Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(94)

I reach for her, pulling her in for a hug. “You’re an angel.”

“I’ll lose my job if—”

“No one will ever know what you’ve done, but I will never forget.”

All too often people sit on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to step in and help. I won’t do that, and it appears that neither will she. I came here of my own volition to do what was right. To help someone who needs me. I just have to hope Spencer and Quinn are right behind me.

I change into the uniform and grab the cart before searching over the list of names and room numbers. None of them stand out, and I have to assume Bill booked the room under an alias.

One of the housekeepers gives me a look. “You’re new.”

“Yes, actually, maybe you can help. I was cleaning a room the other day, and there was a little boy and his parents. I think the man’s name was Bill, but I promised him I would come back and bring some extra towels, and now I can’t remember the room number.”

She rolls her eyes. “You write it down next time. Do you know the complaints I get because we can’t keep help?” The woman grabs her clipboard off the side of the cart. “They’re in 208. Bring them towels, and then you can clean that floor. There was a bachelor party in 222, so you can handle that.”

I inwardly cringe, imagining that parties thrown in this establishment probably don’t leave the room very tidy.

“Thank you. I’ll handle what I can.”

I push the cart ahead of me, feeling more nervous than before. This motel is not a nice place. It’s clear it is somewhere people go when they don’t want to be seen. The drapes on the windows are a yellow color, and the cart is filled with things that probably fell off the back of a truck.

As I get to the second floor, the resolve I had starts to diminish slightly because it isn’t until I step out into the hallway that I remember he has a gun. I have no idea what I’m going to encounter, and I really thought Spencer would be here by now.

He had to have found Myles’s note that I left in the dressing room. Maybe he’s waiting for Quinn or the police.

I pull out my phone, finding ten missed calls and eight text messages.

Oh, I am in so much fucking trouble.

Nine of the missed calls are from Spencer and one is from Quinn.

Then the texts.



Spencer: Where are you?

Spencer: Seriously, Brielle, where the fuck are you?

Spencer: Baby, please don’t do this. Please, just call me. Wait for me. I’m coming for you, and I will do this.

Spencer: Brie, I can’t . . . I can’t do this!

Quinn: I am on my way to you. Do not go to that room alone.

Spencer: I swear to God, if you get yourself killed, I am coming to hell and you will never hear the end of this!

Quinn: Brielle, answer one of us.

Spencer: I am begging you, wait for us. We are on our way, but Jesus Christ, Brielle, just wait. Please.





He’s right. I should wait. God, what am I doing? I am risking destroying that man’s world when he and Quinn are trained to do this. They can help me.

I tuck back behind the wall, my chest heaving, and I swipe his number.

“Brielle?” His voice is full of panic.

“It’s me.”

“Are you safe?”

My hand is on my pounding heart, and guilt and regret are souring my stomach. “Yes. I’m so sorry. I thought there was no other way. I had to help him.”

“You—I am not going to lecture you right now. I just need to know where you are.”

“I’m at the Superior Eights motel. I am on the second floor.”

“Stay. Hidden.” Spencer sounds as if he’s on the fringe of losing his mind. “Please. I am on my way, but—move!” he yells, and I hear a slamming noise. “Quinn is close, and I will be there in five minutes. Just stay there and wait for us.”

“Okay,” I promise. “I’m sorry.” And I am because I know I screwed up and he’s worried and I should’ve trusted him. “I never should’ve come here alone.”

Then I hear a voice, chilling and familiar. “No, you shouldn’t have.”

I look up and see Bill standing there, holding a bag of food and pointing a gun at me.





Chapter Thirty-Six





SPENCER





I get to the motel exactly seven minutes after the phone goes dead. I am running on pure adrenaline. Quinn is already situated in the parking lot, keeping an eye on Bill, who keeps peeking out the window every few minutes.

When I meet up with him, my hands are shaking uncontrollably.

Quinn looks at me. “Get a grip right now or I’m doing this alone.”

The hell he is. “She’s my world.”

“And she’s my responsibility. So, get yourself under control. This is a mission, and you need to treat it as such.”

He’s right, but how do I tell my heart that? I close my eyes for a few seconds and calm my heart rate. I use every ounce of training I have to separate myself from Brielle. She is a hostage, and we need to handle it as such.

I force my voice to remain steady. “Did we get the police involved?”

“I informed them of what was going on. Jackson called a few friends on the force, and we will have backup soon.”