wanting more from me. Thinking you can threaten and demand anything you want. You need to know that you’re not just dealing with me. There are those who put me in office that you should fear. A threat to me is a threat to them.”

My gaze swung back to the closed door. Surely not the men he’d sent for me?

“Who—”

The line went dead. He had hung up on me. I pulled the phone back to see that the call had indeed ended.

That son of a bitch. Ugh! After telling me that some powerful people would deal with me, he hangs up and leaves me with those two?

What would Momma do?

She’d go out there and let them know that she wasn’t being pushed around. Jericho and some dangerous men didn’t want my truth out…well, neither did I.

“All right, Momma, you told me to do this. Here it goes,” I whispered, then spun back around and strode to the door with confidence I didn’t feel.

With my shoulders back and my head held high, I swung the door back open to see the younger one with a cigarette. He glowered at me, and this time, I gave it right back to him. It was easier when he had one of those in his mouth. I hated them.

Cutting my eyes back to Linc, I gave him a tight smile. “I’m not leaving with you without knowing where Jericho is having me sent. If it’s the bottom of a lake, I’d prefer to just go to the local television station,” I told him, doing my best to give a threatening expression.

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