Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(77)

“Run!” Felix whispers harshly, his voice so low I barely understand him.

Zeek bends down, scooping me up in his arms quickly.

“Let go of me, he needs me!” I cry, trying to grab onto my father, my hands scratch at Zeek as he lifts me from my father’s lifeless body. “Please, put me down!” I beg.

My fingers claw at Zeek’s throat in effort to be released, and I rip the necklace from around his neck in the process. Beads fly everywhere, bouncing off the pavement as he manhandles me into submission. Zeek closes his eyes as if he’s in pain, before opening them with an unreadable look crossing his face and running towards the cruiser. Gunshots ring out, and I tense as bullets fly around us.

Quickly, he opens the driver’s side door and gets in.

“Damn!” Zeek falls into the seat, holding his arm as I scramble into the passenger seat. Blood appears in a small circle on his shirt, growing rapidly.

He throws the car in reverse, drifting into a complete circle before he speeds off.

“Shit, that burns.” Zeek pounds his fist against the steering wheel.

“Stop the car! Let me out!” I scream, needing him to turn around. Adrenaline races through my body to the point I feel dizzy.

He looks over at me, his eyes dark and ominous.

“STOP THE CAR!” I cry hysterically, my bottom lip trembling. “We have to go back.” My words are coming out hoarse from all my screaming.

His eyes flash with an unreadable look. It cuts me. My heart aches.

He just killed my father.

He just killed us.

“I hate you. I want nothing to do with you. You promised me you’d never hurt me.” The last of my words come out in a whisper.

“You’re mine, Jillian. I told you that.” He looks at the road for a second, then to me. “If I let you out, you die. If I stop, I die. We’re stuck together. You can’t escape me.”

“Escape?” I croak, his words scaring me.

The static of the radio surrounds us before a voice comes through.

“All units, all units. Please be advised for a stolen sheriff’s car. Deputy Jillian Adams and Zevin Deluca are noted to be armed and dangerous. Be advised.”

“How is that possible?” I shake my head, saltiness from my tears slipping between my lips. They should be coming to rescue me, not chasing after me.

“Because your entire department is dirty. My uncle is out for your blood, and he’ll use any and all resources he can.”

Shaking my head, I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe that everything I grew up wanting to be has been corrupted. I refuse to believe my father is dead, or that he was a part of it all. But most of all, I refuse to love Zeek anymore.

“Your father was dirty,” Zeek finally speaks. “The cops, sheriffs, highway patrol. Nine times out of ten, if they are working for the law enforcement in Las Vegas, they are working for us.”

“That’s bullshit,” I seethe, teeth gritted.

“Is it? Then why is there an APB out for your arrest, Jillian? Why is my club untouchable?”

His words sting. My wounds too fresh to hear all this. My father was a good man, taught me everything I know. It can’t be true.

That’s when I notice my hand clutching something. Opening my palm, I find a metal cross. It must have been a part of the necklace Zeek was wearing. Closing my palm, a sob wracks my body, my father’s last words coming to mind.

‘Jilly Bean, I want you to know I love you. I know I don’t say it much, but I do. When you came into our department, I hoped a new leaf would turn for our workforce. I want you to promise me you’ll keep that spitfire that burns so bright inside you.’

The words didn’t make sense then, but they do now. My body and mind are blanketed in a comfortable numbness as the words sink in.

My father was dirty.

I curl up in my seat, the feeling of any emotion bleak.

Zeek was right.

I’ll never escape him.

He owns me.

Without him, I will die.

“Where are we going?” I whisper, my eyes swollen from crying so hard. The void of my father no longer alive is eating at my insides.

“To my brother’s. To The Devil’s Dust.”



TO BE CONTINUED


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing this book, was nothing short of amazing. I loved it so much.

I want to thank Chelle Bliss for helping me so much on my blurb, those damn things are tricky. River Savage, and Lili St Germain, were a BIG help on my title, I was driving myself nuts trying to narrow it down. Also Lili, your advice on ‘no cookie cutter bullshit’, was epic and inspiring!

My betas were extremely helpful in smoothing out the kinks in my story. Brie, Rebecca, Ivy, and Andrea… Thank you!

A huge shout out goes to Deputy Trenton for taking me along with him on one of his shifts at the city’s Sheriff’s department. I seriously found more respect for what law enforcement does being placed in the passenger seat for ten hours. I saw so many things I never knew went on, because they put their life on the line keeping us all safe. Plus, he was cool as shit… And kind of hot.?

My Little Devils, your support never ceases to amaze me. I love you girls.

I want to give a big thank you to my husband. He had to listen to me go on for months about my book, and he smiled and went along with it the whole time.