suffocating fog. I smiled as the warm glow of the sun came through the window and kissed my face. I was a damned fool, I knew, tangled in the arms of an outlaw, a killer. I’d had good days like this before that faded too quickly, so I savored the feeling of happiness. His big tattooed arms around me tight, I felt safe and maybe even loved. His scruff rubbing against my skin, he nuzzled me. Scar was up, in more ways than one, ready to try and convince me again. Could I really run away with him? After another round of extraordinary sex, we got ready to ride. We had to take a shower, and treat my tattoo. While Scar carefully rubbed the ointment on, I smiled at the sight of it in the mirror. He bandaged it back up.
“Does everyone’s woman get a tattoo like this?”
He grimaced a little before answering, “Oh, yeah.”
The boys wanted to stop and talk about their plan, so we ate lunch. I learned all was well as long as a girl named Anarchy still had a thing for Cowboy. She was obviously their intel. She’d told Cowboy when Polecat left for Horizon City, where the EL Paso chapter of the Gods housed their club. That was where we were supposed to be later today. The boys thought they knew the route he’d take, after some heated debate about the best way to get from Tucson to Horizon City. Scar’s plan involved catching a man named Polecat before he caught them and took them to the mother chapter of the Asphalt Gods in Tucson. The Coyote Ghosts would be circling the Gods in Horizon City, not doing anything wrong but distracting them all the same.
Leaving the diner under the brilliant afternoon sun, we rode around El Paso, hoping to run into the man who was supposed to make sure Scar never made it to California. Eventually, we stopped at a truck stop, to rest or whatever they needed to do. I went straight to the ladies room not sure when we’d be stopping again. The sun was setting as I walked out of the bathroom, shaking my hands because there were no towels. Scar was waiting on me. He put his arms around me while we waited for the boys. “Look at that sunset.” When I looked up, it was the most beautiful sky I’d ever seen. “I told you we needed some clouds,” the big tough guy explained, kissing the tip of my nose.
Royal purple clouds lined in scarlet gave way to dazzling golds, hanging in a deep blue sky. Mountains peaked in the distance while silhouettes of Cacti dotted the horizon. I’d not been this far west since I was a child, so I was mesmerized for a while by the natural beauty.
Another visual treat was in front of me. Scar stared in my eyes. “You still haven’t said you’ll come with Halley and me when this is over. I don’t expect you to love a killer like me. Not yet. But I’d like the chance to be a good man to you.”
“Just like this sunset, I wouldn’t change a thing about you,” I said with a smile. I never thought the clouds in my life would turn into something as beautiful as this sunset, but I felt more than hopeful for the first time in a long time.
Scar
Emery smiled a real smile, and for the first time since I’d met her, I didn’t see the pain. I’d only known her a week but her feelings ruled me. Her smile cut me deep. I didn’t want her to ever stop smiling.
How can one week change your whole goddamn life? Last week, I was nothing but a killer, a loner. Even with my plans to save Halley, I was a heartless man. Now, I never want to kill again. I’d given up on my club as well, and now my brothers have risked their hides for me more than once.
Emery hadn’t answered me about leaving, going away. Just as I was sure I wanted to, I didn’t want to leave my brothers high and dry either. I at least had to make sure Bones and Cowboy were okay before I disappeared. Not to mention, I had to somehow kill Serpentine and get my sister. The basic idea was to lure him with the promise of the money. We were to meet alone to make the trade. He’d hand me Halley, and I’d