King of Diamonds (Desert Sons MC Book 3) (15 page)

Jack pulled his rapidly-softening penis from her and, with a few gentle nudges from Tina, made enough room to lay down beside her. “I’m glad… because I’m spent. Fuck… I have never come three times before. You may have to drive in the morning.”

She snickered and snuggled in closer. She was burning up at the moment, but she knew she would be freezing later. “How about we just sleep in in the morning instead?”

“I’m all for that. You wore my ass out tonight.”

“Same here.”

Tina smiled. It wasn’t all that late—barely midnight according to the clock in the cab—but her eyes were getting heavy. “I love you Colt,” she said, trying to get used to using Jack’s new name.

“And I love you too, Jac,” Jack responded in kind.

They sighed together, then snickered, as content as either had ever felt. They lay close in the too small bed… and neither minded at all.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Two days later the Sons all met in Roswell for a final goodbye. It hadn’t taken long for word to spread that Tina and Jack would be stopping for dinner, and the entire club had turned out.

They had just spent the last three hours laughing, joking, and reminiscing. During the meal Seth called for attention and Tina was officially inducted into the club as a full member on an enthusiastic and unanimous vote… and she cried when Seth held her
Desert Sons
jacket for her to put on. As was customary, she bought the next round of beers for the club, then paid for nothing the rest of the evening.

Jack held her close as they watched the Sons look over the truck. A few peeked under the heavy Tyvek liners that enclosed the trailer and kept the cars clean, dry, and free from prying eyes, but most simply ogled the truck… Roger more than anyone.

“They still haven’t found your truck?” Jack asked as Roger climbed out of the cab.

“No. They can keep it. I’ll take this one instead.”

“I think I will phone in an anonymous tip tomorrow. This is stupid. I wonder if the damn truck is still sitting where I parked it.”

“No. Don’t do that. The truck is insured. If they don’t find it, I’ll get a new one. Don’t risk yourself over the truck. Besides, insurance is paying to go fishing at the moment since I can’t work. I’m in no hurry.”

Jack chuckled and slapped Rog on the back. “How’s the lip?”

“It’s still sore. Next time I tell you to hit me… don’t.”

“Let me make it up to you by buying you a beer.”

“That should make us about even,” Rog said with a grin.

The Sons’ little party finally began to break up about midnight. “Jack… I need to talk to you,” Seth said after all the others had left.

“What’s up, Seth?” Jack asked as he draped an arm around Tina.

“I don’t like this. I think Goremykin is setting you up.”

“Why would he do that? We’ve got his money.”

“Yeah. But if he fingers you, that may lead back to us. We lead to the money.”

“Don’t worry, Seth. It’ll be fine.”

“Jack, we worry about
you
,” Michelle said. “Seth and I… we don’t want anything to happen to you. Or Tina.”

“We have some time off coming,” Seth continued. “Let us run blocker for you. We can leave with you in the morning. I’ve always wanted to see the Atlantic Ocean.”

“No. Absolutely not. Thanks for the offer, but if Goremykin does put the squeeze on us, best you are nowhere around. I won’t roll on you guys, you know that. Tina won’t either. We’ll keep the Sons out of it.”

“But, Jack—” Michelle began.

“No buts, Michelle. Tina and I, we can handle it.”

“Jack, I—” Seth tried.

“No. Seth, seriously, thank you, but no. I don’t want anyone else involved. I think we can trust Goremykin, but if I can’t… The less people, involved the better.”

“Dammit, Jack. You—”

“No. The Sons are out of it. This is a separate contract between Goremykin and myself. Just let it go.” Jack grabbed Seth by the shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. “Why don’t you take your money and start your own dealership somewhere? It’s what you want. Take Michelle on a trip somewhere nice. Relax for a change. Okay?”

“Fine. We’ll do it your way. Take care, Jack,” he said before he turned and walked briskly away.

“We’re just trying to help, Jack,” Michelle said.

“I know, Michelle. But if this goes to shit, I don’t want anyone else to take a fall.”

Michelle looked at them a moment, then nodded and followed Seth.

“What’s his problem?” Tina asked once they were out of hearing.

“I don’t know. Seth has always been intense, but… I guess he is just worried that if we get bagged, I’ll drag the Sons down too.”

“He should know better than that!”

“Yeah. He should.” Jack stared after Seth until he and Michelle mounted his bike and rode away into the night.

***

“Jack!” Seth’s frantic voice came over the hands-free in the truck. “Where are you?”

“Uhh…” Jack stalled as he looked at the satnav. “Coming up on Sweetwater, Texas, about to head East on I-20. Why?”

“Is that East or West of Dallas?”

“West, why?”

“I just found out there is a national FOC—that’s the Ferraris Owners Club—meeting in Dallas this weekend.”

“Okay. So?”

