I shake my head. “Oh no, no, no, I’m not stealing a car with you, Zeek.” Regardless of what he thinks, I’m still a deputy, and I’m not about to participate in breaking laws with him. Our rebellious affair is over. I should arrest him, take him in, and prove I have nothing to do with this. However, the last time I took Zeek in, it didn’t go in my favor. I don’t see this time being any different.
“You can’t take the high road when you’re wanted, Jillian.” He glares at me, reminding me that I am, in fact, a fugitive right now. He snatched me from my father’s lifeless body, and threw me in my own cruiser and took off. Moments later, we’re both wanted. I tried to tell Zeek it was just a mix up, that someone had their facts wrong and I could set it straight. But he seems to think every law enforcement officer in the Vegas area is a bad guy. I have no doubt that some are dirty, especially after the things I’ve seen over the last few days, but I can’t accept that everyone is. What about the police department? Alessandra isn’t dirty, she’s my best friend and would help me explain what happened. Then I can be left to grieve not only the loss of my father, but also the loss of Zeek.
Because there’s no way we can come back from this. Every time I look at him, I’ll see the hollow look that took over his face before he fired that round into my father.
He climbs out of the car and marches toward my side, throwing open the door.
“Get out.” He snaps rudely, so bitter I feel the bite of his words like a chill down my spine.
“No. I’m not doing this. Take me back, I need to go to the department and expla—” I stop, hating how weak I sound. He grips me by the arm harshly pulling me from the car, and slams me against the closed back door. I think he forgets I’ve had professional training on how to defend myself sometimes. Using my arm, I twist it around his, freeing myself from his grasp.
Rolling his lips over one another he inhales a large breath, like he’s trying to calm himself.
Crossing my arms, I turn away from him. Tears spill from my eyes, and I bite my cheek to keep from sobbing. His warm hand grabs my chin, fingers digging into my cheeks, forcing me to look at him. My lips part on their own, wanting to seek comfort from Zeek’s strong lips is asinine considering the circumstances.
“Don’t you get it? Your department is dirty, Jillian. You go there, you will end up in the hands of my uncle.” Yanking my face from his strong hold, I scowl.
His uncle. The one who is the mastermind behind everything that has gone wrong between us. Supposedly he was teaching Zeek a lesson for sleeping with me, so he ordered Zeek to kill my father. Driving a wrench right between us. Zeek says he didn’t know it was my father that the hit was put on, but it doesn’t make me feel any less responsible for everything that went down. If I didn’t listen to my body, I would be at home with Jinx on my couch right now. Jinx, my cat, that is at my house without anyone to feed him. Anger slams through my limbs when I realize Zeek really has torn me from everything.
“Your uncle? Are you serious? You act as if I should be afraid of him, but he isn’t the one who just pulled the trigger on my family, Zeek, you were! He wasn’t the one who took me against my will, you did!” I shove him in the chest.
His face goes hard, his head lowering.
“That’s because you don’t know Frank. I assure you, if you go back he will have his way with you. And, by that, I mean torture you to the point you wish you were dead. Whether it’s mentally or physically.” His dark eyebrows pinch with something sincere, but still laced with that alpha edge. “I know firsthand. I just realized he’s been playing me for the last several years. He’s ruthless with those he calls family, what do you think he’ll do to you?”
“You should have never taken me.” My voice reedy.
“I saved you.”
“I didn’t want saving!” I ball my fists at my sides, as my neck strains with the amount of stress and anger swimming through me. I want to believe him, but look what trusting him has gotten me. His motives are shady, and I’m not sure always in my best interest. My chest pains knowing that our trust has faded like desert sand seeping through my fingers. Gone with the wind.
“You want to be stupid and die?” He pauses, searching my face dispassionately. I almost think he’s going to let me go. That he’s going to tell me he’s done babysitting me. But then his eyes hit me with a stare that contradicts those thoughts. His eyebrows narrow, his eyes squinting as they nail me where I stand. “Too fucking bad, Jillian.” He pulls me off the car, pushing me in my lower back toward the truck. “Now go.”
I feel like a prisoner. How ironic.
Zeek hunches down, looking around nervously as he approaches the truck. He’s clearly done this before. Looking past this one lone house, it’s nothing but land and small bushes. The night sky is clear of clouds, and the breeze is warm and steady. Throwing loose strands of my hair in my eyes.
He juts his head, conveying he wants me to get in on the other side.