Free Faith: Biker Romance (The Virtues Book 2) by Davida Lynn

Lodge in his will, the “only mean thing he’d ever done” to her. She’d been running the place for the last few years, just waiting until Social Security kicked in so she could give the place up.

    When Eddie mentioned seeing a suspicious car drive by slowly, she waved it off. Delores said there was a jealous ex in town. The guy looked everywhere for his ex-wife, and since she’d stayed at the Dusty Lodge when they were separated, it was one of his usual haunts.

    Eddie said that the old lady was sweet, and it would be easy to establish an alibi, if needed. She seemed eager to give up information, so he’d asked about the bank. It was small town, indeed: two tellers working with a manager splitting his time between that branch and another in Moapa.

    We decided to stay on in Mesquite for at least another day, which would drop our money down to less than five bucks. The bank job was inevitable, but that didn’t really have any effect on me. I wanted to do it. I wanted that thrill and the rush only danger could give me.

    That day, we went out for a drive, telling Delores we wanted to enjoy the small town atmosphere. We were actually planning out the routes in and out of the bank and scouting for getaway vehicles, but the slow, short drive was actually nice after two days of hard riding.

    Mesquite was a growing town, with new construction springing up everywhere. It was sleepy and vibrant at the same time. I was able to leave the sweatshirt back at the motel and finally enjoy the fall air in the dry Nevada desert. It was worlds better than the hours and hours of frozen fingers clinging together for warmth.

    My love for Eddie grew more in those two days than I could have imagined. He had sacrificed his body to carry me as far from Colorado Springs as possible. The weight of that wasn’t on him, but he took up more than half of my burden. It was a debt I didn't think I could ever repay.

    I held onto him with an iron grip as we rode through the small town. It wasn’t for fear of freezing to death this time, but I wanted him to know I was grateful for all he had done—and all he would do, as I’d soon find out.

I walked down the street, getting some air while Eddie scouted the town. Outside of a convenience store there was a payphone, and I decided it was time to make a hard call. After dropping my money in, I dialed my sister in California.

    Three rings in, she picked up. “Hello?”

    I was gripping the phone hard, and I got choked up the second I heard her soft voice. I couldn't get a word out. The receiver shook against my ear as I tried to say something.

    “Hello?” There was fear in her voice this time, and I knew she’d hang up. I had to speak.

    “Esther. It’s me. It’s Faith.” I sounded like a little girl again. It was the voice that came out when I knew I was in trouble.

    “Are you okay? Tell me you’re all right.” She was a rollercoaster. She spoke quickly, her tone trading highs and lows.

    I smiled, the lump grew harder, and I fought the quiver back. “I’m all right. I’m all right. Everything is fine. I guess I don't need to ask if Mom and Dad called you.”

    “Faith, where are you? They are worried sick.”

    “I’m sure they are, but Esther, I’m not going back. Dad... I don't know. Dad went crazy. He was talking about sin and demons inside men. I got scared, Esther. It felt like he was talking about... I don't know.”

    I may not have known, but she did. The silence told me that it wasn't the first time she’d heard something along those lines.

    I asked, “You know what I’m talking about, don't you?”

    My sister waited a long time to respond. “Yes. I know. I remember. Faith, he did the same thing to me, and I worried for you and for Mom from the moment Matt and I left. Did anything happen?”  

    I couldn’t hide the quiver any longer. “No. Nothing happened. I asked Eddie if he would leave with me, and he said yes. We’re just inside