Page 83 of Jackass

“Hey, Sam, can you take this garbage out?” Chris called from the kitchen.

“Sure thing, Chris.” I grabbed the bag of trash and walked out the back door. I threw the bag in the dumpster and then pushed the door closed, making sure it latched.

I walked over to my car and slid in. My purse and keys werewhere I left them under the seat. Pulling out of the parking lot, I drove north to meet my friend.

Getting out of my car an hour later, I stopped and looked around the parking lot. Someone was watching me. I didn’t see any bikes, but I noticed an expensive SUV, a Mercedes.

I had seen it behind me on the way here but thought nothing of it. I didn’t know anyone with enough money to afford a vehicle like that.

Well, except Beck.

When her grandmother passed away, she left Beck millions. No one was more shocked than Beck.

A man was driving the SUV, so I knew it wasn’t her. Besides, Beck was a Ford girl.

Walking into the coffee shop, I looked for Carrie. She wasn’t there yet, so I approached the counter and ordered two coffees. Then, I found a table in the corner, away from the windows, and sat down to wait.

A moment later, the man from the SUV walked in. He was tall, blond, and wearing a very expensive suit and mirrored sunglasses.

He ordered a coffee and grabbed a newspaper. Once his order was ready, he walked over and sat two tables away. As soon as he sat down, I knew.

Jingles.

Fuck.

I didn’t let myself react. I couldn’t. If he saw me react, he would know I knew. So I took out my phone and scrolled aimlessly. While I was waiting for Carrie, I realized there was a way I might temper Jack’s anger.

I opened up a recording app I had downloaded a few years ago. Carrie stepped inside the shop, and I hit the button and turned my phone over.

“Sam, thank God you’re here.” She looked around the shop. “Where’s Charlie?”

“I didn’t bring her.”

“Why the fuck not? I told you, Sam, we have to go.”

“Carrie, calm down,” I whispered.

She realized where we were and took a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just so worried about you and Charlie.” Then she muttered, “He knows, Sam.”

“What?”

“Derek knows you’re with Jack. He’s not happy.”

“I know he knows. Matlock sent him divorce papers. We have been expecting him.”

“No, Sam,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s been here in Nebraska for weeks. He doesn’t know about the divorce papers.”

“Carrie.”

“Sam, you don’t understand. The notes are worse than I told you. They’re vile, Sam. The things he is threatening to do to you and Charlie. He’s evil, Sam. We have to leave. You need to hide.”

“Carrie, slow down. We will get to Derek in a minute. I need to talk to you about something Charlie told me.”

Carrie sat up. “What? Did Blade do something? I knew there was something about him. His attention on those little girls isn’t normal, Sam.”

I reached over and grabbed Carrie’s hands. “Carrie, stop! Blade wouldn’t do anything to hurt those girls. He loves them, the way their father loves them.”

“Their father too? Sam, keep Jack away from Charlie. She’s not safe at the clubhouse, those bikers—”