Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood #3) - Kathy Ivan Page 0,26
its looks, but the engine purred like the proverbial kitten. Evan didn’t care if it was a clown car from a three-ring circus. As long as it got him away from the prison and closer to getting his rightful payback, he’d stay inside this coffin on wheels.
It seemed like an eternity passed before Evan finally felt the car slow. The sound of gravel crunching was accompanied by the thump, thump, thump of the tires riding over something bumpy on the road. With a shudder and a lot of shimmying, the car finally eased to a stop. Then there was nothing but silence. Interminable silence which seemed to go on forever. He couldn’t even hear a whisper from the passengers inside the vehicle, and his heartbeat sped up. Surely Axel wouldn’t leave him locked inside the trunk and take off, would he? The acrid taste of bile rose in his throat at the thought, and he willed himself not to throw up. No, he wasn’t going to die in the confines of a crappy compact foreign car.
Using what little room remained, he scooted and shifted around, contorting his body in ways he’d never imagined possible, until he got his feet braced against the car’s back seat. Hauling his knees to his chest, he tucked them as tight as he could, and took a deep breath, ready to kick out toward the seat. Holding his breath, he unleashed his strength, his feet connecting with the heavy covering with a solid thunk. Nothing. It didn’t budge, not even an inch.
Before he could pull his feet back for another kick, the trunk above his head flew open, and warm air and light filled the cramped space. Rolling over onto his back, he dragged in wonderful fresh air. Axel choked out a laugh, before reaching in and grabbing Evan’s hand.
“Sorry, dude. Had to make sure nobody spotted us.”
“Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one stuck inside a cracker box without any air.”
Axel rolled his eyes and slammed his hand against Evan’s shoulder. “Wuss. I wasn’t exactly riding in high style, you know. That hump in the middle of the floor in the back is a real pain in the—”
“Yeah, right. Where exactly are we?”
“Humble. About half hour, maybe forty-five minutes from Houston. Baby’s gassing up the car. Should only take a second. Enough time for a bathroom break if you need it.”
Evan straightened and rubbed his back, easing the soreness from being confined in such a tight space. Looked like it was time to say adios to Axel and head out on his own. Mexico didn’t play into his plans, not yet. No, by the time he’d finished dealing with his traitorous witch of a wife, he’d head someplace where he could relax. Some place without extradition treaties, since he was now an escaped felon.
He wasn’t going back behind bars ever again. The money he’d socked away for a rainy day was sitting in the bank, waiting for him. He’d been smart enough to put it under a different name, one nobody could even guess at. It wasn’t nearly enough, not yet. But, before he was through, he’d have the funds to retire in style, and lounge on the beach and drink all the Mai Tais he wanted.
“Listen, Axel, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I think splitting up’s the best option here. The cops are going to be looking for two escaped prisons, a black guy and a white guy. You’ll have a better chance if it’s you and your girl. With me being alone, well, they won’t be expecting that.” I hope.
“Wait…what? Dude, that’s not the plan. All three of us are supposed to head south of the border. Mexico. Cops ain’t looking for three people, either.”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and it’s better this way, I swear. Besides, I’ve got some unfinished business I need to take care of before I can relax in the Mexican sunshine.”
Axel simply shook his head. “It’s your funeral, dude. You know where me and my lady will be hanging, if you change your mind.”
“I’m gonna take you up on that. Just need to finish what I started first.”
Axel yanked him in for a hug, and Evan cringed, even as he pounded the other’s back. Yeah, he really needed to hit the road before things got any more awkward. He wasn’t looking at being any part of Axel’s extracurricular activities. Taking a step back, Evan finally noted what was in Axel’s outstretched hand.