Page 14 of Angels and Skulls
“I want my wife to myself for a while,” he demands, his gaze narrowing on me.
Dirk’s attention always makes me feel a little dizzy, but in my heart I know he’s dead serious about all of this. He knows I’m burnt out. I’ve tried to hide it, but there is no hiding from him. Dirk is always lifting me higher and making room for me to grow. He always has my best interest at heart.
“Okay.” I give in, but I’ve got to be honest with him. “All of this terrifies me.”
“Good. Fear lets us know we’re still pushing boundaries. Isn’t that what Rebels do?”
A little ember of excitement lights inside me. “I guess it is.” I pull my shoulders to my ears, shy in a way I only feel with him. “I would love to have you all to myself.”
“You and me and the open road.”
“Let’s do it.”
He pulls me onto his lap and hugs me tightly. “I love you, Jesse.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Six
Brody
Daisy rubs my shoulders as we watch our son scarf down bites of pancake.
“This is such a huge fucking responsibility,” I tell her.
“It is.” She squeezes a little harder. “Rachel trusted you, Brody. She knows you’ll make the right decision, whatever that is, but you don’t need to worry about it right now. Just go and see what you find.”
“You’re right. No use guessing what this is all about. I should just head over there and see what I find.”
My wife takes my son from his highchair and follows me out the door. She always walks me all the way to my bike whenever I leave. I love her for it. She makes me feel special.
“Be safe,” she tells me after I kiss them both goodbye.
“I will.”
Once I get on the open road, I take a deep breath. God, I love riding. It never gets old.
Before I left, I searched for the address Rachel gave me on my map, and it was way out in the foothills near a small town. Basically, it’s in the middle of nowhere. I’ve heard a bunch of eccentric artists live up there. I’ve never had a reason to go that way, but at least it’s not far. Maybe an hour or so from home.
When I arrive, I realize that if I would have blinked, I would have missed it. There are a few businesses on a two-block stretch, and that’s it. Where the fuck are all of the houses? I sit at the intersection, noticing a few rooftops scattered in the distance between the treetops.
Evidently, the residents around here like their space.
The address I’m looking for is still another couple of miles farther up. My GPS leads me to a driveway, but there’s a gate blocking the entrance.
I pull up and park my bike. The gate is locked, and there’s a no trespassing sign but … fuck it. I shove my gun in the back of my pants and hop the fence. I’m not leaving here without some fucking answers. Rachel’s letter was vague at best. It was a lot ofI know you’ll do what’s best for Jackson … yadda yadda yadda.
As I’m walking up the driveway, I get the distinct feeling I’m being watched. I’ll admit it creeps me out a bit, but I’m no pussy, so I keep fucking walking. About a mile up, I spot a small cabin surrounded by the craziest fence I’ve ever seen. The place is giving off some serious witchy vibes.
I squat in front of it, chuckling to myself when I notice a tiny wooden gate that matches the larger one I’m about to go through. It’s a fairy door. I only know this because Willow has them hidden everywhere on the farm.
Fuck, this had to take someone forever to build. It goes all the way around … I stand to see just how far back it goes when I’m faced with the end of a double-barreled shotgun.
“Whoa there, little missy,” I say, putting my hands in the air.
A woman with loosely braided hair stares at me over the top of her weapon. “Didn’t you see the sign at the front gate? Don’t you know what no trespassing means?” she asks.
My gaze slides over her face, stopping on a little heart-shaped birthmark on her right cheek. It’s just like Aspen’s. That’s weird. It’s so distinct. As if it sums up their whole personality. Speaking of weird, a strange feeling is settling low in my gut, and I’m not sure I like it.
