“Every day in boot camp, every day we could on the battlefield and every day since I’ve been home.”
Her eyes soften.“How long were you in the service?”
“About eight years.That was enough.”
I tilt her chin to mine.“Get ready while I make a call.”The minute we’re inside she heads into her bedroom to get changed while I rummage in my duffle for clothes, change, and then call Jay.
“We’re at Jules’ house and heading out for a run.Any chance to get some cover?If we’re going to draw them out, I want to be the one in control of the play, not them.They know Wild Deuces too damn well.Out in the open, we can see them coming and put them in their place.I want to get as many of these assholes as we can before the opening.”
“Roger that.We’re not far, we’ll have you in our sights the minute you walk out the door.”
I rearrange my holster, tucking it under my tee, and slide a small piece into my ankle holster and a bud in my ear before she returns with her hair pulled up in a ponytail, wearing leggings and a tee that show off that lovely silhouette.“A little wager?”I ask, hoping to bring some levity to the situation.
Her head tilts, interested but still wary and clearly dealing with the situation at hand.I know she’s scared.“I win, and you stay home tomorrow night?”
She doesn’t even crack a smile though.“Sorry, not going to happen, plus I’m going to smoke you.”
It’s hard not to grin.Jules is as fearless as she is beautiful.She has a spirit I’ve seldom seen, fighting a yearlong battle with a fear that this situation has brought to the forefront for her again.I may want to protect her from the bastards, but I can’t help admiring her strength and desire to slay these demons all by herself.
But still, she doesn’t know these ruthless bastards like I do, and I’m not about to let her get caught in the crosshairs of a mafia war.The minute we hit the pavement outside, Jules starts fast, but not too fast, pacing herself, but sure as hell not slow.If she can withstand this pace the duration of the run, she’ll impress the hell out of me.
I monitor my stride so that we’re side by side, and I don’t get ahead of or behind her.No matter what I said about competition, I want to be as close as possible, just in case leaving the house draws any of the assholes out.Because if I know them at all, they’re either already watching us or will be soon.
The shadow of an SUV passes my periphery a little way into our run.My chest lightens knowing that Jay and the boys have got eyes on us, as well as the others.A few blocks up she veers toward a park and along it’s green-treed perimeter making her way to the outskirts of town.
I can see why as soon as the path in front of us appears.It may not be anything but hard dirt, but it’s clean and debris free, unlike the ground around it, as though it’s been packed in with a four-wheeler or some other vehicle making the perfect trail.
I hate like hell that Jules is in the sights of the Eldridge boys, but better here when we know they’re coming, have backup, and can do something about it than a surprise we don’t see coming.Still, I don’t like it one little bit.But I won’t force her to stay put against her will.
I see two shadows dip behind trees up ahead.I’m not worried in the slightest, because they’re on my side of the lane, and they’ll have to get through me to get to her.
She picks this very moment to get competitive, pulling out in front of me with a burst of speed that takes me by surprise.It takes only seconds to adjust my stride and get in step with her, but it gives our attackers just the moment they need to jump out from the bush.
I’ve been ready for them since we left her house.I hear and feel them closing in, and my elbow goes back, smashing one bastard in the face before spinning while grabbing my piece to put the other in his place.“On the ground!”
Jules watches it play out, wide eyed and shocked.“What the hell are you doing back in town?”she asks the man still standing with a hand against his jaw.
She marches right up to him.“What do you want from me?I don’t know why you think getting to me will get you any closer to Lacy.Lacy is married, very happily married I might add, and she is not about to sell her grandmother’s house to you, not two years ago, not last year and sure as hell not today.”
He sneers, but his beady eyes haven’t left the butt of my gun.“Eldridge?”I ask Jules.
“Eldridge Jr., the one and only.Couldn’t intimidate Lacy so he sent Bobby Ray after me last year.He didn’t get what he wanted and neither will you,” she says as she glares at him.
He glowers back at her with sullen eyes.
She gets way too close to his face for comfort.“Why me?That’s what I want to know.Why are you harassing me?I own nothing in town, I have no pull with anyone, no matter what you think,” she tells him.
He shrugs.“Easier.”
Jules’ blue eyes go wide, and her jaw tightens.“Than Lacy?Why, because she fights back?”
He shrugs again and smirks.I’d like to slug that look right off his face, but I don’t even get the chance.Her foot comes out and kicks him square in the crotch, doubling him over with a hand to his groin before she sends her fist right into his face.
But it’s not her hand I’m watching…
12
Jules
