Page 56 of Forever After All

The next step was to walk away. She didn’t need him anymore, and he didn’t have an excuse to stay.

But why were his boots glued to the floor?

He knelt down beside the couch and took advantage of the chance to admire Jess. Had she ever looked this peaceful? Would he ever see her this uninhibited again?

Linc made a bold move and leaned in to press a kiss to her hair. “Night. Sweet dreams.”

He stood and turned off the light, locking up as he left. Every movement between the door and the end of the porch creaked, but the night was pitch black and silent. The cold hit him like a punch from reality. The warmth of snuggling up next to Jess was only a memory by the time he reached the truck. She wouldn’t remember any of it tomorrow.

Oh, but he would. The press of her up against him would stick with him until he was old and gray.

The truck door creaked and groaned loud enough to wake the neighbors as he tried to make his stealthy exit. If Ms. Landry had fallen asleep on watch, she was sure to be up now.

His phone rang loud, and he grabbed for it like the noise might still wake Jess.

“Hello.”

A constant roaring filled the background of the call as a familiar voice shouted to be heard above the racket. “There you are. I was starting to think you were doin’ time too.”

Linc’s hand tightened around the phone. “What do you want?”

“I’m out. Where are you?” Ryan yelled.

“Middle of nowhere.”

Ryan had never been patient, and the fact that Linc had ignored him for so long meant the call started off with the carefully controlled tension they both used to survive when it came to trusting–or not trusting–on the streets of Memphis.

There was a charged pause on Ryan’s side of the call, but Linc knew better than to get his hopes up. Once Ryan dug his claws in, he didn’t let go until he drew blood.

“I thought you were avoidin’ me,” Ryan said. Though, the statement held a clear question.

Did you do it?

The record had been sealed when Linc came forth as an informant, but Ryan had ways of finding out things no one else could. He had “friends” all across the States. His friend list consisted of people who had either screwed him over or been framed for screwing him over, and he had a memory like a lockbox. He remembered everything, and he used it for his gain when he wanted favors.

“What do you want? Sorry, but I’m not in the game anymore. I don’t have contacts.”

Ryan laughed. “Hard to believe the fire king has fallen out of favor, isn’t it?”

“Nope. I got caught just like you, and I didn’t see the point in gettin’ another sentence. I’ve had enough ham sandwiches to last me a lifetime.”

“Aw come on. It wasn’t that bad. Where’d you end up?”

Nope. Exchanging facts with Ryan was sure to put a target right on Linc’s back. It had taken years to assimilate back into society. Funny how it only took one year to set his reformation in place.

“Listen, I’ve got a job now, and my shift starts in a few hours. Have a nice life.”

He ended the call and looked up at Jess’s house. Releasing a sigh that did nothing to release the strain in his shoulders, he started the truck and backed out.

His past couldn’t lay a finger on his future. One brush with the old days would send any semblance of his normal life up in flames.

Chapter16

Jess

Jess led Thunder from the barn, walking backward and maintaining eye contact with the dark horse. “Come on, buddy. I’m nice enough. I swear. Your sister likes me.” She ducked her head to the side, trying to keep Thunder’s attention on her. “Linc likes me. At least, I think he does.”

It was a topic that hadn’t left her thoughts since he stayed with her after that disaster of a date. She’d woken up on the couch the next morning with a smile on her face. The text message waiting for her only served to add gasoline to the already burning fire in her middle.

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