Page 50 of No Turning Back
The motel is dingy, and I won’t put Mari down on the floor. She’s fussing from her playpen, mad at me, but the thought of what she could be crawling or toddling on makes my stomach roll.
I’m only staying here for the night until I can get to a bank tomorrow to withdraw more cash to get us away. I hated leaving my car behind, but I knew with Tucker having me followed, the bus was the best way to get away from them. I don’t know who he has following me, but I saw him when the bus pulled away. He was sitting on a bike watching my car as he talked on the phone. I could make out his bright blue eyes when he lifted his glasses. His dark hair was a bit longer than Tucker’s, and he had a beard and mustache. He was handsome and not one of the guys from Drago Defiance that I’ve seen before. I don’t know how I knew he was the one following me, except for the fact he was watching my car, but he looked like someone Tucker would know. His body was ripped with muscles under his Henley. He had an air of military to him, like most of the guys with Drago Defiance.
I pull the burner phone from my bag to call my mom so she knows I’m safe at least. I’ll have her pack up my house and put it on the market. I left a letter for her to give to Tucker. My heart hurts thinking about how much I’m going to miss him. A knock sounds at the door before I can dial her number. I walk over to look out the peephole, and my head hits the door. How the hell did he find me?
“Open the door, spitfire.”
I step back and release the chain before I twist the knob to open it. He pushes inside and slams the door.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he demands.
“Dada. Dada,” Mari coos from her playpen. He strolls over to her and picks her up.
He holds her to his chest and takes a deep breath.
“Come here,” he growls, and I move toward him. He wraps me close and holds both of us tight. “Thought I fucking lost you both. I can’t do that ever again.”
“What do you mean?” I pull back.
“Someone torched your house.”
“What?” His words don’t make sense.
“Some idiots torched your house. I had Dax come to the jobsite and tell me. I thought you both were dead. I can’t do that again. Baby, will you finally tell me what you’ve been hiding from me this whole time?”
I look up and see Mari is asleep in his arms.
“I killed her father,” I say so soft I’m not sure he can hear me. “I’m a murderer.”
“No, you’re not. You did it to protect yourself, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but I could have shot him in the leg.”
“He would have still killed you. You did what you were trained to do.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know that Colton works for Miles Kant?”
“How do you know that?”
“I have some friends who investigated him. I knew you were lying to me, but I prayed you’d tell me the truth soon. Kant threatened me, didn’t he?”
“He said you ride around and it wouldn’t take much to kill you. He threatened Mari and my mom too.”
“What else?”
“I know Colton took most of the pictures and was responsible for the rhino on my doorstep and my car, but I haven’t seen him in a while. Miles said he punished him.”
“Fuck, he could be dead too. What does Kant want from you?”
I start to tell him, but he holds up his hand. “Just a sec.” He walks over to the door and opens it. “Get in here. We’ve got to plan,” he says to someone outside.
I watch as the man from the bus station makes his way into the room. He limps slightly, but as he moves around the room pacing for a moment, I see he moves easier.
“When I sit too long, my leg gets sore,” he says as his hand lands on his knee. “I’m Carter.” He introduces himself.
“Sydney.”
