Page 32 of Retribution
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When he pulledup to the motel complex, there were no lights on in their room, and he figured Dakota had zonked out early. She’d told him it was a long day at work, and it was already past eleven o’clock at night, so Cobra didn’t think anything of it when he inserted the key in the lock and turned the knob. The door creaked a bit when he cracked it open and he walked in, careful not to wake her. Standing by the entrance, he waited until his eyes adjusted to the dimness, then he looked over at the bed and his gaze widened. Dakota wasn’t there.
“What the fuck?” he said out loud.
Cobra flipped on a light switch near the door, and a golden glow bathed the room. He walked over to the bed and stared down at the covers. The remote was in the middle, and a box of Chinese takeout sat on the nightstand along with a half full bottle of water. Cobra scanned the area for a note but didn’t see anything. His jaw tightened and he rolled his shoulders five or six times to work out the kinks.
“Not your problem, brother. She’s a big girl—stubborn and irritating as fuckin’ hell, but a big girl. Just watch some TV and crash.”
Despite the pep talk, a small fission of fear worked his stomach into knots. Cobra closed his eyes and breathed out a long exhale before he rolled his shoulders again. Taking a quick walk around the place wouldn’t kill anyone, and if he found her, he could say he was out for a bit of fresh air or some other bullshit. Without thinking too much about it, Cobra jammed the key back into his pocket and let the motel room door slam shut.
Moonlight splashed across the parking lot, and a light shone from the office, creating an elongated rectangle on the grass. Surprised that the manager was still on duty at that hour, Cobra strode over and turned the knob. The door swung open and he walked inside. No one was there. He turned around to leave, but muted voices in the distance caught his attention. Slowly he sauntered over to a closed door near the desk. Cobra grasped the knob and before he could turn it, the door burst open, and he jumped back to avoid being clobbered in the face. Jake, the manager, cried out and an older, heavy-set man stopped in his tracks for a second then spun around and retreated back into the room, the door closing behind him.
“The office is closed,” Jake said, wiping his forehead with a tissue.
“The front door was opened,” Cobra replied as he stared at the wiry man.
“I forgot to lock it.”
My gut’s telling me something’s not right.
“Whaddaya need?” Jake crumpled the tissue and tossed it in the trash can. “Even though I’m off duty, I can still help you out. A manager’s job is never done, and I don’t mind anyway because I like to help out the customers.” A toothy smile spread across his face.
The manager rubbed Cobra the wrong way. Jake was a fast-talking slicker who reeked of insincerity.
“Where’s your pretty girlfriend?” Jake propped his elbows on the desk and leaned forward.
Cobra ground his teeth and his nostrils flared.
The manager seemed to have caught on that trouble was brewing because he straightened up and took a few steps backward.
“I’ve gotta get going, so if you don’t need nothing, then I’ll be locking the door now.” Jake clutched a pen and kept twirling it around in his hand.
“Who you got back there?” Cobra jerked his head toward the closed door.
“What?” Jake’s face blanched.
“You heard me.” Cobra leaned over the reception counter.
“A buddy of mine came by and we’re catching up.” Jake inched toward the door.
Cobra didn’t believe him for one minute, but he didn’t get the vibe that Dakota was back there. It didn’t go unnoticed by him the way the slimy manager stared at her or tried to talk to her whenever he got the chance. To Dakota’s credit, she ignored the douchebag, but she’d brought it up one time to Cobra that Jake gave her the creeps.
“I really do have to lock up.” The manager stared at Cobra, a nasty snuffling noise came from his nose as his chest rose and fell.
“I’m gonna say this once—stop ogling Dakota. Don’t look at her. Don’t talk to her. Don’t get near her again. You got it? Next time I’ll come in swinging, and you won’t like the mess I’ll make of you.”
Jake nodded, his left eyelid twitching like crazy. “Gotcha. I didn’t mean no harm. I was jus’ being friendly, but she’s not too friendly anyways, so okay … yeah … I gotcha. Yep.”
Cobra gave him one of his cold, detached death stares that he’d used when he was an enforcer for the MC, loving how the asshole’s lips and chin trembled. After a couple of minutes, Cobra grew tired of watching the pussy’s face turn ashen while his body shook like a damn leaf.
“Just remember what I said, ’cause I don’t like repeating myself.”
“Yeah … sure,” Jake stuttered.
Cobra turned around and walked out of the office, chuckling when—within five seconds—the lock clicked behind him and the lights went out.
If he wasn’t looking for Dakota, Cobra would’ve hidden in the shadows to get a better look at the dude who’d been in a big hurry to conceal himself. There was something about the older guy that raised a red flag for him. He’d have time to think about it later, and ask the surly teen on the day shift what he knew about the dude.
