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I knew this would all go to hell. But I needed Lars to believe he was winning. That’s when his ego would get the better of him. That’s when he would start to slip and do stupid shit that gave me the advantage.
I agreed to meet at a gas station off the highway. But I never made it there. Lars’ black Suburban and two other large dark pickup trucks pulled onto the road, hemming me in. I pulled off to the shoulder.
The next thing I knew, a jolt of electricity shuddered through my body as I was tasered. Then an explosion of pain burst at the back of my head and everything went black.
I woke up here, in the middle of nowhere, blinded by the glare of headlights. My arms were chained to the truck bumpers on either side of me, spreading me wide. My shirt and jacket were gone, leaving me exposed as the sun began to set and the desert heat faded into frigid territory. I gritted my teeth to prevent them from chattering.
Lars flexed his gloved fingers, the knuckles glistening with blood. My blood. He drove his fist into my face again. Everything hurt – ribs, stomach, jaw. With four men flanking him, it looked like I wasn’t going to get a break any time soon either.
“You walked away from me, all those years ago,” Lars said. “I don’t appreciate that, Eric.” He paused then added, “Or should I say…Tank? That’s your road name now, isn’t it? Your biker buddies have christened you that.” He smiled. “It’s cute.”
“Go fuck yourself, Lars,” I said, spitting blood into the sand.
Lars backhanded me so hard, I saw stars.
“That’s not how you speak to a superior officer, Marine.”
I coughed, blood dripping from my lips. Then I gave a raspy laugh and shook my head. I couldn’t wait to put an end to this man.
“I’m just trying to mend bridges here, Eric,” Lars added in a sugarcoated tone. “And you’re being unreasonable.”
He gave a lazy flick of his fingers. One of his men flourished a baseball bat and swung it into my ribs. I wheezed against the impact, driving the air from my lungs in a rush. White-hot pain burst through my right side.
“Can’t mend the bridge if it’s dead,” I croaked.
Lars snickered. “Oh, Eric, no. I’m not going to kill you. That’s not why I decided to dig up old history and get in contact with you again.”
I bowed my head. “What do you want?”
Lars pretended to think for a moment.
“I’ve decided to give you a second chance.”
“Not interested.”
Lars shrugged. “You can play stubborn all you like. And I know a rough, tough Marine like yourself can take a beating all the live long day. That’s why your girlfriend will be enduring the brunt of the damage in this relationship.”
I clenched my jaw at the mention of Jules.
“Leave her out of this. I’m the one you want to fuck over.”
Lars crouched in front of me and drew his phone from his pocket. He turned the screen to face me, showing a picture of a masked man dousing an apple tree in gasoline.
“That apple tree was planted by Julia Fairbanks’ great-great-great grandfather in the 1800s. Been in the family for a long time. After the orchard, the farmhouse goes next.”
My breath rattled in my chest with fury. Lars bared his teeth in a wolfish grin.
“Would you like to hear what I have to say now?”
“I’m listening,” I growled.
“I want to give you the opportunity to get into my good graces again, Eric.”
I swallowed the impulse to spit in his face. I needed to let him think he was gaining the upper hand here.
“I’ve moved on,” I replied. “You should try it sometime. Holding a grudge is bad for your health, you know. All that anger and resentment you carry around just makes for a seriously shitty case of heartburn.”
Lars hummed, his eyes flat with annoyance. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back until my neck strained from the angle.
