AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He passed a huge Cabela’s on the right and a Harley dealership on the left.
Then Calhoun, and after that, it was all Appalachian foothills and icy air. The bigger the mountains got, the colder the wind.
He thought back over the past week, no longer surprised that his memory pulled up a lioness’ mane of blonde curls and smoke gray eyes instead of black and green.
He’d always have a soft spot for Sweet, loved who she was and what they’d shared, but Smokey….she was something else.
Growing up with Maker for a big brother had to have left its mark, and even though Smokey had saved his brother when he’d had a bullet in him, Ryder wondered how she’d feel about getting back into the life. Or if she’d ever been in it to begin with.
And if she’d wanted to get away, medical school and Afghanistan were a sure way to do it.
An hour later found Ryder taking the big curve into Chattanooga, and then he locked fantasies of Smokey away.
He had work to do.
*************************
Anna
“You’re safe here,” I said, reaching across the conference table to clasp Rachel’s hand.
She was one more in a neverending line of runaways, druggies, and hookers that the streets chewed up and spat out, right through the double doors of my office.
“How long can I stay?” she asked, eyes glassy from the haze of drugs.
“This is a counseling center,” I said, “not a shelter. But I can get you into one for the night if you want.”
“I can’t stay here?” Rachel went on.
“I’m afraid we don’t have the room.”
“Then I’ll just go,” she said, her motions jerky and uncoordinated as she picked up a shopping bag from the floor and got to her feet.
I followed her down the short hallway and into the reception area.
She turned back toward me, hand on the reception desk, and her eyes glinted like shards of glass, “Thanks for nothing.”
She whirled toward the door, and her grand exit would have been much more dramatic if she hadn’t stumbled into it.
“Put the pen back where you got it,” I said, my voice going hard.
“Make me,” she snarked, gripping the pen like a knife.
I sighed, and between one breath and the next, I had her arm behind her with her nose pressed against the glass of the front door.
“Drop it,” I whispered. “You’re not gonna shoot up with my office supplies.”
I heard the pen hit the floor, and I let go.
She yanked the door open and ran, not looking back.
I bent to retrieve the pen and returned it to the front desk.
“You okay?” Brent asked, coming up behind me.
“Yeah,” I said, starting for my office. “She tried to steal a Bic.”
“She have any intel?” he asked, following me.
