I step into the kitchen wearing the shortest dress I could find. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a top, but it works, riding up dangerously high. My heels click over the tile floor and I avoid looking at the three men seated at the breakfast bar. Gabe lets out a low whistle.

"And what the hell is that?" Jude says, eyeing the bottom of my skirt…shirt…whatever it is.

"A dress, Jude.” I sigh and look up at him. “A hooker dress."

"You're not leaving this fucking house wearing that." His eyes flick from my legs to my cleavage, his lips pressed into a tight line. He readjusts himself, and I roll my eyes.

"It's got you hard, so I'd say it's the perfect outfit."

Marney chuckles before he goes into a coughing fit. "Ah, come on now, Jude. She's gotta look the part."

He shakes his head at Marney. "You're okay with this shit?"

Marney holds his hands up. "I didn't say that now, don't go shovin' words in my mouth, boy. I'm just a'saying, she's gotta look the damn part if it's gonna work."

Jude groans. "This is fucking ridiculous."

"It's Mexico, everything's ridiculous," Marney cackles.

I cross my arms. "Look, last time I checked, neither of you were my father, so quiet."

Jude glares at me, and Marney just pulls a cigarette from his pocket.

Gabe checks his watch. "We need to go."

"We?" Jude says, eyes wide.

"Yes, I will drop her at the border." He takes a cigarette from his pocket. "My men will take her to the truck stop and bring the truck back. Gustavo is good people, ese. And technically, he's not one of mine." He winks and places a cigarette in his mouth.

When Jude’s gaze trails back over to me, I can see the caveman inside him, bashing his club on the ground and grunting. "Nope,” Jude says. “Not good enough. Give me the address of this shithole."

"Jude..." Gabe starts.

"Just fucking give it to me, dick. I'll bring your fucking truck back."

Gabe sighs. "Whatever makes you feel better, princess." He grins and Jude goes to whack him, but stops himself.

"I swear to God, Gabe..." Jude grunts as he grabs the keys and heads out the house.

He's wound so tight I'm sure he's about to physically snap. Marney shrugs as he pushes up from the table and heads out the door. I totter after them in these stupid heels. Jude angrily opens the passenger door to one of Gabriel's cars and waits impatiently as I get in, trying not to let this dress show him everything. God knows if I flash him now he'll drag me back to the house by my hair and make me wear a jump suit. He slams the door so hard that the car rocks slightly. Marney climbs into the backseat, already lighting a cigarette before he's even closed the door. That man smokes more than any man I’ve seen.

Jude's grumbling when he climbs into the car and cranks it. He takes one last look at me and shakes his head, huffing as he backs out of the drive.

I open the glove box and take out the gun that I know Gabe left for me. It's tucked into a leather holster with a strap. I yank my dress up and strap the holster to my thigh, keeping the gun on the inside.

"You get in the damn truck and the very second that door slams shut, you shoot the worthless shit in the head because I swear to God, if he so much as touches you, Tor..." Jude’s face turns red and his jaw starts ticking. He can’t even finish his sentence, so he just lets out a hard breath as he taps his hands over the steering wheel. "Goddamn Mexico..."

“Goddamn Mexico is right, boy,” Marney chimes in from the back.

"Jude," I place my hand on his thigh, his muscles tensing under my touch. I trail my hand higher. "I won't let him touch me."

"Better fucking not."

I smirk. He's a total Neanderthal, but I love him for it.

"Ah, hell, Jude," Marney mumbles. "Gotta have a little more faith in your woman, you know?"

"Marney..." Jude sighs.

"Fine. I'll just sit back here and smoke my cigarette and keep my trap shut, how 'bout."

"Sounds good to me." Jude glances over at me from the corner of his eye as we barrel over the desert road. Another quick glance and he adjusts his dick.

"Really?" I lift an eyebrow at him.

"Look, you're packing heat...between your thighs. Don't judge me."

"You know, you are the most temperamental fucker I've ever met."

He smirks. "Look whose fucking talking. Gave me a fucking wedgie when I tried to give you a bath. You smelled like shit. Ungrateful..." he shakes his head. "And angry as a hornet."

"You both got a temper," Marney grumbles, and we both ignore him.

"You tried to give the captive, innocent girl a bath...that's not fucking creepy." I shake my head.

"I just said, you smelled like shit, and it's not like I fucking kidnapped you. What was I supposed to do in that situation?" He takes a hard right and I slam against the door.

"Um, let me go..."

His eyes dart over to me and he smirks. "I did...you came back."

I glance at him, his square jaw covered in stubble, those lips that could lead any woman into hell. "You were pretty." I smile and shrug one shoulder. "And charming in a murderous, grouchy sort of way."

"Mm-hmm."

