Texas Tornado (Freebirds Book 5) (26 page)

“Guess we’re in for a wait, boys.” Luke commanded.

***

Shiloh

“I’ve got her here, sir.” Frank said into the telephone at his ear.

The baby behind me was still just as silent as he’d been when I was secreted to the corner over thirty minutes before. I could tell by placing my hand on the child’s chest that he was breathing, and I wondered if he’d been given something to make him sleep. It wasn’t normal for a child to sleep this much in the middle of the day. Nor was it normal for the child not to stir when I’d purposefully tried to wake him when Frank had left the room only moments before.

“No, sir. She’s alone.” Frank said, nodding his head.

He drew up to the window, and drew one of the blinds down. Not being able to get a good view, he pulled on the cord, and raised the blinds up to their highest height. Once he looked around, he withdrew from the window, leaving the blinds open as he went.

“Frank! The boy went outside.” Mrs. Newman rasped from the front room.

My nose was itching, and I could smell the distinct smell of pot wafting from the direction of the voice. Just wonderful. That’s exactly what I needed. A stoned old woman in the back room, and a psychotic old man in the front. What the fuck?

“Leave him. He’s feeding that mutt in the backyard like he was told to do on his next shitter break.” Frank bellowed back before returning to his phone conversation.

Good. I knew that meant that the boy would be in safe hands. I knew that James was out there. The man that was now on the other end of the line was relaying what was going on to me. Talking to me, reassuring me. Which meant a whole lot. I’d be a nervous wreck right now without him. When I got out of here, I’d give him a kiss smack on the lips.

Well, maybe not on the lips, but he’d for sure be getting a hug.

“She’s five ten, one hundred and fifteen pounds. Brown hair. Wavy. Good boobs. Nice hand full. Pasty white skin. Her legs look a little chunky. Ass is nice and round.” Franks said from across the room.

What a dick. I was five foot seven inches. He was definitely off on my weight by more than thirty pounds, but who was I to complain? My hair was a nice shade of auburn. My boobs were more than a handful to most men, but when it came to James, they fit perfectly in the palm of his hands. My ass had been getting bigger, but I didn’t think it was that big. As for the pasty white skin, it was November, what did he expect to happen when it wasn’t summer?

Anyway, who would he be talking to? It was like he was expecting me, even though the visit itself was unannounced. That was the whole point of an unannounced visit, so they wouldn’t be expecting you.

“I don’t see any cops. Her phone hasn’t vibrated or rang. I don’t think anyone is any of the wiser.” He explained to the person on the other end.

Hah. That’s what he thought. I couldn’t wait to see his face when he saw the SWAT team storm his house. I hope he accidentally got shot, too.

“The missus’s got bingo at the Elk Club at seven. You’ll be able to get in by yourself?” Frank asked.

His face turned into a frown, and you could tell he was upset about what he was hearing. “If I take the kids with me, then it’ll be a shit night. You can’t play bingo with those little shits. They’ll be awful.”

He listened to the other end, his scowl becoming more and more fierce as he listened.

“Fine.” He snapped and slammed shut the phone, tossing it against the couch cushions.

He looked at me, and pointed his finger. “Look what you’ve done. That bonehead biker had to push his beat up nose into my business, and now I’ve got to deal with the frickin’ CPS and take them to Bingo night. Can’t wait to listen to this for the next week. Great.”

He walked out of the room, and I shot to my feet like my ass was on fire. I knew that they were out there, even though I couldn’t see them. James was probably up on top of one of the roofs.

I scanned and scanned, still not seeing him. Finally, I decided that maybe he’d be able to see me, and it was my best hope.

Using my hands instead of speaking it aloud, just in case he was close enough to hear me, I held up two fingers, then signed the letters a-d-u-l-t as slowly as I could, and then held up one finger, and spelled out b-a-b-y. I wasn’t sure if whoever was out there would know what I was spelling, but I figured it was worth a try in any case.

However, that was all I was able to get out, because the rear door slammed open, Frank called out for the boy who went outside over ten minutes earlier, and then he growled a frustrated curse when the boy never came.

