Beautiful Bounty(69)

He heard Ronnie’s nervous laugh at Gary’s innuendo and felt the acid in his stomach churn. This guy was going to have his dick cut off if he so much as touched her. She belonged to him now. The creepy fucking bastard had balls if he thought he would use his woman to satisfy his needs. He fucking left her holding the proverbial bag, she was sucking up to him big time, and the dude was taking it all in. What fucking nerve. He slowly moved his position. As soon as the guy let go of the bike, Nikko planned to jump him. He moved slowly, but despite his best efforts and small twig snapped.

“Oh, baby. You know I will thank you, just the way you like. But first, I’d love some coffee, and maybe something to eat too. I haven’t had much sleep either. But, I am famished and need to eat something. Got anything in that cabin of yours. I’ll cook,” she offered. She was using the cooking to buy some time. Hopefully get him to talk.

“I hope not too tired,” he smirked at her in what was meant to be sexy, but only made her stomach roll. When she didn’t answer, he added, “But we can eat first. I got some eggs, and stuff. And cold cuts. Hey, can you make me one of your omelets, baby? You know I am not much in the kitchen.”

They were maybe ten yards away. Nikko’s muscles prepared for the attack. Seconds now.

All was silent and that bothered Ronnie. “Who is there?” Ronnie called out. Fuck! She heard a slight snap by the wood pile. It could be an animal, but she doubted it.

“What the hell?” Gary yelped. “Someone out there?” He was looking around nervously.

“Shit,” Ronnie murmured glaring in the darkness at the woodpile. The noise had come from over there.

Fuck! Nikko was pissed. She had marked him.

Gary looked like he was going to bolt and Nikko had no choice but to make his presence known. He stood. Ronnie spotted him right away.

“Nikko?” Ronnie winced. This was the very last thing she wanted. He was going to ruin everything. She’d just gotten here. He’d tracked her so quickly, and now he was going to fuck everything up. She needed to think fast.

“You know this guy?” Gary looked from one to the other. He held the bike in front of him like a shield.

“Yes, he is a fucking bounty hunter. He’s here to take me back to Florida. Damn it,” she cursed, and turned to Gary to lessen the blow. She whispered to him in the hopes he would think Nikko couldn’t hear. “I don’t want to involve you, baby. I never wanted that. I’ll just go with him and hopefully he won’t even concern himself with you.” She winked at him hoping he would play along. For a moment he just looked confused, then Gary nodded.

A bit louder than was necessary, Gary spoke up. “Um, Ronnie baby, I had no idea you weren’t supposed to leave the state.” He lied so easily, Ronnie thought, even if it wasn’t very well. Fucking coward, she thought. But she would play along. She needed to, especially if she hoped to convince Nikko to allow her to come back.

“Sorry babe, I didn’t tell you that part. Just that I was out on bail. Fuck.” She turned to face Nikko now who was watching them both warily. He had been silent up to this point, wondering what the fuck was going on. “What are you going to do?” she looked at Nikko pointedly praying he didn’t fuck this up more than he already had. She kept her tone neutral. She didn’t want Gary to pick on her and Nikko’s relationship if you could even call it that.

“Well, well, well, Veronica Sears.” He used her formal name. “I’m here to bring you back. So if you will just come along and play nice, we can let this guy go make his own omelet. There is a late flight, and we just might be able to make it back to Florida tonight.” He gave her a malicious smirk.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He was ruining everything. She narrowed her eyes, but kept quiet about the things she would really like to say to him. It wasn’t the time. She turned her back to him. “Gary,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I’ll go. I love you,” she whispered and was about to reach in to hug him, but Gary pulled away from her distancing himself at the same time Nikko called out.

“Now.” Nikko said the word forcefully. When she turned back to face him, he was leering at her. “If you will just come along,” he stated more politely using his hands and very long fingers to beckon her to him.

What choice did she have? Fuck! Her mind screamed. She would have to convince him to let her go, give her one more chance to nail Gary. It was the only chance she had.

“Um,” Gary started. “I think you better go, Ronnie.” Gary wanted no fucking part of this.

Ronnie looked from one man to the other. She couldn’t help but make the mental comparisons. Two men who had royally screwed her over. And despite Nikko’s recent behavior, Gary was still the biggest loser in her mind. “I’ll go,” she stated, but didn’t break eye contact with Gary. She chose to ignore Nikko for a moment more. “But can I have just a minute with my friend,” she nodded towards Gary.