He’d taken me to Mount Washington to see the beauty of the night skyline, in his own private helicopter, which, by the way, he could fly himself. I looked to my left to check he was definitely real.

He was riding his bike beside mine as we travelled down the island highway under a sunset glow. The blur of lights and people barely registered on the edge of my vision. Hell, the road ahead barely registered. I couldn’t draw my eyes away from him now that I’d looked.

We’d just been on an actual date on Port Isabel. I think he wanted to make an effort with the whole daytime thing and so he’d met me a few hours before sundown. Not that we saw much sun, we spent the evening at the bowling alley.

He’d been tense early on, but once we were inside he loosened up. And man, could he bowl. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do. He hit a strike almost every other go, and I had a feeling that he could have got more but was trying not to show off.

A group of people had gathered to watch, which left me less than comfortable considering my complete lack of bowling skill. I hurried through my turns so that everyone could coo over his. Obviously most of the admiring group were female. Zac even managed to make bowling shoes look sexy, I felt like a total dork in mine.

A group of guys on the next lane took exception to Zac’s attention-stealing and made snide comments to each other in extra loud voices. Zac’s face set harder with each one, until he ended up going over and asking if they’d like to say something to him. I don’t know what look he gave them, or if he said something else, but I’ve never seen a group of lads back down so quickly.

A loud pop brought me back to the moment, as my bike wobbled beneath me. I hit the brakes and eased to a stop at the side of the road. “Damn, my tyre’s blown.”

“This isn’t a good place to stop.” Zac cast anxious glances up and down the road.

“I know, right on the highway. Luckily it’s not so busy this time of night.”

“Climb aboard. I’ll send one of the guys over with a spare.” He patted the seat behind him impatiently.

“Let’s just call the recovery people, it might not take them too long to get here. We might as well wait.” I didn’t want to abandon my baby on the road in carnage town.

“I’d rather not hang around.”

“Well, let’s just call—”

“Jess! You’re not listening,” he cut me off loudly. “We need to move, get on the back.”

He switched his view, staring off up the highway.

“Fuck. Do me a favour, don’t speak. Just keep your mouth shut,” he growled, grabbing my waist and pulling me up close to him.

He seemed to be staring at nothing, until, far in the distance a flashy, yellow sports car came onto the horizon. It was a long way off but in no time it skidded to a dramatic stop at our feet. Three men stepped out of the Chevrolet from behind tinted windows. Their attention immediately settled on me. They gave me déjà vu. So similar to Zac and his friends, all pale and dark eyed and crazily gorgeous.

“Parker,” Zac said.

“What’s up?” the man at the front of the group replied. He had long black dreaded hair and was dressed like a billionaire playboy. His features were sharp and pointy and his eyes quick.

The other two men were standing slightly behind him, one with the biggest muscles I’d ever seen in real life and the other a complete contrast, scrawny and feminine looking. They looked comical standing next to each other. I might have laughed were the whole encounter not so fucking intimidating.

“We’re not stopping,” Zac said firmly. “Someone will be back later with the spare and be gone quickly.”

They didn’t respond. They just stood there staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably.

“Are we going to have a problem here, gentlemen?” Zac asked slowly, with a heavy edge to his voice.

He was rigid, his hand tensing around the handlebars. The men looked just as tense, waiting for the fight. Each stood unwavering, feet planted apart and their hands gripped together in front of them. Their eyes were fierce, and they were all trained on me. Yet, over the top of all that, lay an offbeat mask of calm. Their faces expressionless, their voices even and steady. I held on to Zac’s protective arm in front of me.

“That depends. Are you leaving this lovely damsel in distress as an offering to us?” Parker licked his lips like he was anticipating something delicious.

“Funny. Real funny,” Zac said, pushing me backwards, so that I was now pinned tight against his Harley.

“Who’s laughing?” Parker whispered.

“Get on the back, Jess. We’re leaving.”

I wasted no further time in doing as he said.

“Awww, don’t be like that, Zac. What’s the hurry? Why don’t we wait for the recovery people together and we can get to know your little friend.”

“I’ll be back later, we can talk then.”

Parker raced forward and stood in front of us with a hand on the headlight. “I really think you should stay a while,” he said.