Frank called to his wife, who started shuffling herself into the family room, not sparing me a single glance, and then made her way outside, closing the front door as she went.

Minutes ticked by as Frank bellowed for the ‘boy’ to return. It was only after ten such minutes of this continuing, that he finally called out for his wife again, only for her to not respond either. Secretly, I was giggling inside. Outwardly, I was as cool as a clam as I sat with my back against the sleeping child and waited.

It didn’t take long for Frank to come barreling back in the room, waving his shotgun around. “Where’d she go?”

I looked at him and pointed towards the front door, staying silent.

“She never came back in?” He asked, eyes frantically searching the living room.

I shook my head. More than likely, the woman was now in police custody. Not that I’d be telling him that.

He figured it out though. “You got buddies out there? You call the cops bitch?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t technically lying.

“You bitch!” He said, and then raised his shotgun.

I closed my eyes, almost serenely, and waited. I knew it was going to happen. James would shoot the fucker, and I really hated seeing heads explode. Like bad. So, to block it out, I plugged my fingers into my ear, crowded the baby back behind me, and squeezed my eyes tightly shut.

I felt the boom, even though I didn’t see or hear it. Something heavy thumped hard onto the floor somewhere across the room from me, but I stayed where I was. I didn’t even open my eyes.

It wasn’t until I felt the distinct impact of the door hitting the wall that my body was leaning against before I opened my eyes. Then I quickly shut them again, my mind refusing to acknowledge what had once been Mr. Newman’s head.

Something touched my shoulder, and I opened them to find a black helmeted head in my face. I resisted the urge to slap it away, instead waiting patiently for the man to speak.

“You okay?” Helmet head asked.

I nodded.

“The baby?” Helmet head probed.

I scooted over carefully, revealing the sleeping form huddled in the corner.

“I think they gave the baby something. He hasn’t moved an inch since I got here. Pulse is strong though.” I explained.

“Medic.” Helmet head bellowed.

Just then, a commotion at the door had my eyes travelling to it, and I was relieved to know that James was finally there. True, it wasn’t as if I could see the man, per say. However, I knew that body almost as well as I knew my own. Regardless of whether I could see his skin and face or not.

“Shiloh!” James yelled as he barreled towards me.

I made to stand, and helmet head helped me up.

In the next moment, I was engulfed in James’ arms. Although it was anything but comfortable to be pressed up against his hard, unforgiving helmet, with his sniper rifle slung over his front, and the million and one tactical thingie mabobbers hanging off his belt, I hugged him back for all I was worth. Not caring in the slightest that I’d most likely be sporting bruises tomorrow.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” James groaned.

I held him even tighter before I said what I really wanted to say. “What took you so long?”

Chapter 20

Never argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.

-Life Lesson

Shiloh

Weeks passed, and within no time at all, Christmas was around the corner.

After the hostage situation at the Shady Lane Mobile Home Park and the Newman’s, James made it a point to drill home the idea of safety. Lillian herself had now mandated that for each unscheduled visit, we have the presence of a uniformed police officer to accompany us.

Now here I was, with eight days until Christmas, and I was bored.

James, Sebastian, Sam, and my dad had all made it a point to spend some time with me, but I always ended up being so freaking alone. I’d started doing Insanity in a vain effort to stay in shape, since everyone refused to let me go outside to run. Which didn’t really upset me so much as make me feel claustrophobic. I was so freaking tired of being caged up in this God forsaken house that I would go nuts.

The ringing of my phone pulled me out of my contemplations, and I answered it on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, Shiloh. Want to come over to Free? We’re going to play some games. Have margaritas, and then decorate the Christmas tree.” Blaine said giddily into my ear.

I pulled the phone away from my face, and readily agreed. “I love you, Blaine. Will you have my babies?”

“Yes, you just have to come over first!” She laughed. “I’ll send Elliott over in the truck. He’ll be there in fifteen minutes, okay?”

“Yes, thank you.” I said before hanging up the phone.

Looking down at myself, I decided that the bright green leggings with purple jingle bells would be festive, and decided against changing them. I covered up my black tank top with James’ old high school baseball sweatshirt and slipped my feet into my Ugg boots.