“So! So do you want to drive through Dallas where every other person in town will recognize those Ferraris as the stolen cars the moment they lay eyes on them?”

“They’re out of sight. You worry too much,” Jack said as he looked at Tina and rolled his eyes.

“Better to not risk it. I did some looking. If you can keep going South, you can get on I-10 and avoid Dallas altogether.”

“Seth, for God’s sake. What is wrong with you? Nobody is going to see anything.”

“Jack, I’m telling you, if you go through Dallas, one phone call is all it would take. They would have all the expertise they need right there to know those cars are the real deal, despite the paperwork that says they’re fakes. That truck isn’t exactly hard to spot either. Why take the chance? If you were to get stopped anywhere else, you would probably get away with it, but not in Dallas. Not this weekend.”

“All right Seth. Thanks for the heads up.”

“Are you going South?” Tina prompted when he glanced at her.

“What do you do think?” Jack asked.

Tina started punching at the satnav. “It only adds four hours to the trip. Since we are just puttering along anyway, that won’t make any difference. Oooh… we could stop in New Orleans! I could flash my boobs and get some beads!”

Jack chuckled and focused back on the call. “I still think you’re being paranoid, Seth. But I want to see Tina flash her boobs. So yeah, I guess I will head South. But Jesus, you need to relax. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”

“You can’t be too careful. Thank you, Jack.”

“No problem. Anything else?”

“No. Got to run. People to do, things to see.”

Jack chuckled. “Okay. I’ll call you in a few days when we get to Savannah. But watch your texts. I’ll send you a picture of Tina flashing her boobs.”

“You will
not!
” Tina cried from the passenger seat, but Seth was already gone.

***

“Uh oh,” Jack said as he began to slow, spotting the line of cars at what could only be a routine police checkpoint.

“This isn’t good,” Tina echoed.

“Just relax and don’t panic,” he said with a grin and a wink. Jack slowed the truck to a stop just South of Menard, Texas. “How can I help you officer?” he asked after he crept through the line of traffic.

“Just a standard license check. License, log, and manifest please,” the officer said.

“Jac, hand me the paperwork please,” Jack said, holding his hand out to Tina.

Tina fished out the driver’s log and the rest of the paperwork Rodchenko had given them and handed them to Jack. He, in turn, handed the paperwork to the officer then pulled his license from his wallet and handed that over as well.

“This your truck, Mr. Lanier?” the officer asked as he checked the paperwork.

“No. I’m driving for Goremykin Transport.”

“Replica Ferraris, eh? Mind if I take a look?”

Tina’s heart sank and her stomach began to do somersaults, but she kept quiet as Jack stepped out of the truck. Fifteen minutes later he crawled back into the cab and handed her the paperwork. “He took some pictures for his kid.”

Tina couldn’t help it when she began to giggle in relief. “I hope he never finds out. How embarrassing would it be to have
taken pictures
of one hundred million dollars’ worth of stolen cars and not even know it?”

“Very,” Jack replied with a grin as the truck growled its way up to speed.

When they stopped for the night in San Antonio, Tina was jubilant. They had been stopped by the Texas highway patrol, passed them through with no questions asked, and Jack’s fake ID had stood up to a casual scrutiny. She was sure now they were going to make it and she was looking forward to starting her life again.

She and Jack spent the night in the truck. After their lovemaking, as she coasted into sleep, Tina realized she enjoyed the soft putter of the huge diesel engine at idle as its rhythmic thrum lulled her into a deep sleep.

Late the next afternoon, Jack pulled into the
T/A
truck stop in Lafayette, Louisiana. While Jack filled the tank Tina located a place to spend the night. As much as she liked sleeping in the truck—not to mention the fun they were having in the process—they needed a shower, and the truck stop showers gave her the willies. They had fallen into the routine of one night in the truck, the next night in a motel. This time they would spend a couple of nights in the motel, however, because Jack had agreed to pull the Audi off the trailer so they could spend tomorrow in New Orleans before they made their final push to Savannah.

After some looking she finally located a well-reviewed motel just outside of town with a large parking lot and located near a restaurant. She punched the location into the satnav, and when Jack finally returned to the cab, they set off for the short drive to their destination.

“Oh my God, it’s hot!” Tina gasped as her sunglasses fogged when she crawled down from the truck. “How do people stand it around here?”

“Said the woman that has lived her entire life in New Mexico,” Jack teased as he pulled their kit from the truck.

“Yeah… but here it’s hot
and
humid!”

“Well… look around. Nothing but swamps.”

They were in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, a small town just East of Lafayette, and while there were no swamps in sight at the moment, she had seen more water today than she had ever seen in her life. It seemed the entire state was nothing but one big, mosquito-infested swamp.

“I know. I don’t know how people stand it. I’m starting to sweat already,” she groused as she peeked over the top of sunglasses.