Break Me Open (24 page)

Which just made it all the more tense for me sitting out here. Lying on my back I couldn't help but think back to other times like this, but with her on me, pressing me down. I remembered the taste of her, the scent of her, the feel of her skin blanketing me as we burned ourselves out on each other last night.

Whatever she might feel inside she didn't show it. I thought I was strong, but here was a girl who would do whatever it took, even without knowing how. She was doing it all for me. And I was letting her, because it seemed like she would find an even riskier path if I didn't.

"We got contact," my radio crackled.

Trig was inside with her. That was part of the cover. She was just another Wraith looking for some Scorps. Course when the bartender had asked the name of such a pretty girl in a biker bar, she'd said it confidently enough for everyone to hear. Katie Phillips. I'd smiled at how loud and clear it came through. The chum was in the water, and with Trig sitting far enough away, it wasn't long before the fish came nipping.

Voices broke in and out over the airwaves. I tapped the speaker a couple times to let Trig know to bring it close. He had his end just tucked into a jacket pocket, and I waited for him to go somewhere where he could bring it out in private. "You need to get closer," I said. "I can't hear."

"I'll try. I don't want to mess up the meet."

The radio ruffled back into his spot and the bar voices grew again. They rose and fell and then suddenly I heard Katie's laugh. It sounded high and false, but it was her.

"No," she said. "That's real sweet of you. But I'm with the Wraiths, see?"

I could almost see her tapping at her neck.

"Oh, yeah, I see. Really pretty, eh?" came a Hispanic voice. "But girl, why you sign on to hang out with the dead? We got venom. And you know Scorpions got nice big stingers."

She laughed her fake laugh, but it sounded a bit more sincere this time. That eased me a bit.

"So what's your crew doing looking for us anyway? We're at war chica. No one tell you?"

"Why, that's what it's about. We're here looking for peace."

"Oh yeah? You an offering?"

"Hah, no. But I got a buddy here who -"

Something cut her off. I could hear her breath stop. I spiked immediately, just enough to make out the finer edges. The night outside grew deeper and the tiny voices on the radio became my world.

"Hey, no, forget the buddy. We can bring him in later," he said. "You and me we gotta discuss first right?"

"Uh, yeah right." She had a new edge to her voice, not quite fear, but something darker than excitement. Was that prick touching her?

"You know, what if I said you could talk with the boss himself about your terms?"

"The boss? You mean Gyro?

"El jefe, yeah."

"He's here?

"Sure is. Want to meet him?"

Bingo. Goddamn this was easy. Scorps didn't have two wits about them.

"Uh, sure. Let me just get Trig."

"No, no. Don't worry. You talk to him later after you have a word with Gyro, ok? We only got a couple people around so it ain't good if you bring in your whole crew for a parley."

I cracked my knuckles. Oh the crew's coming you asshole.

"I... guess that's fair." Her voice faltered, and either she was acting her goddamn heart out or she was really having second thoughts. If she screamed for help, I'd go charging in, but I was starting to hope she wouldn't. This plan was looking even more solid than she'd imagined
.

Just hold on, baby girl. You fucking own this.

"You ready to go?" I heard him slam glass onto the table.

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

"Uh, ok."

I peeked out and saw Spoke. He was going through a pack of smokes near the entrance, just waiting to make a visual on where this Scorpion was parked. He nodded to me. I started the car. The rumble sounded a mile away, but under the spike I could feel it thrum through me as clearly as a chopper would have felt under me.

The door opened and Katie walked out. The Scorpion was just a couple inches taller than her, but he had his arm light on her jacket. Her walk was curt and tense, but as her jeans bounced further away, I knew nothing would hold me back if the guy's touch fell further down her.

They wouldn't hurt her if they wanted to use her. But there were many ways to use a person. They might break her rather than play nice.

Not that they'd get the chance.

I saw them hop onto a bike. Trig burst out the doors and he and Spoke came running back. I slid up the seat and they clambered in, Trig in back, Spoke taking the wheel.

"Don't worry, Ghost. We got her." Trig patted my back, and to my surprise I didn't lash out at him. This was now an operation. We were all in it together. I needed them.

The bike came roaring out of the bar lot. I could just see Katie's tiny form, slung along the back of it.

We let it go a block and then Spoke shifted into gear and started after them. When we got to the country road, we shut our lights off and swam in silent pursuit, like a shark through dark waters.

The spike had set me alive. This was the sort of stuff I was bred for.

This night, I had greater purpose than ever.

I clung to the small guy's shoulders - Miguel I think his name was - wondering if the wind might just blow us both off. Riding alone, you could trust your arms, and riding on Ghost's back, was like holding onto a barreling train. But this guy didn't feel much stronger than me. He had wiry arms and a small face. It had made it much easier to trust him.

A couple of beers had also helped. It wasn't like there was much else I could do other than to be seduced. Ugh, not the right word to think about now.

