Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Don’t be gross!”
He leans in. “I meant you, honey.
“Where’s the rest?” Savage demands.
“End—end of the hall!” Neil points. “It’s in the bedroom. I didn’t use much, I swear! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't kill me.” I'm not used to seeing grown men break down into sobs, but given his situation, I don't exactly blame him.
Savage jerks his head in the same direction. “Go look.”
Crank nods.
“You’re not going to… you know, actually kill him. Right?”
“Not if he behaves.” Savage answers, but he also pulls his gun out of his belt and holds it loosely at his side. “Alright, fuckface. Pick up what you’ve tossed around here. I don't wanna fucking touch those bills after you've been rolling around on them.”
“Y—yes!”
Poe moves so Neil can follow the instructions. If this wasn't deathly serious, the sight of him scrambling to pick up all the bills would be hilarious, but until I know if the bikers will leave him alive when this is over, I can’t really enjoy it. As much stress as this has added to everything, I don’t actually want anyone to die.
“Got it.” Crank hefts the bag as he comes out of the bedroom. “Looks like he hasn’t had time to burn through too much, though I haven't counted.” He grins as he spins a pair of my underwear around his finger. “Guessing these aren’t Neil's.”
I cringe. “I thought making it look like laundry would be less obvious. You don't have to wave them around like a flag.”
He eyes the frilly underwear with a smirk. “This isn’t nearly enough fabric to hide a million bucks.”
“Give me that!” When he holds it out, I snag it faster than the sex workers took their payment. “We’re professionals, Paige,” I say in a mocking voice.
“Work hard, play hard, baby.” Crank’s smile stretches wide so wide that his eyes crinkle at the corners.
“What do we do about him?” Poe gestures with his knife, and just the motion is enough to make Neil scramble back until he's against the back of the couch.
Poe cocks his head and raises an eyebrow. “I don't know if it’s a good idea to leave him around. He’s seen a lot. What do you think, Neil?”
“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” he blubbers, then swallows hard. “I ain’t seen nothing! And I swear I won’t say a fucking word! Please don't kill me. Please!” A dark spot spreads on the front of his boxers, and I look away when I see wetness glistening on his bare legs.
“That’s what I fucking thought,” Savage annunciates slowly, death in every word.
“Come on. We’re done here,” Crank tells me.
To my relief, they leave him shivering in a bed of his own making, but alive.
Crank sighs as we step onto the porch.
“What?” I ask.
“Would be cooler if we could slam the door.”
A crazy laugh bursts out of me. But what happens now? Will they take the money? Or bring me back? Or both?
I don't know, and it's terrifying.
7
PAIGE
“I got us two doubles with a door between,” Poe says as he comes out from the motel office.
“That works.” Savage takes one of the key cards, and leads the way.
After finding the money and dealing with Neil, the decision was made to grab food and crash for the night, leaving the hard talk for the morning. I didn’t think I was hungry until the van filled with the smell of fast food burgers and fries. Much to their amusement, I practically inhaled mine, and on the ride to the motel, my eyes closed and I didn’t wake up until the van stopped.
It’s a typical highway motel, shaped like a capital L with rooms that open to the outside and face an inground pool in the courtyard. Nothing fancy and straight out of the nineteen eighties, but it seems safe enough. A small, tired part of me imagines sneaking out during the night with the bag under my arm. I could let the air out of their tires and be long gone by the time they wake up. It’s a pretty fantasy, but I don't think they'll give me the chance.
Even if I managed to get away, where am I going? I know for sure now that people are after me, and while my sample size is small, I’m not sure I want to take my chances on who would find me next. Savage, Crank and Poe have quickly become the devils I know. It isn’t smart, but I want to trust them.
Crank yawns. “I'm fucking beat.”
Savage nods. “Yeah, but we gotta talk and I want to check in with Prez. You good with taking the first shift with Paige tonight, Crank? We'll set her up in one room, and then we'll discuss in the other, but after that I want eyes on her the whole time.”
“Sounds good.”
They let me shower and change in the bathroom while Crank sits guard outside. I don’t know how much time I spend under the hot water, but it’s enough to turn my fingers into prunes. Living above Mike’s garage came with the use of his downstairs bathroom, but it was made very clear to me that he was keeping an eye on the water and electricity. It can’t wipe away the memory of fighting for my life behind the diner, or of everything that came after, but it’s a start.