Read Online Breaking Free: A thriller, M/F, erotic romance by Danielle Aretino - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Danielle Aretino
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shoulders stood back. Tall and proud, she stalked across the cemetery, expression unreadable, climbed into her car, and left.
Never to be seen again.
******
Seated on the front porch of his family's old cabin, a cigarette hanging between his lips, Red straightened up when he heard the sound of tires climbing the gravelly pathway. Situated in a stunning valley along the Appalachians, the Parker family had owned and passed on the beautiful log cabin from one generation to the next. The newcomers always made upgrades, and inside there was a mix of modern appliances and horrible textile curtains. It had been his home ever since he left the night of Dan's murder. Even if Sandy had balked on the plan, he figured Dan would be stupid enough to wear the mask he and Missy had planted in his bedroom—it was his favourite colour, after all, and Missy had gotten him very drunk before Sandy arrived.
So, by collar or by mask, Dan would stop breathing by midnight that night. There were risks, sure. Sandy could have tattled on them, but he'd accounted for her flakiness by telling Missy to get him as drunk as possible. When he was in that state, there was no way anyone could have a legitimate conversation with him.
But that was almost a month ago. He hadn't been back since, hiding out in the cabin under the guise of attending his mom's funeral. Most of the DBD gang members knew jack shit about his home life, so who was to say his mom hadn't died?
She hadn't. She was alive and well in a retirement community with his dad, eager to meet the mysterious new woman who had given Red the chance to ease out of the biker lifestyle. It was a lifestyle his parents had never approved of, and probably would have gotten him killed well before his time.
Living out in the woods hadn't been terrible. He missed his high-speed internet, and the cable was shit. The worst part of it all, however, was the fact he had zero communication with Missy since their plan had come to fruition. For her safety, he thought it best not to keep in touch with her during the investigation. She'd be under suspicion anyway, and he didn't want her to be accused of having a secret lover on top of everything. It had been sheer agony. Sometimes, just as he was on the verge of waking in the mornings, he'd catch a whiff of her scent. Her hair. Her skin. He'd hear her melodic laughter on his walks through the massive trees. He'd see her smile when he closed his eyes.
All that waiting, however, would be worth it today. Now, in fact. An unfamiliar car rumbled up to the house, but with the window down, he caught a flash of red hair that made his heart sore. She was alone, and as soon as she cut the engine, Missy hopped out of the car and raced toward him. Red tossed his cigarette aside, vowing to sweep up all the butts later, and all but jumped off the porch to get to her.
Sweeping her up into his arms, he held her like he might die if he let go. Red wisps tickled his face, and she'd adopted a new cream—vanilla. Homey. Comfortable. She trembled in his arms, and he stroked her hair when she started to cry. Red could only imagine what she had been through, alone, while the gang rooted out the cause of Dan's death, and he'd kick himself for the rest of his life for leaving her behind. Never again. Anywhere she went, he'd go—if that was what she wanted.
When she pulled away, sniffling, he was blown away by her smile. He'd never seen it so vibrant before, so full of life. While tears rolled down her cheeks, she laughed, clutching his shirt and keeping him close. She carried herself differently now. As if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, Missy stood taller than she ever had before, her eye line nearly at his.
"Anybody follow you?" he asked, his voice cracking. He tucked her hair behind her ears and cupped her face, unable to look away. How could he? She shook her head, her smile unending.
"Not a soul." Her voice was music to
Never to be seen again.
******
Seated on the front porch of his family's old cabin, a cigarette hanging between his lips, Red straightened up when he heard the sound of tires climbing the gravelly pathway. Situated in a stunning valley along the Appalachians, the Parker family had owned and passed on the beautiful log cabin from one generation to the next. The newcomers always made upgrades, and inside there was a mix of modern appliances and horrible textile curtains. It had been his home ever since he left the night of Dan's murder. Even if Sandy had balked on the plan, he figured Dan would be stupid enough to wear the mask he and Missy had planted in his bedroom—it was his favourite colour, after all, and Missy had gotten him very drunk before Sandy arrived.
So, by collar or by mask, Dan would stop breathing by midnight that night. There were risks, sure. Sandy could have tattled on them, but he'd accounted for her flakiness by telling Missy to get him as drunk as possible. When he was in that state, there was no way anyone could have a legitimate conversation with him.
But that was almost a month ago. He hadn't been back since, hiding out in the cabin under the guise of attending his mom's funeral. Most of the DBD gang members knew jack shit about his home life, so who was to say his mom hadn't died?
She hadn't. She was alive and well in a retirement community with his dad, eager to meet the mysterious new woman who had given Red the chance to ease out of the biker lifestyle. It was a lifestyle his parents had never approved of, and probably would have gotten him killed well before his time.
Living out in the woods hadn't been terrible. He missed his high-speed internet, and the cable was shit. The worst part of it all, however, was the fact he had zero communication with Missy since their plan had come to fruition. For her safety, he thought it best not to keep in touch with her during the investigation. She'd be under suspicion anyway, and he didn't want her to be accused of having a secret lover on top of everything. It had been sheer agony. Sometimes, just as he was on the verge of waking in the mornings, he'd catch a whiff of her scent. Her hair. Her skin. He'd hear her melodic laughter on his walks through the massive trees. He'd see her smile when he closed his eyes.
All that waiting, however, would be worth it today. Now, in fact. An unfamiliar car rumbled up to the house, but with the window down, he caught a flash of red hair that made his heart sore. She was alone, and as soon as she cut the engine, Missy hopped out of the car and raced toward him. Red tossed his cigarette aside, vowing to sweep up all the butts later, and all but jumped off the porch to get to her.
Sweeping her up into his arms, he held her like he might die if he let go. Red wisps tickled his face, and she'd adopted a new cream—vanilla. Homey. Comfortable. She trembled in his arms, and he stroked her hair when she started to cry. Red could only imagine what she had been through, alone, while the gang rooted out the cause of Dan's death, and he'd kick himself for the rest of his life for leaving her behind. Never again. Anywhere she went, he'd go—if that was what she wanted.
When she pulled away, sniffling, he was blown away by her smile. He'd never seen it so vibrant before, so full of life. While tears rolled down her cheeks, she laughed, clutching his shirt and keeping him close. She carried herself differently now. As if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, Missy stood taller than she ever had before, her eye line nearly at his.
"Anybody follow you?" he asked, his voice cracking. He tucked her hair behind her ears and cupped her face, unable to look away. How could he? She shook her head, her smile unending.
"Not a soul." Her voice was music to
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