Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 136247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 681(@200wpm)___ 545(@250wpm)___ 454(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 681(@200wpm)___ 545(@250wpm)___ 454(@300wpm)
The burgers arrive and I grin so hard my cheeks hurt.
“Holy...it’s as big as the plate!” I point at my burger in astonishment. “Something tells me this won’t be the day I conquer Mack’s finest.”
“Only one way to find out,” he tells me, grabbing a fry and popping it into his mouth.
There must be ten or twenty Idaho monsters sliced up, steaming in the basket between us.
“Bon appétit!” he says, picking up his own burger, loaded with extra jalapenos.
I cut mine in half, intending to avoid death by burger today, and pick one section up.
The first bite is just as heavenly as the shake.
We spend a few minutes eating quietly, blissfully chewing, enjoying our own companionable munching.
“So, to be clear, I’ve been living in Chicago, dancing, and eating kale for the last decade,” I say, hoping to get the spotlight off me. “But what about you? Where have you been? Besides traveling around playing superman with the Army and the FBI, I mean.”
He sets his burger down and gives me a wry smile. “I spent a lot of time defending borders of several allied countries, special ops, and then the Bureau kept me on the go. Even if home was Oklahoma City for a long time.”
“Hawaii? Alaska? Do you get to see your family?” I ask.
“Yes. Damn nice places. Though I think I’m a Midwestern boy to my bones. Can’t imagine living anywhere full time that’s too frigid or too tropical.”
“Where’s your favorite place?” I ask, leaning forward.
He frowns for a moment, pondering, then sighs with another smile I can’t read.
“Call me crazy, but hell. I think I might’ve found it right in front of me.”
Those jade-green eyes are blazing now, staring right past me into the future.
“Dallas, you mean?” I’m actually stunned.
He nods.
“Wow. Having second thoughts about putting your grandfather’s place up for sale, then?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t.”
“Why? You already have a buyer lined up?” I cock my head.
“Nope. I think I’ll sell anyway, even if I’m planning on staying here a while. The place is big enough for a family and I’m just one dude.” He looks at me cryptically. “I’ve got...reasons I’m getting to. Hang on, food first.”
He pauses to devour his burger, making these muffled pleasure sounds that make me want to smile, but I pretend not to notice.
I follow his lead, polishing off as much Mack burger as I can stand, wondering the entire time what he’s holding back.
I still have half a burger left and a pile of fries a few minutes later. I wave a hand at my plate and basket. “Still hungry? Help yourself. I’m stuffed. But about those reasons, what’s up?”
“Gonna need a couple boxes.” He shakes his head and pushes his plate to the side. “Listen, Peach, I have to tell you something.”
My stomach twists, full of food, and I brace for what’s coming.
I can tell it’s as heavy as a boulder.
Pushing my plate aside, I lock eyes with him.
“All right. What it is? Shoot.”
“That guy at Carolina’s earlier today...” He glances around quickly before looking at me again. “I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him, and I need to know if you get so much as a glimpse of that prick. Or anybody else like him who gives you a bad vibe.”
Huh? Whatever I expected, it wasn’t being asked to play informant.
An odd sensation sweeps up my spine.
“He had a prison tattoo on his neck,” Quinn tells me, a shadow hanging over his face. “A laughing joker with a real ugly mug. That’s a favorite in some prison circles down south. He’s hooked up with some shit, no doubt, even if I don’t know exactly what he was in for.”
Yikes. I hadn’t noticed the creepy tattoo, and I’m kinda glad.
“O-kayyy. But why do you think we’ll see him again? Or anybody like him?”
“Can you keep this hush? Pinky swear for old time’s sake?”
He gives me that lopsided grin that takes me back to a hundred pinky swears we made on summers so long ago. Smiling, I hold my hand up and feel his warm finger hook around mine.
He gives it a little shake and pulls away.
“All right. A while back, I was part of an op that put away a big-time meth manufacturer in the OKC. He did hard time and wound up being sentenced for life. That tattoo’s connected to one of the big gangs in the state pen. I’d know it anywhere.”
This is getting freakier by the second. I take a sip of strawberry flavored courage and shake my head as I swallow.
“And you think he’s out now? After you?”
“Not him. The dude who got life died while he was in the pen, but there were a lot of people in his network.” His eyes glow darkly. “This man’s brother, he’s still behind bars, locked up in another cell back in Oklahoma. You’d better believe he’ll come looking for revenge if he’s let out.”