Page 47 of Paco
Chapter Fourteen
Bobby crouched inthe dark in someone’s backyard, wishing the moon wasn’t so bright. Like a statue, he stayed in the same position for what seemed like hours. One movement, one involuntary gasp or sigh and it was all over—Victor’s people would find him.
Since early that morning, he’d been on the run, Victor’s people making it impossible for him to leave town. When he’d told Victor that Misty was missing, he had the goddamn nerve to blamehimfor the cunt’s insolence. And Victor expected him to give back the money he’d paid for Misty, but Bobby would never be able to do it.How the fuck am I gonna be able to come up with that kind of dough just like that?If he had some time, he could snatch another girl. Young ones went for big money; all he’d have to do was take some pictures and post an online ad, then let the money flow in, but Victor wasn’t giving him any time. He never liked the sonofabitch. He always acted like he was the top honcho, but to Bobby he was nothing but a two-bit gangster.
One thing Bobby was certain of: he would find Misty and give her a painful end beyond measure before he snuffed the life out of her.No one fuckin’ double-crosses me. It’s just a matter of time until we’re reunited.
Then he heard the high-strung barking of the dogs.Victor’s pulled out all the stops tonight.It got louder and closer; he could almost hear their snapping jaws. Fear gripped him like an iron hand around his neck, and he bolted from his hiding place. Running wildly through the trees, branches clawed at him as he tried to escape before the dogs descended upon him and tore him up. The darkened sky pressed down on him as hopelessness gnawed at his insides.If I can just get to the road.Sweat poured down his neck, making his skin feel like a million insects were crawling over it, but he kept running toward the low rush of cars. Breathing heavily, his side was killing him but he didn’t dare stop—not even for a second. The snarling and barking were closer with each step he took.
He could see the white glow of headlights as the highway came into view.I’m almost there. I can do it.Then he saw the yellow lights of a semitruck parked on the side of the road. Laughing hysterically, he rushed toward it, gasping for air, tripping on tree roots and brush, salty sweat stinging his eyes while the dogs came closer. For a split second, he turned around and thought he saw the gleaming white teeth of the snarling canines; he spun back around and pushed onward until he reached the truck.
Tears streamed down his cheeks when he saw the familiar face, one of the regular customers from the truck stops.
“Gus,” he croaked.
The middle-aged man with a lived-in face looked startled, but then a smile split his lips. “Bobby. What the hell are you doing out here? I’ve been wondering where you and your gals have been.”
“I need your help. Someone’s trying to kill me. I need you to hide me.” He looked behind him and saw the faint glimmer from flashlights filtering through the cluster of trees. “Please.”
Gus looked over Bobby’s shoulder. “Are all them yapping dogs coming for you?”
“Can you help me?”
“Get in. I was just getting ready to leave.”
Bobby clung to the door handle like a drowning man grasps a life raft. Gus pulled him inside, then turned on the motor and pulled away from the side of the road. It wasn’t until they were well past Silverado that Bobby’s heart finally slowed down.
“So why were they after you?” Gus asked.
“I won the poker game.”
He laughed. “Really? Damn, they were sore losers. So where’re your women? I missed Misty the last time I came through Moab.”
“We’ve gone our separate ways. I’m on my own now.”
“Is that right?” He glanced at Bobby.
“Where’re you headed?” Bobby relaxed back in the seat and stretched out his legs.
“Alina,” Gus answered. “Does that work for you?”
“Sounds like as good a place as any.” He watched the mile markers blur by as the truck drove down the highway.
