Chapter One
Charlie
The sound of an eighteen-wheeler pulling to a stop nearby jolts me from my restless slumber. My heart pounds as I open gritty eyes and glance through the dirty, cracked windshield. I haven’t been sleeping well. Not since Mr. Big Shot started texting me.
I thought it would be fun to start a video channel online. I showcased my favorite things about Austin, the city where I live and work as a college student. A lot of people liked my videos, and I was starting to gain a following. Sure, it was only ten thousand subscribers, but I was having fun.
Until Mr. Big Shot.
The first time he messaged me, I talked with him for a few minutes. I thought he was nothing more than an overeager fan. It wasn’t the first time I had someone gush about my show and tell me how much they enjoyed it.
The week after our conversation, I was filming on location at a local eatery. My phone lit up with a new message. It was a picture of me, and my stomach plummeted when I realized the clothes in the photo were the exact ones I was wearing.
He was there somehow, watching me. I hadn’t posted where I would be filming or given any indication of what my next video would be about. Yet he’d still known.
I tried to go to the cops, but Mr. Big Shot wasn’t making threats. Apparently, it’s a free country. If a man wants to follow a pretty young woman around, then she should be flattered and grateful for the attention.
After that, I ignored him for a while. When that didn’t work, I blocked him. Finally, I changed my phone number in desperation.
Still, he found my new one and the messages became more frequent. I went on hiatus from my video channel last week. My videos are still available but I’m not posting anything new. I’d hoped that would make it stop. After all, he’d discovered me because of my videos. Maybe he’d stop if I went away for a couple of weeks.
But yesterday’s message came while I was in class. It was a picture from inside my apartment. Someone had written on my walls in lipstick. Come home soon.
I didn’t go home, and I sure as hell didn’t make the mistake of trying to go to the cops for help again. Instead, I borrowed clothes from my friend and traded in the shiny BMW that my brother bought me as a high school graduation gift. I traded it in for an old Cadillac and some cash.
Now I’m driving the rattling clunker on my way to the one person who will protect me if I can just get to him. Despite the numerous times I’ve switched interstates and changed directions, I still worry that I’m being followed.
It never mattered how much I varied my routines in Austin, Mr. Big Shot always seemed to know where I was. I could never figure out how he knew. I bought new electronic devices in case he was somehow tapping into my old ones. I changed all my passwords. I did everything I could think of to keep him in the dark.
Getting out of the car, I glance over my shoulder and pull my beanie lower. It only takes me six minutes to use the restrooms, hit the vending machine, and get back on the road again. I’ll sleep when I’m safe. If I’m ever safe again.
I wish Elliot were stateside. My brother is an Army Ranger, and I know it never would have gone this far if I’d reached out to him. But he’s overseas, probably on a dangerous mission. I won’t risk distracting him so I’m going to the warrior I know will protect me, Brody Carson.
My brother’s best friend. We haven’t talked since he helped me move into the dorm during my freshman year.
Elliot couldn’t be there, so he’d sent Brody in his place. Not that I minded getting help from the sexy Ranger with rolled up shirt sleeves and tattoos on his biceps. Damn, his biceps are big and thick. Everything about Brody is big and thick. Since I was old enough to be attracted to him, I’ve wanted him. I’ve always wished he would pin me against a wall and cage me in.
The dorm move was the day I let the fantasy get away from me. I kissed Brody in the elevator, and it was a million times better than even my dirtiest dreams. For a split second, he stayed completely still. Then he took over and in one swift motion, I was against that wall. He was sucking on my tongue, growling so loudly the vibrations were traveling into my throat.
But as the doors dinged open, he pulled away from me. When the haze of lust and longing cleared from his gaze, there was only one thing left: disgust. He didn’t have to say it. He’s known me since I was eight and he was seventeen. He probably thought it was weird that his best friend’s little sister kissed him.
Eighteen-year-old me tried to pour out her feelings right there in the elevator. I mean, he’d kissed me back. He’d pinned me against that elevator door and grinded his hardness into me. He was clearly into it.
But he’d laughed and said it was just a guy response, that any woman could provoke that reaction. You’re nothing special. You’re not good enough anyway.
I wouldn’t have believed him but the look on his face told me everything I needed to know. I was about as appealing to him as the idea of licking used kitty litter. Well, message heard loud and clear.
I haven’t seen Brody since that day. Sure, I know that he’s moved out to a ranch in Courage County. He’s running it with two of his Army buddies, Colt and Ryker. But the only reason I know this is because of Elliot. He always keeps me updated on what his friend is doing. Then he tells me the same thing each time, “If you’re ever in trouble and I’m not there, go to Brody. He’ll help you.”
