Page 4 of More Bite than Bark

“And that’s all you need to know.You need info, you need intelligence, I better be your first stop because I know I’ll be the last and why waste time if you don’t have to?”

“Whatever, just let me know when you find something.”

“Will do.”The call disconnected and Hex tried to figure out what he would say when he showed up.What wouldn’t sound stupid and push her even farther away?

He focused on the road.First things first.He needed to get to the compound.He wanted to change out of this monkey suit and get his bike.Hopefully, by then, Cypher would have found Elle, and he could at least go check on her.He needed to be sure she was all right.

Hexsteppedoutofthe house and swung his leg over his bike.He put on his helmet and started the bike.He’d already talked to Cypher and found out she’d checked into hotel about ten minutes away.With her room number memorized, he started his bike and pulled out.He had to slow as he got close to the compound gate, but the prospect manning the gate saw him coming and hit the button, so Hex didn’t have to stop before he left.

He’d decided on the drive back to the compound that he wasn’t going to plan what to say, only check on her and make sure she was all right.That she didn’t need help.Then, if she wanted, he would leave her alone.

That’s what he kept telling himself.He was almost at the hotel when he spotted a liquor store and pulled in on a whim.He picked up a bottle of the Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey he knew she liked then headed down the road.

While he had no way of knowing what was wrong, there was little that couldn’t be fix, or at least improved by relaxing a little with a friend.Five minutes later he was knocking on the door of room 217.

Chapter Four

Aknocksoundedonthebedroom door, startling Elizabeth.She had just called and ordered the pizza.There was no way they’d have it here already, even if they were just a couple of doors down the road.And the box store should have sent her a text when the delivery got close.She checked her phone.Nothing.

“Who’s there?”she called as she lifted the slip over her head and let the length fall down her body.

“It’s me, Elle.”

They didn’t identify themselves, but they didn’t have to.Even if she hadn’t recognized the voice, there was only one person who called her Elle.How had he found her?

She went to the door and opened it, staying behind the door to keep from flashing anyone else in the hall that she barely had anything on.

“Get in here,” she said, peeking her head around the door so she could see him.He’d changed clothes and now wore jeans, a t-shirt, that leather vest thing he wore these days and boots.She felt underdressed, but knew that was Mama’s voice in her head.“How did you find me, Kevin?”She shook her head, “I mean Hex.I’m sorry.I’m trying.”He stepped inside and she closed the door behind him.

“I have my ways, Elle.I wanted to check on you.You took off like the hounds of hell were on your ass.I needed to make sure you’re all right.I thought you might need to unwind a bit.I brought something that might help.”He lifted one hand from his side.

How had she not noticed he was holding something?Much less a bottle of her favorite whiskey?

As soon as she spotted the bottle she started laughing.She knew she needed to stop.Kevin was looking at her like she’d lost her mind.And maybe she had.She didn’t know what she was going to do about the baby, but she knew that until she decided, she wouldn’t be doing anything that might hurt it.

But she couldn’t stop.It was too funny.Or maybe funny wasn’t the right word.Ironic?Considering how she’d gotten into this situation, with Kevin and a night of too much alcohol, ironic fit.

After a couple of minutes her laughter turned to tears.Try as she might, she couldn’t stop that either.Kevin stared at her for a moment then sighed, set the bottle of whiskey on the cabinet with the TV she hadn’t even bothered to turn on, then pulled her into his arms.He moved them to the bed where he sat and pulled her into his lap and held on to her.

Elizabeth didn’t say anything.She couldn’t.Her tears had become sobs, and she could barely catch her breath as she buried her face against his neck and gave in to the need to let out all the emotion she’d held in, the things she’d hidden from everyone, including herself, all day long.

Chapter Five

Hexsatonthefoot of a bed in a hotel room ten minutes from home, a sobbing woman in his arms, and wondered how he’d gotten here.Not the physics of it, but this, with an emotional, barely dressed, woman clinging to him.

He’d seen Elle cry before.This wasn’t her.Always before, if she cried it was silent tears streaming down her face while she did her best to ignore them.This was more, this was far more.She sobbed now as if she’d lost everything and there was no way to go on.

He tightened his arms around her and let her cry.Once she was done, he’d get her to tell him what was wrong.Then he would make sure that whoever did this to her paid for whatever they had done to her.

Hex held Elle, waiting for her to get this out of her system so they could talk.Maybe the whiskey hadn’t been the best idea, but why?Was there some reason she wasn’t drinking?He thought back to the wedding, trying to remember if he’d seen or heard anything that might explain it, but he couldn’t recall anything.

In his mind, after something like today, that would be a good time to have a drink or two, maybe five.But he wouldn’t force her to drink it, or anything else.Well, maybe some water.He looked down at the woman in his arms.Her sobs seemed to be slowing.She wasn’t crying as hard, and there seemed to be hiccups mixed in with sobs.He shifted enough to get one hand free so he could rub it up and down the length of her back.

Her phone chirped, but he didn’t even look around for it.She could take care of it later.

It chirped several more times while he held Elle and let her cry.She’d stopped crying and sat in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder as she tried to catch her breath despite the occasional hiccup.

When a knock sounded on the door, Hex froze.He looked down at Elle.