Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,41
she was going off with him then I could have the room, and we’d come back tomorrow morning. I was pissed but I walked to the hotel, and it seemed nice. A whole group of bikers pulled into the parking lot and are staying here in the hotel. But when I got up to my room, it was already being used. There was a biker jacket, guns, money, and I think drugs out on the table, and someone was in the shower. I got out of there before anyone could see me. John, it was never just for her and me. It was some kind of biker group room, I guess—”
“Goddamn, fuckin’ bitch!” He lost his cool again. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, giving his head a shake. He was known for his cool head, his calm demeanor. That’s what made him perfect for demolitions. But right now, he was ready to explode. “Tell me where you are, I’m coming to get you.”
“No, John, you don’t have to come here. It’ll take you four hours to get here and by then… oh, I don’t know.”
“By then what, Lucy? Paula will show up? Who will she have with her?” Her end of the line was quiet, and then he heard the unmistakable sound of a soft gasp. Shit… I’m a fuckin’ ass to scare her more than she is. He sighed heavily. “Lucy, please, don’t cry. Please. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to make things worse.”
“No, it’s not you. It’s me. Actually, it’s not even me. It’s her and them! I’m angry, and I’m tired, and I’m scared. But I don’t want you to have to come to get me. I’m just out of my element and wanted you to tell me what you think I should do.”
Forcing his heart rate to slow and his breathing to even out, he put her on speaker as he set his phone on his nightstand, giving his arms freedom to jerk on a long-sleeved T-shirt and jam his feet into his boots. “I’m coming. Period. No discussion and no guilt. I don’t think you’re safe and it’s killing me that you’re four hours away. This is what I want you to do. Is there any other place around that you can get to that will keep you in a well-lit area?”
“Um… there was a diner next to the hotel, but some of the bikers were heading out to the parking lot in that direction.”
“You want to stay away from there. Anywhere else?” He grabbed his wallet and his keys and headed downstairs. He scribbled a note to his grandfather, explaining that he needed to go pick up a friend and wouldn’t be back until the next day.
“Honestly, John, I think I’m as safe as I can be right here in the lobby. It’s well-lit and there are several hotel employees behind the desk. I’m in a corner, hidden, and I don’t think anyone will bother me here.”
“Okay, I want you to text me the address, and I’ll be on the road in five minutes. This time of night I can get there faster. If anything happens, you call the police. Under no circumstances do you go off with anyone, and that includes Paula. You stay exactly where you are, understand?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll stay right here.”
“Okay, I’m on my way—”
“John?”
“Yeah, babe?”
Her voice hitched. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for calling me. And Lucy? Stay safe. I’m coming for you.”
He was in his SUV, had his GPS set for the destination, and was on the road in three minutes, then two minutes later, he called Bray.
“What’s up, man?”
“Got a situation.” His words were clipped, and he could hear Bray’s immediate attention with his offer.
“Shit, you need backup?”
“No. Just didn’t want to fuck up my chances with Mace but also don’t know how this is going to go down.”
“Talk to me.”
He gave Bray the fast version of Lucy’s situation, ending with, “I’m going to get her. I don’t plan on any problems, but her safety is of utmost importance.”
“Okay, listen, John. I’ll tell you what Mace always tells us when we’re first hired. Remember, you no longer represent the United States government. The good thing is you don’t have their rules to follow, but you also don’t have the protection of being a soldier following orders. And since you’re not an official LSI Keeper, you don’t have Mace’s protection either. At least, not officially.”