a steady job?”
“That’s right. I did. Up until tonight. I don’t want to go back inside. I was trying to turn my life around.”
“So why did you start a fight?”
“Who said I started it?”
“You didn’t start it? Then why did you run?”
“I was sitting there, minding my own business. I was getting a promotion at work and I was feeling good. I just wanted to have a beer or two and maybe get laid. And this bitch knocked my beer over. Got it all over me and her both. She got a little mouthy. I tried to walk away, but she grabbed me and … well … I hit her. Then the bouncer tossed us both out on our asses and she wanted to rumble. Her friend tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen. So I hit her again, harder this time. Knocked her ass down that time. Then I find out her old man is a cop. Now, you tell me, who is he going to believe? His own daughter with the bloody nose or me, the ex-con, without a scratch on her?”
“So you went from being involved in a petty bar fight to grand theft auto? Where’s the car now?”
“Yeah. Maybe in hindsight that wasn’t the smartest move I have ever made. I had to stop for gas in ABQ and a cop pulled up beside. I was inside the store, and I didn’t stick around to find out why he was there.” She had no intention of telling him about the other car or the gun in her back.
“And you walked from Albuquerque to all the way out here?”
“Yeah.”
He was silent for a moment. “Get out.”
“What?” Tina asked in shock.
“I should kick your ass, or turn you over to the cops, but I’m feeling generous. So get out.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“If you will get your ass out.”
“Why?” Tina asked, edging toward the door, but not turning her back on the man, afraid of what he might do if she did.
“Because I don’t feel like kicking your ass right now, and turning you over to the cops takes too much time, effort, and paperwork. But if I ever catch you here again, it will different. Understand?”
Tina nodded, then stepped forward and gave him a hug. “Thank you. I’m sorry. You will never see me again, I promise,” she said before backing away and hurrying to the door.
CHAPTER THREE
As she approached the bridge she would be sleeping under, she pulled the guy’s wallet out from her pocket. She removed the cash and credit cards, then pulled his driver’s license up enough to see what the mark’s name was. Jonathan Thomas Carter. She smiled before she chucked the wallet into the bushes. He never knew she had him.
She was still going to have to sleep under the bridge, but adding John’s $380 to her own funds gave her enough cash to get her to Texas. She had almost reached the bridge when she heard the scream of a laboring engine. She squinted into the bright headlights, making out the Audi from the warehouse just as it roared to a stop. She bolted, running as hard as she could, but as fast as she was, he was faster. He caught her in the parking lot of a fast food joint on the other side of the interstate.
“You’re not very fucking bright, are you?” he panted as he hauled her to a stop, holding her by the arm.
“Let go of me, you fucker!” Tina said as she lunged and struck, trying to break free of his iron grip. He held her, deflecting her blows until she stomped down hard on his bare foot, causing him to bellow in pain. Free from his grip, she ran again. She didn’t get far before he shoved her hard from behind, causing her to tumble and roll in the grass surrounding the parking lot.
Before she could regain her feet, he hovered over her as the spray from the sprinklers soaked them both. She kicked out hard at his leg and caught him just above the ankle. He roared in pain once more as he went to his knee, but he grabbed her leg as he fell. She rolled to her ass and kicked at him again, aiming for his face. He dodged the blow, but when
“That’s right. I did. Up until tonight. I don’t want to go back inside. I was trying to turn my life around.”
“So why did you start a fight?”
“Who said I started it?”
“You didn’t start it? Then why did you run?”
“I was sitting there, minding my own business. I was getting a promotion at work and I was feeling good. I just wanted to have a beer or two and maybe get laid. And this bitch knocked my beer over. Got it all over me and her both. She got a little mouthy. I tried to walk away, but she grabbed me and … well … I hit her. Then the bouncer tossed us both out on our asses and she wanted to rumble. Her friend tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen. So I hit her again, harder this time. Knocked her ass down that time. Then I find out her old man is a cop. Now, you tell me, who is he going to believe? His own daughter with the bloody nose or me, the ex-con, without a scratch on her?”
“So you went from being involved in a petty bar fight to grand theft auto? Where’s the car now?”
“Yeah. Maybe in hindsight that wasn’t the smartest move I have ever made. I had to stop for gas in ABQ and a cop pulled up beside. I was inside the store, and I didn’t stick around to find out why he was there.” She had no intention of telling him about the other car or the gun in her back.
“And you walked from Albuquerque to all the way out here?”
“Yeah.”
He was silent for a moment. “Get out.”
“What?” Tina asked in shock.
“I should kick your ass, or turn you over to the cops, but I’m feeling generous. So get out.”
“You’re letting me go?”
“If you will get your ass out.”
“Why?” Tina asked, edging toward the door, but not turning her back on the man, afraid of what he might do if she did.
“Because I don’t feel like kicking your ass right now, and turning you over to the cops takes too much time, effort, and paperwork. But if I ever catch you here again, it will different. Understand?”
Tina nodded, then stepped forward and gave him a hug. “Thank you. I’m sorry. You will never see me again, I promise,” she said before backing away and hurrying to the door.
CHAPTER THREE
As she approached the bridge she would be sleeping under, she pulled the guy’s wallet out from her pocket. She removed the cash and credit cards, then pulled his driver’s license up enough to see what the mark’s name was. Jonathan Thomas Carter. She smiled before she chucked the wallet into the bushes. He never knew she had him.
She was still going to have to sleep under the bridge, but adding John’s $380 to her own funds gave her enough cash to get her to Texas. She had almost reached the bridge when she heard the scream of a laboring engine. She squinted into the bright headlights, making out the Audi from the warehouse just as it roared to a stop. She bolted, running as hard as she could, but as fast as she was, he was faster. He caught her in the parking lot of a fast food joint on the other side of the interstate.
“You’re not very fucking bright, are you?” he panted as he hauled her to a stop, holding her by the arm.
“Let go of me, you fucker!” Tina said as she lunged and struck, trying to break free of his iron grip. He held her, deflecting her blows until she stomped down hard on his bare foot, causing him to bellow in pain. Free from his grip, she ran again. She didn’t get far before he shoved her hard from behind, causing her to tumble and roll in the grass surrounding the parking lot.
Before she could regain her feet, he hovered over her as the spray from the sprinklers soaked them both. She kicked out hard at his leg and caught him just above the ankle. He roared in pain once more as he went to his knee, but he grabbed her leg as he fell. She rolled to her ass and kicked at him again, aiming for his face. He dodged the blow, but when
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