Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #7)(5)

I’d grown up with chores and responsibilities. I’d been taught to mind my manners when in public, and thank the Lord for every blessing we’d been given. Before kids came alone, my parents had struggled, both with their own personal demons. Finding each other brought out the best in each of them. They were happy together, and extremely settled.

It’s part of the reason I couldn’t understand why they refused to relate to my situation. Why couldn’t they see I was in love with Brant Moxin? It was either their way or none at all. I think being the troublemaker made me more prone to get the brunt of their reprimands. They were obviously trying to set an example for my siblings, by throwing my relationship under the bus.

At any rate, they hated Brant from the first time they laid eyes on him. Nothing would change their opinions, and I knew with my latest decision, now more than ever before, they’d do whatever they found necessary to bring me home. That’s why I had to go to extreme measures. It wasn’t like they would have allowed me to move out with my boyfriend.

“I think we shouldn’t stop. We need to keep going. The city never sleeps, so when we arrive we can get some grub and party.”

I tried to focus on our new journey. “Whatever you think. I can’t wait to see the lights.”

“Baby, you have no idea how awesome it is. Just wait.”

Brant lit up a cigarette and took a long drag. I glanced over and watched the smoke escaping from his lips and traveling into each nostril. His firm grip on the steering wheel showed off the tattoos he’d gotten just above his knuckles. He told me the words meant something to him, although I found them sexy and didn’t care. Nobody else would question them, or why he’d put Dead Life across the back of his hands, because they always hated approaching him.

To me, Brant was attractive, a bad boy, rough on the edges with his own sort of style. He was intimidating, and it made me feel safe and protected. He’d always been in control, and I liked it at first. Women were always hitting on him, and before I could go into bars, I was jealous imagining him being with someone other than me.

Now I worried about the consequences if my parents had been right about him. He’d pretty much threatened our relationship for me to come with him, and now that I’d run away, I knew I’d disappointed all the people who could potentially save me if things went sour.

Brant’s plan didn’t include me going anywhere without him. He’d promised we would get married, and we’d start a new life together. Each time I fought with my parents, he’d reassure me something better was out there waiting for us. The more miles that separated myself from my family, I reconsidered my selfish decision.

Things would have been easier if my parents would have given Brant a chance. I could only pray his criminal ways were a thing of the past. He’d changed. He’d changed for me – so we could be together. We were running away to have a life, not like some Bonnie and Clyde scenario. It was about love and nothing else. We’d prove them wrong. Somehow, someway we’d prove our feelings were genuine and they’d finally accept us. He’d be a part of our family, and we could have the future we both had been dreaming of. I’d taken the risk, throwing caution to the wind. I only had myself to blame for whatever happened next.

“Baby, you need to chill the f*ck out. We’re not being followed, and they sure as shit ain’t going to catch up to us. We’re free. Ain’t that what you want? This is our chance.”

I watched as one of his hands came over and massaged my thigh. My hand fell down over his and I lightly squeezed. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s going to be great. Just wait. We’re going to have it all. Anything you could want, I’ll give it to you.”

I forced a smile and then stared into the passenger side mirror. “I believe you.” But did I? My reluctance made me nervous. “About this job. What will you be doing?”

He ran his hand through the back of my hair and glanced in my direction. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Don’t worry. All you’ve got to do is stand around and look pretty.”

My eyes widened as I noted what he was saying. “What do I have to do with the job?”

“You’re going to be my partner, baby. Don’t fret. I’ll do the heavy lifting.”

I already knew what it implied without asking further. By heavy lifting he meant stealing. Maybe I should have asked to get out of the car and found a way home right then. Maybe it was my out I’d silently been looking for. Except, I didn’t take it. In my head I thought I could still change his mind. I wouldn’t give up, at least not yet. If he thought I was going to break the law for us to be together, he was dead wrong.





Chapter 2


Cassie


The pictures didn’t do it justice. Vegas was absolutely breathtaking. I was in awe of the buildings, the lights, and the atmosphere. Once we got onto the strip I hung my head out the window and let my fears dissipate. We were both overwhelmed with excitement, high off of the possibilities. “This is unbelievable. Am I dreaming?”

“Nope. This is what I was telling you. I knew you’d be impressed.”

“Impressed,” I kept staring out the window in awe. “This is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen. Oh my god. Look at that water show. Do you see the lights?”