Page 44 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
But when my phone vibrated again, I looked over at Sly.
“I’m not diggin’ around in your pocket,” he said.
“It might be Hope.”
He shrugged. “She can wait.”
“What if she’s in trouble?”
He sighed. “You really think she’s in trouble?”
“I don’t know. That’s the problem. I can’t be in ten places at once.”
“We focus on what’s happening right now, we catch this bastard, and we get you back to her so you can live happily ever after. Easy as pie.”
I white-knuckled the steering wheel. “All right. Sounds like a plan.”
Sly clapped my shoulder. “I know you're worried. But she’s safe. It’s not like she’s alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Link made sure the girls that stayed behind kept an eye on Hope.”
I furrowed my brow. “He did?”
“Yep. You know, in case you were still thinking he’s an awful human being. And if you really want me to, I’ll text Ash.”
I paused. “Where is Ash, anyway?”
“Watching the bar in case shit goes south there. You know that man can take on an army by himself. I’ll text him and have him run across the street to check on her.”
“I’d fucking owe you a huge one.”
He chuckled. “Keep that shit for Hope. You can just buy me a beer.”
I barked with laugher. “Sounds like a plan.”16Hope“Come on, answer me,” I murmured.
I held my phone in my hand as I looked down at my text messages. I felt something happening in the pit of my gut. Something that told me danger lurked around the corner. I’d been worried about Bowser all morning. But this was different. This was dread. This was something that gripped me and refused to let go.
I had to make sure Bowser was still all right.
“Damn it,” I hissed.
Me: I just need something to know you’re okay. Even if it’s a smiley face.
I sent the text off and debated on whether or not to call him. I decided against it, though. This was one of those situations where I hated the fact that I didn’t have any of the other guys’ contact information. Because maybe one of them could’ve talked me through what the fuck was going on. It was lunchtime, and I hadn’t heard a thing. I’d been up for five hours, expecting to hear something at this point. I was too nervous to order food. I was too scared to go out and do anything. So, I paced the small motel room.
Hoping Bowser got a second to message me back.
“Fuck it,” I murmured.
I dialed Bowser’s number and the line kept ringing. It rang and rang until his voicemail thing picked up. I growled as I hung up the phone and called right back. And the more the phone rang without being answered, the more nervous I became.
“Something’s happened,” I whispered.
A knock came at my door and I jumped. I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from yelping before the knock happened again. A shadow loomed beyond the door. My hands trembled as I set my cell phone down. I slowly walked over to the door, wondering if I should open it.
Was it one of the guys?
Was it one of the girls?
Was it Skeleton?
“Hope?” Ash asked.
He banged against the door and I sighed with relief.
“Holy shit, Ash. Thank fuck,” I said.
I ripped the door open and found the gigantic man standing there. Eyeing me carefully.
“You good?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah. I mean, I’m hungry. I’m worried. But I’m okay.”
“You haven’t eaten?”
I shook my head. “Don’t want to invite anymore people to my room if I can stand it.”
He held out his hand. “Give me the money Bowser left you. I’ll go get you something.”
“Have you heard from him at all?”
“Sly’s with him, and he’s fine.”
“I want to know how Bowser is.”
He shook his head. “That’s what I meant. I heard from Sly, and Sly says Bowser’s fine. The man’s driving right now. The plan’s being enacted, so he can’t talk.”
I paused. “Why aren’t you with them?”
“Looking after the bar in case the trouble comes here.”
“Ah.”
He wiggled his fingertips. “Money? I’ll order something and get it to you.”
I reached for the twenties. “I’d rather you get it and bring it to me. You know, so I know it’s you delivering it.”
“I can do that, too. I’ll have it delivered to the bar and walk it over myself.”
I handed him the money. “Thank you so much for this. And you’re sure Bower’s—”
“He’s fine, Hope. He’s a big boy. He’s done a shit-ton of stuff like this and come out just fine. Stop blowing him up, though. It’s only going to distract him.”
My voice fell flat. “Well, fine then.”
I closed the door in Ash’s face and stalked back to my bed. I felt like a nuisance more than anything. Maybe this wasn’t what I thought it was. Maybe these guys really didn’t like me. Maybe they just saw me as a job, or a pest, and nothing else.
