Page 31 of The Echo of Violence

“A little speed?” He looks at me in disbelief. “Jinx, you’ve gotten more speeding tickets than anyone I know. If it weren’t for knowing most of the traffic cops, you’d have lost your license years ago.”

“It’s not my fault that everyone drives as slow as molasses in January.”

Rex laughs as we pull out of my driveway and head to the outskirts of town. “You never did have any patience.”

I huff in response and turn the radio on, which blasts out some country song that’s been dominating the charts for the last month. I can’t say country music is my thing, but it has a jazzy hook, and I find myself singing along quietly.

It’s busy when we pull up outside The Guactruck, but then it’s always busy here. The Guactruck started life as a railcar before being converted into the eatery it is today. The large sliding doors sit open to reveal the tables and chairs inside, which are already full, but a few outside are empty.

I look over at Luis behind the counter, the proud owner of the place that has been in his family for four generations, and grin. He catches sight of me and scowls. I don’t take it personally. Luis scowls at everyone, but that’s okay. Nobody comes here for his sparkling personality. They come for his amazing food.

“Want to grab a seat out here while we jump in line?” Rex asks, looking around.

I nod, knowing that if I don’t, there might not be any tables left. “I’ll have the usual with a sweet tea.”

“You got it.”

I take the table farthest from the railcar and closest to the woods, liking the privacy. The warm sun beats down on my shoulders as I get comfortable and look around. Everyone else is preoccupied with their food, and I can’t say I blame them.

A distant rumble has me turning to the dirt road that leads up here. A few motorcycles pull up, and I take in the riders, gritting my teeth when I notice the familiar Chaos Demons patch.

“Seriously? What are the odds?”

I turn away, pull my cell phone from my bag, and sit reading on my Kindle app until a shadow falls over me. I look up and see the biker who tried to hit on me at the bar last night—the same one from the gas station.

“Can I help you?”

“Just seeing if you’re still playing dumb.”

“Playing dumb about what?” I frown, confused.

“About recognizing me. Think the guys you’re here with would be happy to know you were slumming it at a biker bar last night?”

So, he does recognize me. Great.

“I think they’d be more concerned about the strange guy I don’t know walking over and being a dick for no apparent reason.”

“Is that right?” he drawls.

“Look, if you’ve got something to say, just say it already. You’re ruining the peace and quiet.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but he’s interrupted by a pretty blonde a few years younger than me.

“Hi, sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if I sit here with you while my guys get our food?”

I realize she’s talking to me and look around to see all the tables out here are all taken now except for the one in the middle of the rest. “Sure. But there’s an empty table over there, though, if you want it.”

“No, my guys don’t like to feel penned in.”

“I don’t mind as long as there are enough seats when my guys get here.”

She takes a seat and looks up at Knight with a frown. “Are you going to sit down, Knight, or just stand there and frown all day?”

She looks at me and sighs as Knight moves to take a seat beside her. “Don’t mind him. He’s grumpy as fuck today.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“You two know each other?” she asks, looking between us.

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