They won't try anything
, I told myself. Just a couple of guys and their boss. We outnumbered them.

Well, no, that would only be if you counted me. I was just the damsel in distress. The night whisked by my face, and I smiled. At least this time, it was by choice.

The land out here wasn't completely empty. We would pass a small patch of desert, but then a big housing development and then a shopping center. I couldn't really tell how long we'd been driving, but I followed the signs and saw El Paso steadily approaching.

I tried to glance back, but it was hard to keep my eyes open with the wind rushing past. Not that there was much to see. Ghost had told me they'd be coming in dark. I thought I saw the outline of a car, but I couldn't be sure. I clapped my heel against the exhaust pipe to feel the solid edge of my phone lodged inside. The thing was completely charged. Ghost would know where I was within a dozen feet.

Miguel's head started to cock at each exit. It looked like we were close. Sure enough, he pulled off at one that led off into a brightly lit shopping center with neon lights that advertised in Spanish and English. I saw a couple hotels rising up further behind, but we turned away and went into the parking lot itself.

"Where are we going?" I asked, but got no answer.

We wound through the crowded streets. It was a weekend and a steady stream of people emerged and entered the mall. All of a sudden we swerved around and went into the back of the shopping center where the parking was nearly empty. A couple cars stood here and there and we headed towards a black sedan parked by itself. My stomach started to sink.

Miguel parked the bike nearby and helped me off. I eyed the keys dangling from his pocket and thought about taking them and getting the heck out, but I doubted I was going to get anywhere.

We walked to the sedan and the front doors popped open. Another guy in the Sand Scorpions jacket climbed out the driver side, and he and Miguel clasped hands to pull each other into a hug. The man that climbed out the passenger side had on a black leather jacket too, but his had sleek flaps that hung lose and held no insignia. He had on white slacks. His hair was combed and parted to the side and his face was greased and unreadable.

Miguel went around and held out his hand to this man, but he ignored it and kept staring at me.

"Es la chica?" he asked.

"Si, patron."

Patron. I knew that. It meant boss.

I sashayed around as cool as my pounding heart could muster and offered a hand. "It's nice to meet you Gyro." I said.

"I'm not Gyro." His dark brown eyes assessed me as if seeing a use for all my parts. "Did you check her?" he asked Miguel.

"Ah..." he looked sheepish. “No.

The boss rubbed his forehead. "Idiota. Go do it."

The two men walked up and without so much as a glance of apology began running their hands all over me. Their skin was rough and even through leather, I could feel their touch linger and press in soft areas around my chest. One rubbed up my legs, starting at my ankle and pressing up deep into my crotch. I felt a flush of heat, but I didn't know whether complaining or being silent looked worse. Miguel found my burner phone in my pockets. He picked out the battery and handed it to the boss guy who tossed it out into the lot.

The two Scorpions stepped away and I did my best to not look relieved.

"Es bueno." Miguel announced.

"Bueno?" The guy let out an exasperated sigh. "Fucking amateurs we deal with. What year you guys from?"

He stepped in and his eyes flitted across my body. This was not a general glance; he was looking for certain things. My lungs stopped working. He picked at the buttons of my jacket. He patted down the lining. He took the belt off my waist, examined the buckle and threw it away.

And then he kneeled. His hands went up the heel where we'd cut out space and stuffed the smartphone. He finished checking that and then went to the other. I thought it was over but his brow crinkled and he went back to the first, then tapped again at the clean one. He did this a few times, then leaned in close and traced the edge of the hole we'd sealed.

All too fast, his hand popped out with a switchblade. It cut through the rubber. The three of us watched in silence as he pried off the seal and pulled out the phone.

He stood, flipped it over and over in his hands, then powered it off. The knife came down like a guillotine. He smashed and cracked the screen. Metal flew everywhere. I shrieked, I couldn't stop myself. He smashed the busted frame over his knee and hurled it away.

"Ok," he said. "Get her in."

The two men shoved me into the back seat. One climbed in with me and then the doors all shut. The locks clicked with an icy finality, and we were moving instantly.

"Ms. Katie, yes?" the driver said. "Let me tell you what is going to happen. We are going to go meet with the leader of these fucking idiots. This Gyro. And we are going to all sit down and come up with a story that makes sure that the Scorpions are not in any way to blame for what has happened in your town. Once we have all agreed, we will drive back to Gilsner and we will tell the police about these things. Ok?"

"Uh, I-"

"Ok, no no stop. You are not playing with little boys on bikes anymore, ok? This is not fun for me you see. It is just business. And the Michohan cartel takes business very seriously. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," I said.

"Good."

We rolled out of the parking lot and I understood a lot of things.

I was an idiot for suggesting this plan.

Gilsner was in way deeper than I had imagined.

I would probably be killed later anyway.

And the only hope I had of rescue, had no way of knowing where I was.