I used to roll my eyes. Now I can only hope that Elliot was telling the truth every time he said that. Because if Brody can’t help me, I don’t know what I’ll do.
***
Brody
Another one bites the dust. The victorious feeling flows through my veins as I drive down the dirt road toward the ranch I share with Colt and Ryker. The three of us bought the place together after retiring from our service. We each live in separate residences, but we share the farm and the chores that come with it.
During the day, I’m learning to be a cowboy. I even have a horse now. Granted, the thing bucks me off at every turn while Colt and his wife laugh at me. But I’ll get this cowboy thing figured out.
At night, I’m a skilled hacker who can break through the world’s toughest encryption. With a skillset like mine, I could make millions mining data or stealing cryptocurrency from online thieves.
Instead, I spend my time going through forums where pedophiles trade pictures of kids. I gather the data and turn it over to my contacts at the FBI. A new ring went down today thanks to my sleuthing. Ten pedophiles across the country are being charged with sex crimes.
I hate the things I’m exposed to. But if I don’t fight this evil, who will? That’s why I work to uncover the real identities of these posters. Most of them are smart enough to use software to cover their tracks. They’re too stupid to realize that nothing is truly anonymous on the internet.
Hell, maybe if there’d been someone like me around, my mom wouldn’t have suffered the way she did. The thought stirs up all the old feelings that I try to keep shoved down. It’s getting harder since her funeral. I thought it’d be easier to let things go now. Forgive and forget, all that self-help bullshit.
Before I can get lost in memories of my troubled past, something on the road ahead catches my attention. It’s a blue Cadillac from the eighties that looks like it hasn’t had an oil change since the turn of the century. The front door is open, and the hazard lights are flashing. The driver’s seat is empty, and the hood is popped.
My gut tightens when I don’t recognize the car. It’s rare to get visitors out this far into Courage County. We’re a rural place as it is, and our ranch is definitely off the beaten path. Whoever is here clearly got turned around.
I pull my new Chevy, a retirement gift for myself, to the side of the road. Walking around to the car, the first thing I spot is a pair of shapely tan legs tucked under a miniskirt. It’s so short that I force myself to look away. What the hell is the matter with me? I’m here to offer assistance to the hot stranded motorist, not fuck her.
Clearing my throat, I watch as the petite figure hunches her shoulders. She spins around in a blur of brown ponytail then pins me with a gaze that steals my breath away.
For a second, I’m not here on a dirt road in Courage County. I’m back inside a steamy elevator, sliding my big hands around the curves of the only woman I’ve ever wanted. I’m pressing her back into the wall and feeling her wrap her legs around my waist. I’m grinding my hardness against her and moaning into the mouth of my best friend’s little sister.
Charlie’s shoulders relax and she lets out a soft sigh. “It’s just you.”
Why does she sound so relieved? Who did she think it was? How the hell is she even prettier than she was last time I saw her? A thousand questions all bubble up inside of my brain and I want to bark them all out at once. I settle for the most obvious one and try not to wince when my tone comes out too harsh. “What are you doing?”
She brushes her long, brown bangs out of her eyes. Her hair has always been so silky. I wanted to run my fingers through it that day. I’d wanted to pull the cute little bun she’d been wearing down and massage her scalp. Now I want to pull that band out of her hair and see it fall around her shoulders. Yeah, her naked with just her hair down standing in front of me. That’s an image that I’ll see again tonight in the shower.
“Pouring water in the radiator,” she mutters as she holds up the cap and moves to the trunk. She pulls out a gallon of water. All that time spent watching me and her brother fix cars when she was a kid taught her the basics of what’s under the hood.
Why is she driving this piece of shit? Elliot bought her a damn good car when she graduated. Her parents had already passed by that point, so we put together the cash to get her something nice. Only she doesn’t know that I bought half that BMW.
We got her the new car, so she’d have something reliable as she cruised around town. We wanted the best when it came to safety ratings, and that’s what she got. Now she’s riding around in this rust bucket that looks like its wheels are about to fall off in a sudden wind gust.
“Stop,” I grind out the word, angry that she’s been in this unsafe vehicle. She could have been hurt at best and at worst, well, I can’t think about worst. Because if I think about the worst-case scenario, I’ll lose my shit. “I’ll drive you to my place and get this thing towed over there.”
I expect her to argue with me but the expression on her face is pure gratitude and relief. Just what the fuck is going on with my best friend’s little sister?