I shook my head.
He peered cautiously out the door before we left. Slack and Jared were still on the ground. Jackson pointed his gun at them and fired two shots. A bullet hit the fuel tank of each of their bikes.
“Come on,” he said.
I ran to keep up, climbed onto the back of his bike, and put my arms around him so tightly nothing would ever pry me loose.
Chapter 10
Faith
WE RODE SOUTH FOR THREE HOURS, stopping only for fuel. Jackson washed Slack’s blood from his hands in a gas station restroom.
Jackson was protective of me and that kept me calm. If he hadn’t been so in control, so in possession of me and the situation, I’m certain I would have panicked. He’d shot Slack. He’d knocked out Jared. Wolf, and the other Lobos would be after us in force. Nothing would stop them now. We’d never be safe.
But it was hard to feel hopeless with Jackson there. My arms were around his waist like a vise. It was as if he made me his responsibility, made me his family, the moment he set eyes on me. I felt as if everything that followed would be the result of that.
We reached a small desert town and pulled into the Walmart. Jackson filled a cart with clothes for me, toiletries, a fresh shirt and underwear for himself, some bottled water, a few snacks.
“Do you know where we are?” I said.
He nodded. “We’re in the Mojave Desert.”
It was hot. Very hot.
“There’s a diner up ahead. They’ve got air conditioning. We can go there and talk.”
“All right,” I said. All I wanted was the air conditioning.
We parked outside the diner and went inside. He led me to a booth and despite the desperation of our situation, it felt good to be with him. I felt he knew exactly what to do, where to go, what to say. I didn’t have to think. That sort of certainty was what I needed. If he’d shown any weakness, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.
“How did they find us?” I said, when we were seated.
“They didn’t know you were there. How many henchmen does Los Lobos have?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a hundred.”
“They would have spanned out. They knew you wouldn’t be able to get far without help.”
“Now they know I have help.”
“Yes, you do,” he said, and I could have cried when he said that. If it wasn’t for him, I’d already be back at Wolf’s mansion, suffering God knows what torture.
A waitress came to us with menus. Jackson ordered two ice waters and two cups of coffee.
“Jackson,” I said. “If you want to back out, I won’t hold you to any of this. You did what I asked. You got me away from Nevada. They won’t find me here so easily.”
He shook his head. “I already told you, we’re together now, Faith. There’s no backing out on that.”
“If they find you, they’ll kill you.”
He nodded. “Yes, they will.”
“So why don’t you get out now, while you still can? There’s no sense in both of us being in danger.”
“Stop it,” he said. “You know it’s too late for that. I told you I’d give you a life for a life. I meant it.”
“What does that even mean?”
“My father died a few days ago,” he said, looking down at the table.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. He lived by the sword and he died by it.”
“It must be difficult for you.”
“What’s difficult is that I’m his only son. His only child.”
“I see.”
“If I die, his line dies. I don’t want that to happen.”
“Well, putting yourself in danger to protect me isn’t going to help the situation.”
“But you’re going to give me what I need to protect the future, Faith.”
“You mean?” My breath caught in my throat.
“Yes. You’re going to give me a child, Faith. That’s what I meant when I said I’d take everything you had to give.”
“A child?”
“Yes.”
“How can we? In this situation?”
“You leave the situation to me. I’ll take care of Los Lobos. That’s what I can offer.”
“And I’ll give you a baby?”
“That’s the deal.”
I didn’t know what to say. I was dumbfounded. He was so certain of what he wanted. I’d never heard anything like it.
“A life for a life,” I said. “That’s what you meant?”
“Yes, it is.”
“How do you know I’m the woman you want to have a child with.”
He smiled. “Call it a hunch.”
Tears rose to my eyes and I struggled to keep them back. It must have been the shock. I didn’t know if I was delighted or terrified by what he was saying.
“You could have had any number of women give you a baby. I’m sure they’re lining up for you wherever you live. You didn’t need to pick one that was being hunted down by the most dangerous gang in all of Nevada.”
“I wanted you.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. If you wanted a child, you should have chosen someone safer.”