Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

R yker

I idled the semitruck I’d acquired in the parking lot of an all-night superstore, chills of dread running through me for what the next twenty-four hours might hold. I was headed for the border tomorrow, and without paperwork that would actually check out, I could be slapped in handcuffs right at that moment.

I resented Prez for at least the hundredth time for exiling me here.

This dry fucking no-man’s-land and I didn’t know when I’d see the north desert again. If ever.

It’d been six days since I’d seen Anna’s face. Touched her lips.

Fucked her so deep and so hard I was sure she’d still be feeling me.

I hoped anyway.

I cranked up the air conditioner, ever conscious of the stifling heat pressing all around me.

I had to make it out of here.

I had to make it out of this godforsaken country and to the future I was trying to build.

This was just one more small hiccup I had to overcome, just like the last few years had been sitting in that cell.

I just hoped I wasn’t headed back to another one.

Because if I got caught this time, no matter the offense, I was headed back. Especially seein’ as I wasn’t supposed to leave the county, much less the country.

I slipped the phone out of my pocket, the weight of the burner unfamiliar in my hand. Soon as I was over the border, I was throwing this motherfucker away.

I hated everything about this, but I knew once it was all said and done, once my mission was accomplished, I’d be sleeping a hell of a lot easier at night.

I just had to get through the next twenty-four hours.

The next twenty-four were critical.