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“You’re the father of her child. It’s her decision what happens to you. I figure at the very least she should get the enjoyment of watching you suffer.” I drag him up next to my bike. I don’t usually take bounties to a second location so I’m not sure how I’m going to manage this, but I’m guessing I can tie him to the rack and keep his arms secure so he can’t pull some shit while we’re riding.
“I’m not the father of that baby.” He’s angry now. “The dad is some guy named Mac or Max or something.”
My stomach tightens and I glance back at the man I’m currently tying in knots. “What did you say?”
“She told me the fucking baby wasn’t mine. That’s why I lost it.”
I stare toward him, calculating the months between the time she left and now. Then I calculate it again. The math fucking adds up!
Fuck! Why didn’t I see that? Why the fuck didn’t I see that?
Elation, anger, frustration, and happiness roar through me all at once. I know why she left. She didn’t think I’d make a good father. She didn’t think the violence and the bullshit would be good for a baby. She’s not wrong, but still, she should’ve told me.
I swallow hard and try to gather my thoughts, but my head is spinning.
“Why did she tell you that?” I growl, tightening the rope until I see it’s cutting off his circulation.
The man struggles against my grip. “We argued all the damn time. I told her I was only staying because of the baby, and she said it wasn’t mine. That it belonged to this Mac guy, and I lost it.”
I punch the man in the face, repeatedly. I don’t give a fuck what she did. The fact that he hurt her kills me.
Max, you fucking idiot!
This isn’t how this was supposed to go. I was tying him up. I was bringing him to her. I was letting her decide. That makes sense. This… this doesn’t.
Fuck!
“What are you doing in Rugged Mountain? You’re from Wyoming, right?”
The man spits blood. “Yeah, but I can’t go back to jail. I got family up here. Didn’t think anyone would find me.”
Every fucking asshole skips bail and goes on the run, thinking the same damn things. ‘I won’t get caught if I go somewhere I know.’ They all make the same stupid mistakes. They go toward family, or they go in a straight line toward the border.
“Nothin’ else? You didn’t come up here to fuck with Collette? How am I supposed to believe that?”
He spits blood from his mouth and glances up toward me. “Look, man, I’m on the fucking run. The last thing I want is to worry about someone who knows me. I’ve stayed here without anyone seeing me for a week. I’m just buying some time until I can get out of the country.”
I dial Outlaw and step away from the bike.
He picks up on the first ring.
“Hey. How’s everything? You need help?”
“Maybe.” I don’t want to get into details because I need to talk to Collette before I start telling everyone that she’s having my baby, but it’s really fucking hard not to say anything. I want people to know.
I suck in a deep breath. The pine in the air is heavier now. “I need a transport back to the police in Wyoming. Can you get one of the guys to come grab him?”
“Send me your location and I’ll have someone roll out there. The dude awake?”
“Yeah. You want him asleep?”
“Ideally,” Outlaw laughs.
This makes things a hell of a lot easier.
“My pleasure.” I hang up the phone and swing into the asshole one last time, knocking him out cold. Why does it feel so good to hurt someone who fucks with the people you love?
I lean back against a pine tree and slide down to the ground as I wait for backup.