Yes, they were ugly, but they were soft and warm. The eighty-degree weather had finally decided to act like winter, and had dipped into the low twenties overnight, making it colder than a witch’s tit. Especially since James refused to turn the heater on anything above sixty five degrees.

I folded the blanket I’d been using moments before, and then grabbed my purse, and waited by the front door patiently, like a good girl.

The knock at the door came a few minutes later, and Elliott’s voice projected through the door. “You can come out, Shiloh.”

I grinned as I yanked open the door. “You can have my babies, too. Thanks for saving me.”

He laughed. “I think that’s anatomically impossible, but you’re welcome.”

“I’m so flipping bored. James got called in, and I’m dying here all by myself.” I sighed as I walked to his truck and hoisted myself inside before he could even open his own door.

“Yeah, so bored that you told one of the local church people off.” Elliott laughed.

“I didn’t tell them off!” I said indigently.

“That’s not what James tells me.” Elliott snickered as he backed out of the driveway and headed towards the main road.

“It was honestly not that big of a deal. I don’t understand what the big fuss is about.”

“So, when the pastor of the church down the street from you asked you where you were going when you died, you didn’t mean to say Rader Funeral Home?” Elliott gave me a teasing look.

“Well, yeah, I did mean to say that.” I finally agreed.

I mean really. What did the man expect when he dropped that bombshell in my lap? Yes, I did believe in God, but I didn’t want it thrown in my face that I was a sinner. Nor did I want him to tell me I was going to hell because I didn’t make church every other Sunday.

“Everyone got a real kick out of that at the shop when James told us.” He explained as he pulled onto the street that Free was located on.

Up ahead of us, a log truck pulled onto the road, and I gave an involuntary shudder.

“I hate those things. Ever since I saw Final Destination, every time I see one of those, I think about the chains breaking and the logs skewering me through the front glass.” I explained to Elliott who sported a wary look.

He laughed. “Yeah, I can see that. I feel the same way when I see them on the interstate.”

Pulling into Free, he parked his vehicle around the back, and walked with me to the side door that led to the activity room in the back of the garage.

All the women were gathered there, margaritas already in hand.

“Hey, y’all started without me?” I yelled as I made my way into the room.

“Of course not. We just heard you pull in, and we picked up our glasses.” Ember said guiltily.

Liars. Ember’s was nearly half-gone. Blaine was on the verge of empty, another empty glass was next to my full one that Ember had just gestured to.

“Liars.” I laughed and went to my drink, taking a large swallow before turning to take a seat at the table.

“Later, ladies.” Elliott said as he walked towards the outer shop area.

“Wait!” I called to him, stopping him before he could leave.

“Yeah?” He asked, turning around.

“Thanks for the ride. And will you send Janie in here for some food?” I asked sweetly.

“Sure thing, sweetheart.” He agreed and left.

The next hour was spent playing Apples to Apples, but was interrupted when Janie came storming into the room. Her eyes were flaring hot, and she turned her head, scanned the room, found my eyes, and the stomped towards me with deliberate steps. She reminded me of her father when she had that determination etched on her face, and I couldn’t withhold the smile that took over.

“What is the reason I can’t be out in the shop with Max and Sam?” She demanded.

I managed to catch the laughter that threatened to spill from my throat, but only just barely. “Well, I was wondering if tomorrow you wanted to go shopping for Christmas presents before we go visit your mother.”

She grimaced. “I’ll go shopping with you, but only if you take me to the Harley shop.”

I pursed my lips. “Well, that’ll work for your dad, Sam, and the rest of the guys, but what about your grandmother and Cheyenne?” I asked.

She thought about that for a moment, but then came up with the perfect solution. “We’ll go to Lowe’s, too. They’re right across the street from each other.”

The laughter bubbled out of my throat, and I smiled at her, pulling her in tightly and giving her a big hug. Her wiry arms wrapped around me surprisingly tight, and I luxuriated in the warmth she exuded.

Never once had I seen her mother get a hug like this, and I was more than a little smug about it.