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Back The Heathens
Chapters (33)
  1. ALSO BY ACE ATKINS
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  33. What’s next onyour reading list?

“Man didn’t leave a name,” she said. “Came into a mobile clinic up toward Blackjack. I have the paperwork right here.”

“Any description?”

“Got more than that, Sheriff,” Raven said. “A nurse I know took the pointy tip of a blade or a razor or something out of the wound. About as big as thumbnail. That make any sense to you, Quinn?”

TWENTY-TWO

TJ slept for a few hours, barely noticing when Chastity and John Wesley got back from the truck stop. The cold winds that followed the rain buffeted and shook the stolen Kia, the sky a deep red streaked with black clouds. They’d both gotten the cheeseburger special with fries and a Coke, a whole five dollars to spare since Chastity decided not to tip the surly waitress. The woman nosy as hell, asking where they were going and where they had been, wanting to know if they were traveling alone or with Momma and Daddy. Chastity told TJ she’d put that old woman right in her place, saying all she wanted was some ketchup for her fries and to be left the hell alone.

“A whole five dollars,” TJ said.

“Five-dollar bill.”

“Maybe we should gas up?”

“We can’t leave until we got twenty dollars,” Chastity said. “That way we’ll be sure to make it to New Orleans.”

“New Orleans?” TJ said. “You never said anything about New Orleans. That’s not on the way.”

“Sure it is,” Chastity said. “And I have a friend who lives down there. I texted him. Don’t you worry. It was private and all. I’d trust this boy with my life. We did three weeks in rehab in Jackson Hole. He’s got a nice house over at Audubon Park. I think it’s a fine rest stop before heading on to Grand Isle.”

“That sounds dumber than hell.”

“He knows the situation,” Chastity said. “He’s cool. He’s been following our adventures online. He and his friend think you’re cute, too. Which helps. Boys are so damn stupid. They’ll do anything in the world for a pretty face and a tight little ass.”

“Maybe he’s fooling you,” TJ said. “Maybe he’s already called the police.”

“Not this kid,” Chastity said. “He’s just like you. Doesn’t trust the police at all. His family is fucking loaded. Oil money and all that. They had to pay a ton to keep his record clean. Says his whole life was almost ruined after he got busted at the House of Blues with nothing but a fucking dime bag and some pills.”

“Sounds like a real winner.”