And then…silence. I can tell he's tense as we drive along the deserted road, so I leave him be, watching the barren landscape whisk past the window. The hour it takes us to reach the border seems endless, and my nerves are wound tight by the time we get there. The border security wave us straight through, and I guess being in Gabe's car has something to do with that. He probably has half the border patrol on his pay roll.

We drive another forty minutes into America before we find the truck stop Gabriel spoke of. Jude sighs as he parks beside the ice bin and turns the ignition off. I don't even want to look at him, but he grabs my chin, turning my face towards him, giving me no choice.

"I am giving you two fucking seconds after I hear a gunshot before I come in there." He hangs his head and groans. "This is fucking stupid. I could just as easily fucking walk up to him and put a bullet in his head. In fact..." Jude grabs the gun from the console and reaches for the door.

"Jude, no!" He pauses. I place a hand on his chest and feel the strong pounding of his heart against my palm. "This isn't Juarez, it's America. You shoot a guy in a packed bar and someone's going to care. It'll draw too much attention."

"Just calm your horses there, boy. She'll be fine, won't you, little darlin'?" Marney winks at me and pats my shoulder.

Jude glares at Marney before switching his attention back to me, his jaw twitching.

"So grouchy," I say on a smirk, and kiss him quickly before I throw the door open and get out.

I walk across the gravel car park. The wind kicks up a whirlwind of dust that swirls around me. The sound of old school rock music comes from the run-down building in front of me. The front is lit up with a bright red neon sign that glows: 'Big Teds'.

Trucks are parked up, and I wind between them, making sure to pop a little sway into my hips when I walk through the open doorway. A meek attempt at air conditioning blows a stream of warm air at me. The bar is full of middle-aged, overweight men, all perched on bar stools drinking beer. I scan the bar until I spot the guy on the end, tanned skin, black hair, and a snake tattoo winding around his forearm. I look at his face, but his eyes are fixed on my chest. He takes a long swig of his beer, shamelessly staring at every inch of me.

This will be easy.

I saunter over to the bar, taking up residence next to him. I lean on the counter, ignoring him as I wait for the bartender.

"What can I get ya, sweet cheeks?" the wrinkled man behind the bar asks as he hoists his belt up.

"Whisky on the rocks," I say, channeling Marney and putting on my very best redneck accent.

The bartender nods and walks off, grabbing a glass and placing it in front of me. I watch as he throws some ice in it and then pours in the amber liquid. The ice cracks and pops. I dig around in my bra and pull out a ten-dollar bill.

"Thanks, sugar," I say on a wink, handing it to him.

"Allow me," a heavily accented voice says. I turn to the driver with the snake tattoo and smile. "Put it on my tab," he says.

The bar tender slides my money back and disappears. "That sure was mighty kind of you," I say, running my finger around the edge of my glass. His eyes track the movement and a smirk pulls at his lips. He stands and walks over to me, stopping right beside me. I force a smile as my gaze slips over the gut protruding from his food stained, white wife beater. His black hair is greased back, and he smells like cigarettes, but not in the good way that Jude does. This man is just dirty and gross.

"A pretty lady should not buy her own drink."

I giggle like the bimbo I'm supposed to be. "Where you headed, hun?" I ask.

"Me-he-co," he says, his eyes dropping to my chest once more.

"Oh, you are?" I ask excitedly. "I really need a ride to El Paso. I got the bus here from Alabama, but I only had enough money to get this far. You couldn't help a girl out, could ya?" I drag out the words in my feigned southern drawl, and wink.

His smile widens. "Sure I can, sweetheart. But…what are going to offer me in return?" He bites his bottom lip and drags his eyes over me until I feel violated just standing near him.

I plaster a smile on my face. "Oh, I'm sure I can think of something." I wink and down my whisky. God knows I might need it to get through the next few minutes, especially if Jude sees him looking at me like that. Jesus Christ.

He downs his beer, belches before he pushes off the bar stool, then slaps some cash on the counter. God, this man can't possibly have been laid anytime in the last ten years. With any luck, he'll be so excited by the thought I won't have to do a damn thing. I walk out of the bar, and I know he's staring at my arse the entire time.

"Which is your truck, sugar?" I ask, and he points to a matte black, brand new truck at the back of the lot.

I sidle over to it, my ankles straining in these stupid shoes. The locks chirp and he opens the door, holding it for me. Of course he wants me to walk up the steps in front of him so he can look up my dress…And then he'll see the gun.

"After you," I say, raising an eyebrow. "What kinda lady would I be if I let ya look up my dress?"

Laughing, he shakes his head as he grabs the railing and hoists himself up into the cab. He offers me his hand and pulls me up with him. The second the door closes; his hands are on my breasts pawing and pulling at the material. Oh god, he smells even worse this close. He tries to kiss my neck and I swallow back bile, reaching for the hem of my dress. He grins wide and I smile back at him as I grab the gun, yank it free, and point it at his head. His eyes widen for a second before I pull the trigger twice.

Bang. Bang.

And just like that, he's dead.