Hunt

I sat up.

She disappeared into the club.

Hmmm. What’s your next move?

I put my key in the ignition and started the truck. With Phoenix, I would have to stay on my toes and keep my eyes open.

Last time I relaxed, she was gone.

The kid hurried off in the other direction and then raced down the alley.

She’s going to run, but which way.

I spoke, “Griff. West. Be ready to speed off.”

“Got you,” West replied.

Griff came on. “I’m ready, bro. Where do you want me?”

“Close to the alley opening.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Minutes later, Griff appeared and parked behind a car near the alley.

My heart pounded as I gripped the steering wheel.

More minutes passed.

My truck’s engine hummed.

I kept the lights off.

Then, suddenly, the kid left the alley on the bike, turned, and sped away from the strip club.

“Griff, follow the kid for me.”

“Alright.”

“Uh. . .Cain.” West’s voice cracked on the line.

“Yeah?”

“Someone just raced out of the side exit near me.” West gave a nervous chuckle. “Definitely, a female. A motorcycle helmet is on her head, but she has a nice ass—”

Doubt hit me. “But could she have changed that quickly?”

“Hey, guys. The kid isn’t heading back to the highway.” Griff’s voice cracked coming through. “He took the block leading to the other side of the club.”

“I think it’s her, Cain,” West added. “Who else would be running out of there?”

“It’s Phoenix. Stay on her.” My heart boomed in my chest. “I’m coming”

Turning on my headlights, I rushed out of the parking space, sped off, hurried past the club, and made the turn.

Where are you, Phoenix?

I spotted her instantly. It didn’t matter that she had the helmet on.

She could have been a track star.

She was two blocks down from me.

I saw the kid further up.

He’s going to help her escape.

Soon as she hit the corner he was at, she hopped on the kid’s bike fast. She barely got on, before he sped off.

Be careful with her!

Another car got in front of me which was good because Phoenix kept checking behind her. I had to give them space, yet keep close.

“Hey, Cain. She’s on the bike with the kid,” Griff said.

“Yeah. I’m following. Let’s take turns getting close, but don’t scare them.”

“Fuck yeah.” Griff chuckled. “Now this is a proper hunt.”

I grinned. “It sure is.”

I had my eye on her as she rode the back of the kid’s bike. There would be no way I’d lose her now.

I meant what I said out there by the lake. Phoenix, you’re mine.

Chapter 2

Changes

PHOENIX

Thirty minutes earlier.

I

hate working at this place. I need a new plan. Something different.

I slipped through the crowd packed around the main stage.

The men roared and cheered as Cinnamon twerked to the beat blasting out of the stage’s speakers.

And the rap music was loud, rushed and quick. The pounding bass boomed against my chest, and came close to shifting my ribcage. And the voices of the drunken men merged with the poisonous melody about bitches being nothing but pussy to fuck and throw away when done. And where there wasn’t the noise of music, jumbled conversation clashed with roars of laughter.

It was a hundred different sounds all migrating around the room, muffled and overlapping, deafening and drowning.

It’s going to happen. I’ll be doing something else one day soon.

My head ached from the noise. My feet were sore from the high heels.

My eyes watered from the unnecessary blinking neon signs of feminine silhouettes on every wall. I swore all the light would blind me one day.

However, the club’s smell was even worse. A thick blanket of cigarette and weed smoke hung over us, rising in wispy tendrils across the ceiling. In here, the air sucked into my lungs slower than when I breathed on the outside. Then, there was the stank of cheap perfume mixed with the sweat and stale beer.

I have to get out of this damn place. There has to be something else I can do.

I checked my watch. I had twenty minutes before I had to be back on the stage. I should have been prowling the space and hustling for bills, but my headache was killing me.

I can’t wait to get home.

When I was back at my new place, I kept it chill. I barely played music, enjoying the silence of the space.

When I did turn on a song, it was only one of two—Lacrimosa or Una Furtiva Lagrima. Those were the only songs I listened to now. They shouldn’t have been the only thing calming me, but that was the case. And I didn’t listen too much. Just enough to hear the beauty of those voices, but never to remember. . .the other stuff.

At the thought of those memories, fear throbbed through me.

Forget about that. Get some water and then get back to the grind.

Since being trapped with Cain three weeks ago, I’d changed.