“It wouldn’t be wise to push me right now. She’s not of interest to you,” Zac sounded like he was about to lose his shit.

“She is now.” Parker brought a hand up and tugged his bottom lip, his glare never leaving me.

Zac revved the engine hard. “You going to make me ride right through you?”

Parker laughed as he moved out of the way with deliberate slowness.

“We’ll see you around, Zac, but I doubt you’ll find anything here if you return.” He was smiling as he walked to my Ducati and swung a leg over.

Zac wheelied away, hitting over a hundred in seconds. I tried to look back, but everything was a blur.

* * *

He ran all the red lights and rode so fast that I don’t understand how we didn’t wipe-out on a bend, or into another vehicle. The town passed by in a flurry of light and thumping music, like some surreal dream where I knew I was moving too fast, but it felt like I was sinking, slowing and fading. Whatever just happened, it had left me surging with adrenalin, but I was already losing it, a pit forming in my stomach. I suspected the crash from this one would be severe.

After we tore down the driveway, he led me straight into his huge, stately house in a stormy hurry. He ran through the required pleasantries like offering me a drink, which I declined. He asked if I was OK, I replied with “No.” Then we sat in silence. I tried so hard not to be the first to speak. He owed me an explanation without me having to prise it out of him, but it soon became clear that the silence may well go on forever.

“Fine. You win, I’ll go first. Even though it’s obvious what I’m going to ask,” I said.

Silence.

“You’re really going to make me ask?”

Silence, followed by a sigh.

“You’re a jerk,” I mumbled.

Silence.

“Oh, come on, Zac. Why were they looking at me like that? What was that?”

A moment more silence before he spoke with another heaved sigh. “That was Ce—”, he paused and shook his head. “Gang… rivalry, and because of me you are now bang in the middle of it.”

“Gang?”

“Yes.”

“You’re in a gang?”

“You haven’t noticed all the guys I hang around with? I live with. Isn’t that odd to you?” His eyebrows knotted, mouth twisting.

“I thought they were friends.”

“They are.”

“Gang friends.”

“Yes.”

“Gangs. On little South Padre?” No point even trying to hide the incredulity in my voice.

“They have their end, we have ours. We have to pass through theirs to get on and off the island. Your tyre blew on their end.”

“So, who are they? Why is this happening?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at me with a mix of defiance and despair.

“Well?” I asked.

“The less you know the better.”

“You’re unbelievable.” I stood up and grabbed my purse.

“I can take you back.”

“Don’t bother.” I stomped towards the door and as I opened it he called after me.

“Actually, there is something else. You’re moving motel,” he said flatly.

“I beg your pardon?” I spun on my heels and almost tripped over myself.

“You’re staying on their side, and now they’re going to get interested. More so than they already were.”

“I’ll take my chances thanks.”

“The fuck you will. This is not a request, Jess. I can’t guarantee your safety there.”

That made me laugh out loud. “Can you hear yourself? You think you’re some sort of mafia don?”

He didn’t laugh.

“I won’t be dictated to by a guy I barely know, who continues to act like a total dick and expects me to accept it. You’re crazy. In fact, that doesn’t even cut it, you’re fucking certifiable,” I bellowed.

“I’m asking you to do this for your own protection.”

This was South Padre for goodness sake, were these guys serious? Yes, it did appear that some lunatic tried to kill me at the bungee jump, but that was miles off the island. Totally unrelated. I shook my head before thoughts of missing girls and burning bodies could creep in.

“I’m not scared,” I said, hoping it sounded convincing.

“You should be.” His face seemed haunted. OK, so I was a little scared, but I’d be damned if he was going to tell me what to do.

He was fuming. A little vision of smoke coming out his ears popped into my head and I bit my cheeks not to laugh. Laughing was a good defence mechanism in stressful situations, right?

I continued out the door.

“One more thing,” he called after me. “You won’t be seeing your motorcycle again.”

“You’d better be fucking shitting me?!”

He went back to silent mode, staring at me, eyes ablaze. Infuriating.

“That bike cost me fifteen thousand dollars,” I screeched.

“I’m sorry. I’ll buy you another.”

“Bite me,” I yelled, slamming the door behind me.