She hit the unlock button and opened the back door first to put her bags in.
She heard the horn honk and Monroe go by. She waved then went to close the door.
She got into the car, started it up, and headed out into the night. It would take her fifteen minutes to get to her apartment, wash up, change, and be ready for Chris and Jim to come get her.
As she traveled down the quiet road, she heard a diesel engine rev and then saw the bright headlights coming up fast behind her. She gripped the steering wheel.
“What the hell is that guy doing? It’s a thirty-miles-per-hour road?”
It came up so fast, and she wondered if he would pass her. She was just going around the bend as the truck struck her from behind. She screamed as she lost control of the steering, the tires blew, and then the front of the car jerked forward into the ditch. Her head hit the steering wheel as the airbags went off and the engine began to smoke.
She felt her head throbbing, and she couldn’t focus or move her arm. Was it broken?
Strong hands gripped her by her shoulders and shook her.
“Where is she? Tell me where she is, or you’ll fucking die in this car, bitch!”
Blaze. Oh God, it’s Blaze. He’s going to kill me.
Lynn started crying and shaking so hard that her teeth chattered.
He reached in, unclipped the seat belt, and pulled her from the window. Her legs and arms got cut on the broken glass, and she screamed, realizing she couldn’t move her arm and that it was definitely broken. She couldn’t focus.
He smacked her face.
“Where is she, Lynn? She’s my woman, and you tell me where she is now, or I’ll kill you.” He placed the knife against her throat.
“No. Please, Blaze, don’t. Please help me,” she said.
“You help me and tell me where Cassidy is. Where is she?” he yelled at her and shook her.
She couldn’t even stand she was so weak, so scared and in pain.
“Two hours away in some town. I don’t know the name, damn you. Help me. Help me please,” she begged.
He pulled her away from the car and dumped her on the rocks and the roadway. He ran to the truck, revved the engine, and skidded out of there. She screamed as the car exploded, sending metal and debris over her head and around her. She lay there crying, not knowing if she would live or die and that she’d just gotten her best friend killed in order to save herself.
* * * *
Memphis and Orlando met Cassidy by her front porch. They’d packed a picnic lunch and some beverages and planned on swimming in the big swimming hole on the property. When Cassidy emerged in short shorts and a loose-fitting tank that barely covered her hot pink bikini, Memphis couldn’t help but lick his lips.
Orlando pulled her into his arms first and kissed her deeply. He ran his hand along her ass and gave it a tap.
“All set?” he asked.
She nodded and placed her bag with a towel sticking out of it onto her shoulder.
Memphis curled his finger at her, and she went right to him. She looke
d so petite standing in front of him with flip-flops on. He drew her in for a kiss and cupped her breast.
“Memphis,” she scolded.
He chuckled. “Don’t know why you’re wearing a bikini. We’re going skinny-dippin’,” he teased.
“Yeah right.” She started walking ahead of them.
Orlando chuckled. “That’s a great idea. It is private. No one would come along except for the rest of the team.”