Rock Chick Regret (Rock Chick #7)(168)

Cordell, who was also African-American, had his eyes locked on African-American Hottie and he asked, “Is she talkin’ to you or me?”

“I’ve no f**kin’ clue,” African-American Hottie replied.

“I know your name, Cordell. Blooming heck, I’ve known you for years. I’m talking to the other African-American Hottie in the room,” I explained.

Marcus (I’m not joking) started laughing.

Laughing!

“My name is Darius,” African-American Hottie said.

Without anything else to say (and not wanting to be rude), I replied, “Hi, Darius.” Then I waved for good measure.

“Who are you?” I heard said from below me and I looked down to see Jerry staring up at me like he’d never seen me before.

And that’s when I knew.

I knew exactly who I was.

So, because I knew, I told Jerry, “I’m Sadie.”

* * * * *

The police arrived then the hotel management and security arrived. I redid my belt, put on my shoes and I was sitting in the hotel room desk chair, handcuffs finally off, just about to put a cup of coffee to my lips when Hector, Eddie and Lee arrived.

Hector stopped just inside the door, his eyes scanned the room, found me, did a head-to-toe, then they moved to Jerry now on the bed with hotel towels wrapped around his leg and a uniformed officer guarding him.

Hector didn’t order everyone out and he didn’t move. His body was solid and his eyes were scorching and that scorch was directed at Jerry.

Then I saw his jaw clench and a muscle move in his cheek.

Oh my.

I put my coffee cup in its saucer on the desk and moved swiftly across the room toward Hector.

I got within touching distance, Hector’s hands came to my h*ps but he didn’t look at me, his dark, angry eyes were locked on Jerry.

“I’m gonna f**kin’ –” he started but I pressed into him and put my hand over his mouth and muffled the rest.

“The police,” I warned but his hand came from my hip, his fingers curled around my wrist and he pulled it away. Before he could speak, quickly I said, “I’m all right, I’m fine. Everything’s okay.”

His scorching eyes turned to me.

My free hand went to the side of his face.

“Babe, I’m okay,” I whispered.

He looked at me for a second then two then three, his eyes scanning my face, reading me.

I got up on my toes and pressed even closer to his heat.

“Hector, baby, I’m okay,” I repeated softly.

Suddenly he let go of my wrist, his arms went around me, crushing me to him and his mouth came down on mine in a long, hard, closed-mouthed kiss.

When his mouth detached from mine, his face went into my neck and his arms got even tighter.

“Fuck,” he said against my neck.

My arms wrapped around his shoulders and I held him close thinking it was best not to tell him, just yet, that I couldn’t breathe.

Finally, his arms loosened, his head came up and I pulled in a deep breath.

“Sorry, Chavez, we need to ask Sadie some questions,” a uniformed officer said from our side just as the paramedics came in with a gurney.

Hector nodded, we moved away so the paramedics could see to Jerry and I sneaked a peek at the bed while we moved.

Jerry was glaring at Hector, eyes filled with hate. His obvious emotion made me sad, angry and happy. I couldn’t process this, it was too complex, so I decided not to think about it until… well, never. I thought it best never to think about it.

Ever.

We moved into the hall (unfortunately, away from my coffee) and I noted the Hot Bunch were amassing there. Darius was, obviously, a part of the rescue effort. Lee and Eddie had come with Hector. Luke was now with them, the elevator pinged and Vance and Matt walked out of it, their eyes coming directly to me as they moved down the hall toward us.

The uniformed officer had to wait while the Hot Bunch did their Sadie assessment. I got hugs, cheek kisses, temple kisses and there were a lot of set but relieved male faces and firm, clenched, square jaws. I noticed they looked tired, none of them had shaved and none of them were wearing fresh clothes. Mace and Bobby showed up in the meantime and both of them (even Bobby) engulfed me in bear hugs.

The elevator pinged again and Detective Marker walked out when the uniformed officer asked, exasperated, “Do you guys mind if I talk with Sadie?”

I was feeling weird. A good weird.

No, a great weird.

Not that they’d obviously had a tough night looking for me.

But, (I hated to admit it but had to) because they’d spent a tough night looking for me.

And they were relieved they found me alive, well and none the worse for wear.

They cared and they didn’t mind who knew it, not the hotel staff and customer onlookers, the police or the paramedics.

Tough guys or not, I was one of them.

I wasn’t Ms. Townsend anymore.

I was Sadie, Rock Chick.

How great was that?

“You get her statement?” Detective Marker asked, coming up to me with a smile.

“Tryin’,” the uniformed officer replied.

“Well, f**k boy, get it so she can go home,” Detective Marker snapped.

The officer looked at the ceiling.

I pressed into Hector, his arm went around my neck and he pulled me deeper into his side, partially into his front.