Wilde Fire (The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 2)

“My parents own the mine, not me. That’s got to account for something.” He felt like he was grasping at straws with her. What he really wanted was to throw her over his shoulder, take her back to the tree they’d had the picnic at, chain her up, and then spank her sweet ass until she promised never to threaten to leave him again. That was exactly what he would do if she didn’t change her tune pretty fast.

“They’re your family, Phoenix. Think.”

“Most mines have stockholders, and many of them have children. You’ve heard of six degrees of separation?”

“Yes, but this isn’t the same.”

“Of course it is, angel.”

“Stop calling me that. Please.” She stood up. “I’m going to the mine now.”

“Let me take you.”

“Are you dense? I told you that I can’t do this anymore.”

“You mean too much to me.”

“If you really care about me, then please, leave me alone.” She bolted from the booth and out the door.

Phoenix followed her. He wasn’t giving up on the woman he loved.

* * * *

Jessie cried as she drove past Carlotta’s. She’d never wanted to hurt anyone. She couldn’t blame Phoenix or his brothers. This was all her fault. She could’ve said no that very first night. But she hadn’t. Now, not only was her heart breaking, she’d seen the pain on Phoenix’s face when she’d told him she couldn’t see him again.

She needed a friend right now, so she grabbed her cell. Michael would listen. Whenever she’d needed him to cry with during the last months of her mother’s life, he’d been there, holding her and rocking her. He wasn’t her fiancé any longer, but he was still her friend, and she needed him now. She hit the speed dial, and the No Service Available message popped up on the screen.

“Damn it!” She’d try again later.

She kept one hand on the steering wheel and got a tissue to dry her eyes with the other. “I must look like a mess. I’ll have to fix this before I see Austin.” She looked in the rearview mirror and spotted Phoenix’s truck coming up from behind her. A shiver shot down her spine. She just couldn’t face him now. In time, he’d realize she was right about cutting things off. She pressed harder on the accelerator, watching the odometer hit eighty and Phoenix’s truck fall back. Good.

When she topped the first hill and started down the twis

ted mountain road, she took her foot off the pedal and moved it to the brake to slow her speed. Her foot went to the floor. She had no brakes.

“Oh, no!” Her breath caught in her chest.

The needle hit ninety, ninety-five. This road was treacherous at much slower speeds with all its S-curves and drop-offs. At this speed, it was deadly. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she held her breath.

She pumped the brakes, praying they would engage. Nothing. Holding the steering wheel with both hands with a death grip, she took the first curve. Thankfully, there wasn’t any traffic coming the other way as she swerved into the opposite lane. The odometer now read one hundred five.

This is how I die.

Another curve, and she heard the tires hit the gravel next to the guardrail. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She didn’t look to her left or right, knowing that both directions were at least five hundred foot drops to rocks below. Then she remembered that just up ahead the road dipped with its most drastic elevation change. Phoenix had called it Suicide Hill. All her blood went icy cold as dread took over.

She pumped on the brake pedal like a wild woman. Once the car started down the hill, she was a goner. Her speed would move to an uncontrollable level, not that this was much better.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jessie saw Phoenix’s truck pass her. He then moved in front of her, slowing his speed. Their bumpers hit, and the steering wheel jerked in her hand, but she held it steady. Another bump and the two vehicles were locked together. His brake lights were high enough for her to see, and he held them steady, reducing their runaway speed slowly. By the time they hit the bottom of the hill, her car had stopped.

“I made it. I’m not dead.” Jessie couldn’t unclench her hands from the steering wheel. She let out a blast of air from her lungs, and then she inhaled deeply and slumped over the steering wheel, enjoying the tears of relief streaming from her eyes.

Phoenix opened her door and touched her leg. “A-Are you hurt, Jessie?” The panic in his voice got her fingers to uncurl from around the steering wheel.

“I-I’m o-okay.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed. “T-Thank you.”

Softly, he said, “Shh. Be still now, angel.” He unbuckled her seat belt and hoisted her out of the car. He didn’t set her down on the ground but kept her in his arms. He squeezed her tight, kissing her entire face.

She leaned her head into his chest. “The b-brakes...no b-brakes.”