Page 25 of Ride 'Em Hard
Lexi squeezes my hand. “I’ll help.”
God, I love how feisty and unafraid she is, but it’s a bad idea. “No way in hell, sugar. I won’t let you near them, or them near you.”
“Hey, I can kick some ass with the best of them if I need to.”
“Yeah, I haven’t forgotten the blade you pulled on me at Doc’s.” I side-eye her, chuckling. She’s so fucking hot. But her days of having to defend herself are over now that she has me. I know it’s too soon to feel this way, but I can deny it. I’m going to protect her for the rest of my life. I’m bonded to her now, and no one besides me is going to touch her.
Lexi turns to me, leaning against the seat with her shoulder. “I can be fierce, you know. Remember how I fought you when you picked me up after helping me out of that godforsaken well? Even my sprained ankle didn’t stop me from trying to clobber you.”
“You missed my balls by a fraction of an inch. Listen.” I shake my head, trying to make her understand. “The Johnsons are behind us in your rental car. I don’t know which Johnsons, but I have a hunch.”
She swings around and looks behind us. “So we’ll just outrun them back to your place?”
“No. The last thing I want is having those idiots anywhere near my house. There’s probably only two of them in that little car, and I want to nip this in the bud here and now.”
Lexi settles back in the seat and lets out a long, wilted sigh. I can tell she’s nervous. She keeps folding and unfolding her hands on her lap.
“Hey.” I caress her thigh, liking it much better when she’s not wearing clothes. “I got this. You trust me, don’t you?” I’ll do anything to protect her. She should know that by now. I wait a beat for her to say something, and decide not to tell her about the mammoth Smith & Wesson in the glove compartment that could stop a bear, never mind a Johnson. “Are you with me?”
“I am, and I do trust you Chase, I do... but I-I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Aww, dang it, I can’t stop myself from beaming, and my heart melts then and there. “Nothing’s going to happen tome, honeypot.” I glance at the rearview and check the Fiesta’s distance. Whoever’s driving has been keeping a steady speed for the past mile or so. “Here’s the plan. In a few minutes, I’m going to speed up and get around that bend up ahead. You’re going to get out of the car. I’m sorry you have to do this on your ankle, but somehow you need to move as quickly as you can. Find some bushes and hide.”
“In the forest?!”
“No. Don’t get too deep in the trees. Hide behind some brush as best you can, where you can still see the road, because as soon as this party is over and it’s safe, I’ll come get you. Now, there’s a flashlight in the door compartment on your side. Can you find it?” I keep my eyes on the road and hear her rustling.
“It’s hard to see in here.”
I heave a sigh as I listen to her rummaging, something she shouldn’t have to do. Fucking Cletus, or Buck. I know it’s one of them, because no one else in that family would be stupid enough to pull this kind of shit on me.
“Is it plastic? Never mind, found it.”
“Good job, honeypot. Now hang on to it. But don’t turn the light on until I come get you. Got it?”
“And where exactly are you going to be?” There’s an edge in her tone, and I shift, feeling Lexi’s eyes burning a hole in the side of my face, but I don’t turn to her. I don’t want her to worry.
“I’m going to resolve the issue,” I state evenly, and honestly. I just don’t tell her my Smith & Wesson is going to help. “And I don’t want you anywhere near me when I do.”
“Can’t we call someone? Don’t you have a fucking sheriff around here? What about a posse? Don’t all you wilderness guys have posses?”
“No. I think you got that turned around—we wilderness boys don’t have a posse. We have pussy, preferably for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
“Not funny.”
“I thought it was. Look, there’s no one to call, honeypot. No one would be able to get out here in time, and I don’t want those idiots behind us gaining on us or pulling any tricks. I have ’em right where I want them. Now, we’re going to get around the bend in about two minutes. We won’t have much time. Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Now this is important. I don’t want them to see you leave the car. I think they’ll be far enough away, but just in case, wait until I cut the lights before you open the door.”
“Got it.”
“Are you holding the flashlight?”
I look over and she waves it at me. “Right in my hot little hands.”
“Okay. As soon as I stop the car and shut off the lights, open your door and close it behind you. Then take off quickly and hide as best you can.”
