My eyes got wide and I stared at Vance, waiting for his answer.
I might have been tired and just rescued from a kidnapping and I was certainly thankful to Vance for everything he’d done and he was cute and al (real y cute, super cute, actual y cute wasn’t the word, hot was more the word) but I sure as hel wasn’t going to be handed over as a gift of gratitude for saving my hide.
And anyway, if anyone could hand me over, it was me and I was done with men. Total y and completely. I was looking forward to a life as a cat lady. I was going to get a dozen cats and a fucking great vibrator, maybe one of those rabbits I heard about, and that was it.
Vance’s voice broke into my lonely, but satisfied, plans for the future.
“I’l get what I want from Lee.”
“Money,” Tex said decisively and he sounded disappointed.
Vance looked at me. Then he looked at Tex. He was deciding if he should share.
Then, he decided. “I want five minutes in the holding room with Bil y Flynn before they turn him over.” I looked between the two men. I didn’t know what “the holding room” was but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
Holy cow.
I held my breath.
For the first time, Uncle Tex smiled and whatever was in the air evaporated. “You’l have to stand in line,” Tex told him.
“I think I’ve earned one of the first cracks,” Vance said.
Holy cow. Holy cow. Holy cow.
“Vance –” I started but stopped when his eyes locked on me.
He wasn’t hiding his reaction again; he looked angry, beyond angry. I realized immediately that he actual y had been control ing his reaction. This was his real reaction and it scared the living daylights out of me.
“A man raises a hand to a woman, he needs a lesson,” Vance said.
I opened my mouth to say something but there was nothing to say. What he said was downright, bottom line true.
Vance got in my space and put his hands on my shoulders and whatever I was going to say flew from my brain. He looked down at me and his eyes changed, the anger was stil there but I watched as whatever was fighting for its place was concealed from me.
“Talk to Eddie,” he said, his voice quiet, his expression now under control and hidden. “Press charges. The kidnapping took place in Colorado at a cop’s house. Bil y Flynn is fucked.”
He didn’t wait for my response and my heart stopped when he grabbed my chin, pul ed my head to the side and kissed my cheekbone, right where my scabs were. Then he turned, walked around the hood of the Explorer, swung into the driver’s seat, and he was gone.
“Let’s get her inside.” Nancy was there and had her good hand on me. It was stronger than I expected it to be.
She turned me toward the house, her face fil ed with concern.
Uncle Tex’s arm came around my shoulders as I saw lights rounding the corner down the block.
I froze.
It was dark, but I could see, in the streetlamps, it was Hank’s 4Runner.
“No,” I whispered, panic flying through me.
“Roxie?” Uncle Tex asked, he and Nancy stopped with me.
My eyes flew to Tex. “I can’t see Hank.”
Uncle Tex glanced at the oncoming car. “Darlin’ girl…” Tex started and I knew he didn’t agree with me.
“No! No, I can’t see him and… and he can’t see me. Not like this. Please, please, please,” I chanted.
The SUV was close. I had no time. I stopped chanting, shook off Nancy’s hand, Uncle Tex’s arm and I ran.
*
I went into the house, tearing through it, to the room at the back. I threw the door closed. It was Uncle Tex’s bedroom.
I ran to the windows, cats flying everywhere, sensing my panic, and I pul ed the drapes. Then I went back through the dark room to the door, feeling the knob for a lock but there was none. I put my back to the door and slid down it, sitting with my shoulders pressed against the door.
Then, I heard the voices, Uncle Tex’s a soft boom, Hank’s deep voice control ed and patient, Nancy’s butting in every once in awhile. The boom got louder and then I could tel , even though I couldn’t make out the words, that Hank’s control slipped.
I put my hands over my ears, pul ed my knees up and rested my forehead on them but I could stil hear the voices, I could feel Hank’s impatience and I knew Uncle Tex was trying to protect me.
I started humming.
God, I was so tired. So, fucking, tired.
I couldn’t give into the exhaustion.
I hummed, forcing the voices out of my head, and I planned.
Get my clothes from the hotel.
Get my car.
Go to Chicago.
Go to Annette’s.
Get my money, my stuff and escape.
There came a soft knock at the door and I stil ed.
“Roxie, honey, it’s me. Nancy.”
I got up slowly from the door and opened it a crack. She was alone.
The voices were gone.
“Where’s Hank?”