I even totalled my bike in a ravine. Thought you’d have found it by now.
Not then, we hadn’t. But you certainly have now Skull, or whatever name you’re going by at the moment.
“Agent Jordan has been retired.” Mace slaps my back. “Permanently.”
It’s only on the ride back that I let myself feel the relief that at last Mel has gotten the justice she deserves. The citizen law might not have done its job, but the Devils got revenge in the end. I grin, confident that Cad’s made sure a certain security tape in an auto parts shop in San Francisco, on the other side of the country, has a picture of myself clearly picking up the part that I needed.
We ride through the night, both of us eager to get home. It’s the early hours of the morning when I at last walk in.
Karl, again yawning, takes a package from under the bar and hands it to me.
In the bedroom, I put the custom-made part on the dresser, then look at my sleeping wife.
I’d walk through hell and high water for her and my kid.
Another black mark on my soul? Worth it for her.
“Pyro?”
“Yeah, I’m back.”
“Did you do what you needed to?”
“Yeah, darlin’, I did.”
Quickly divesting myself of my clothes, I climb in beside her, pulling her back against me.
“Sleep babe,” I tell her, unnecessarily. She’d relaxed immediately with my body surrounding hers. A gentle snuffle and the sound of her deep breathing tells me she’s already drifted off.
Twenty-four hours apart was too long, and I’m content simply to hold my wife and unborn child in my arms. Having spent most of yesterday riding, I follow her into the land of dreams soon after, secure in the knowledge that from now on our nightmare has gone.
Ink
The tall girl intrigued me, I’d never been with anyone who could match my height. At first it was going to be a one night stand to enjoy a new experience. But that wasn’t enough and I shouldn’t have, but I went back.
It’s not forever, I’m not that kind of man.
She’s a citizen and not someone to be pulled into our underworld.
Except, I didn’t pull her in, she was already there.
She should be in jail, not me.
Beth
I go for what I want, and I wanted Ink. I knew it was only going to be a one-off, but he came back for a repeat. I couldn’t let myself fall for him, so decided to enjoy it while it lasted.
My life was normal, uncomplicated, until my estranged brother dumped me in a mess. A fiasco which ended up with Ink taking the rap.
He wouldn’t be in jail if he didn’t care.
But whether he does or not doesn’t matter if he’s going to be there for the best part of his life.
