Aphrodite

CHAPTER 11

2 years

 later Gravel crunched beneath tires as the distinct roar of a motorcycle comebarreling up the driveway toward me.It was rare anyone came to the farm except Deck who drove his sweetblack Audi with the tinted windows. It crept up the driveway so silently thatI rarely noticed it. Actually, the car reminded me of Deck, mysterious,dangerous with a quiet calmness that awakened every nerve in the body.Deck had taken it upon himself to check up on me every so often ever sincehe and Matt had brought me back from Mexico. Georgie said it was hisway, and I was "in the fold" now. Well, the fold could be a pain in the butt,and Georgie completely agreed as she'd been on Deck's radar since he washonorably discharged from the JTF2. He'd started his own company calledUnyielding Riot. I recently found out that Riot was Georgie's brother's callname in the JTF2.Deck had been a huge help when I came back. He assisted with thepolice and FBI investigation and was with me when I had to tell them thestory. Although, certain details were left out—like Sculpt's identity. I nevermentioned him; Deck's doing and I guess mine too. Sculpt had gotten meout of there.Deck being an ex JTF2 often worked with law enforcement on casesand therefore had some 'friends' which helped when I wanted nothing morethan to stop talking about it. He kept the pressure off of me and dealt with most of the questions and answers. At the time, I couldn't even recall mostof what was said I was so numb to everything.

Stroking Havoc's sleek, white neck, I felt the veins popping out underher skin. A quiver raced through her body, and she trembled. Clucking, Imoved Havoc into a walk. Horses were prey animals, and when scared—they ran.The bike's roar closed in on us.Havoc's ears pricked forward and her muscles coiled like a spring.I sunk deeper into the saddle, yet made certain I stayed relaxed.Clamping down tight on a fearful horse was like a mountain lion leaping ontheir back."Good girl, Havoc." I urged her around so that we were facing theoffending noise that still wasn't slowing. The bike paused at the fork in the driveway, one way went to the main house, the other to the barn. It revved then came straight for the barn."Damn it."Havoc sucked in air to make a loud snorting sound. 

I took my feet out of the stirrups to hop off, and at the same time the offending bike backfired.Havoc exploded."Shit." I looped my fingers in her mane as Havoc went up on her hind legs, pawing the air. My lower back hit hard against the back of the leather saddle as she came down on all fours. She took off in a mad gallop around the ring, her hind legs kicking out to the side and throwing my body off balance. Havoc came to an abrupt halt, her nostrils flaring and sides heaving.Then it happened.The bike skidded to a stop in front of the barn, dust and gravel pebbles flew into the air hitting the aluminum barn wall and making a loud crackling sound like fireworks going off. Havoc's ears went straight back ,her spine arched, and both hind legs went straight up into the air as she squealed.I careened over her head and landed smack on my ass. "Ughhh."I fell backward and lay in the dirt while I listened to Havoc bolt around the riding ring kicking up dust.Undoing my chin strap, I flicked off my helmet and stared up at the ominous clouds. "What the hell."

The gate clanged.Footsteps.I lay still contemplating what sort of pain I was going to cause the culprit. I'd spent months gaining Havoc's trust and this would set me back weeks, if not months. The six other traumatized and abused rescue horses that had come with Havoc from the slaughter house had already been rehomed. I'd helped them gain their pride and confidence back, but Havoc was taking much longer. She was an alpha mare and pushing her would only make her rebel—the last reaction I wanted.I figured another couple years of helping clients with "problem" horses—more like problem clients who didn't understand their horses—and with the reselling of the abused horses to good homes I'd be able to buy my own farm. I loved living here with Kat, but I wanted my own place. I think in away I needed it. I'd been latching onto Matt and Kat for too long, and I wanted a career and to be able to support myself.The footsteps stopped beside me.My eyes hit boots. Black leather with ankle mouldings—motorcycle boots that were hidden partially by faded jeans on a pair of long, lean legs.My eyes went up and up then—My world stopped.Oh God, I'd worked so hard at burying the emotions, the pain, the hurt, and most of all the fear, and suddenly it was all back. Months of therapy obliterated.I couldn't breathe.Trapped within tightened lungs, suffocating with the shattering, mind blowing knowledge of who was right next to me. It was like I had never left.