Royally Broken by Elle Boon Page 0,3

got many folks I consider friends, but you, you I do.”

Huh, Keys hadn’t thought Burt would put him in that category. “I don’t know yet. Guess I’ll decide when I get there.” He’d rebuilt a Harley; the old bike was probably worth a pretty penny, but it was his pride.

“Well, if you don’t have anywhere in particular you gotta be, I got that extra place in the back. It’s not much, but it’s clean like this place. I don’t abide by no drugs. Women, you can have them if you want so long as they don’t mind my dogs. That is if you want to stick around until you figure out where you want to go.” Burt got up, dug inside a canister on top his fridge. He turned with a set of keys.

“Thanks, man. I don’t know what my plans are.” He wasn’t going to lie to him.

He nodded. “Figured as much. You helped me when I needed it. I repay my debts.”

“If someone comes looking for me, I don’t expect you to get in between me and them,” Keys warned him.

“Do I look fucking stupid, boy?” Burt puffed out his chest.

A laugh escaped Keys at the thin man as he tried to appear big. “Nah, you’re obviously smart as a whip inviting a dumbass into his home.”

“Tom and Lucy like you. That means you can’t be too bad. Now go on, get out of my house. I got to get to bed. Need my beauty sleep, don’t you know.”

Keys shook his head, taking his empty bottle with him. “Tom and Lucy are horrible judges of character, old man. I plied them with treats the first time I came here.”

“Nah, treats are raw steak. That shit you gave them they barfed up.” Burt waved him away, ambling into the back of the trailer. “Lock up on your way out. Lucy, Tom, come,” he yelled.

Both dogs followed Burt as Keys walked out, the humid air hit him immediately. He kept to the shadows, making his way to the back of the lot where the trailer sat. Of course, he’d known about the place in question, having scoured the area before renting the train car where he’d stored his shit. He wasn’t willing to leave his Harley or his computers. Like Burt had said, the place was small, looking rusted on the outside, but the roof was good with a small porch on the outside that could be moved away if he had a mind to do so. Keys walked around the place, looking it over, checking for weak spots. Satisfied, he went to the train car and unlocked it. He peered inside, not surprised to find everything looked the same. He went over to the floor safe he’d installed, spinning the lock until it opened. Inside sat the backpack with his computer, the one he always updated on each leave. Next to it was the duffel where he kept his weapons. He was glad old Burt never broke their trust. Sighing, he left, locking it back up, and went back to the trailer.

One year later...

Keys woke up knowing something wasn’t right. He rolled out of bed, grabbing his discarded jeans from earlier with one hand. He reached for the Glock under his pillow with the other, making sure the magazine was full. He kept his head down as he shimmied into the jeans, stuffed his feet into his boots and shrugged into a black T-shirt. Not sure what he’d be up against, he grabbed the Sig Sauer too, checking the clip before sliding it into the back of his pants. Neither Tom nor Lucy were barking, which had the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

He didn’t go to the only door. Instead he pulled the makeshift exit he’d created next to his bed when he’d first moved in. The metal lifted noiselessly, since he made sure he kept it oiled for emergencies. He slid out, his boots landing on the dirt ground beneath his trailer. Keys had to duck low, getting onto his stomach to make his way out. Flashes of memories from a time not long ago where his team had been killed threatened to drag him under, but he had a will of iron, pushing the memory back.

“This is it. Only one way in. Go,” a deep voice ordered.

Keys waited, watching several sets of feet move up the rickety stairs. The escape exit he’d made would be undetectable to those who entered unless they