Read Online Vengeance Borne by Amanda Bonilla - Free Book Online Page B

that?
    Without thinking, Micah threw on his shoes, locked up the RV and set out for the walk back into town. Three miles by his estimation. He’d hiked eight mountain miles last week, this walk would be nothing. But by the time he’d put the first mile behind him, his steps became heavier and his breathing more labored. The Ativan lingered in his system, obviously not helping. Sluggish, he dragged his feet as he continued toward town, his eyelids resisting as he blinked. His reflexes weren’t any better as he tried to dodge a car turning the corner toward him before he could cross the street, nearly bouncing off the hood of the car before jumping out of the way. He frowned at the guy who laid on the horn and flipped him off.
    That should have been the end of it. Micah didn’t blame the driver, it had been his own stupid fault. But anger boiled inside him and the urge to physically hurt the driver of the car blinded him with its intensity. He took a deep breath, and just like someone had switched a light off in his brain, the feeling fled and he calmed. I must be in the damned Twilight Zone .
    Over the tops of the buildings lining the street, Micah noticed the shimmer of sunlight as it bounced off the lake. Jesus, he’d been so preoccupied after fueling up yesterday, he’d totally missed the miles-wide lake that butted right up to the town proper. The water was as smooth as glass, not even a ripple of breeze disturbed the reflective surface. In fact, he’d missed a lot on his drive through town yesterday. This place was actually…nice. Quaint in a small town sort of way, with a charm that made him think he could wind up living in place just like this. Not here of course. Despite this mysterious Jax and his crazy dreams, he was still just passing through. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the sights while he was here.
    As he closed in on the gas station he’d fueled up at the day before, a strange sensation of anticipation bloomed in Micah’s chest. He hoped to find her, standing behind the counter, though he had no idea what he’d say to her. Hey, remember me? I’m the idiot who touched your face yesterday . So, funny thing… I have a bruise on my cheek this morning and I had a dream the other night that some sweet little teenager was trying to kill you. Micah shook his head. She’d be putty is his hands for sure.
    The electronic ding-dong of the door chime drew the attention of the woman behind the counter. Micah’s shoulders slumped. Not her.
    “Hi!” The woman at the register greeted him.
    Her gold and blonde hair curled in tight ringlets down her back and the bright smile on her face reached all the way to her turquoise-blue eyes. She looked eternally upbeat, and he didn’t think she faked her enthusiasm for the customer’s benefit. This was a genuine, friendly person.
    “Hi.” He reached nervously to rub the back of his neck. “I’m looking for the girl who was working here yesterday. Her name is Jax—I think.”
    If possible, the woman’s smile brightened and she snapped her fingers in recognition. “You’re Motor-Home-Guy, right?”
    “Um, yeah, I guess so. I fueled my RV here yesterday.”
    “And you’re looking for Jax…”
    “Yes,” he said, slowly.
    “She doesn’t work here.”
    Micah glanced down at the woman’s nametag—Libby. “Was she fired or something?”
    Libby laughed. “She mostly just loiters. She works at a coffee shop down the street,” she said, pointing to her left, “called Grind.”
    “Thanks, Libby,” Micah called, rushing for the door.
    “Anytime,” she replied, her amused laughter trailing out behind him.

    Jacquelyn cleaned the steamer, the hiss of built up pressure disguising her own sigh. She had a feeling she wouldn’t have this job for much longer. The six-month mark was a couple of weeks away, and she never held a job longer than six months. It came with the territory. Always late, always tired, always rushing out for mysterious reasons,