Losing Me, Finding You(40)

“He didn't,” I say, hoping this man will go away, so I can go and have my drink. I feel that I deserve one, and it doesn't seem as if Austin is going to be back anytime soon. The sky is growing dark outside my hotel window, and the reality of my situation is starting to sink in. A bit of alcohol might do me some good, I think.

The man gestures at my purse.

“Are you on your way out?” he asks, taking a step back and glancing left and right down the hall like he's afraid somebody's going to stumble onto us. I clutch my purse strap with a nervous hand. If he comes at me or does anything weird, I'll be ready. I did manage to remember my pepper spray this time, thank you very much.

“Oh, I was just going to head down to the restaurant for a glass of wine.”

The man smiles and runs a hand through his dark hair, cringing like his whole body hurts.

“Mind if I join you?” he asks, and before I can respond, he's introducing himself. “Name's Gaine Kelley.” He pauses and holds out his hand. His fingers are scraped and covered in small cuts, and I can't help but wonder what happened to the poor man. He seems nice enough, and I'm pretty sure I've seen him before, so I decide to take a chance.

“Amy Cross,” I say, holding out my own hand and taking his. “I'm assuming you're a member of Triple M as well?” Gaine nods and releases my hand.

“Ever since I turned sixteen.” He thinks for a moment and then whistles sharply. “Seven years now. Seven long, wonderful years. And Austin's been by my side for every single one of them.” I smile at him and look around for a key card. Crap. I don't have one.

“Everything okay?” he asks as I look around the dresser and push aside some of Austin's clothes with my hands. Unconsciously, I think I'm looking for lacy panties or something, too, but I don't see any. Whoever was here last night is gone. I sigh.

“I don't have a key,” I say. “For the room.” I turn around to look at Gaine again and notice that he isn't smiling anymore and is instead examining me like he isn't sure what to think. I wonder what he's heard about me. I hope it's nothing horrible. Austin doesn't seem like the kind of man that feels the need to brag about his sexual exploits, but then, I met him two days ago, so what do I really know?

“We could stay here and order in?” Gaine says, noticing me staring at him and switching his expression to something more pleasant. “I promise I don't bite.” He holds out his hand and gestures at the bed with a wink. “I could even help you make this bitch if you want?” I narrow my eyes at him and keep my purse by my side.

“Okay,” I say, unsure if this is really a good idea or not. But then, I'm running away with a biker gang. Can't really be all that picky about things like that, now can I? “But I just want you to know, if you try anything, I've got a can of pepper spray in my purse.”



Chapter 31

Shit. Fuck. And damn.

I hit the back door of the hotel with Kimmi and Mel at my heels.

“Obviously we've got ourselves a mother f*cking rat,” Kimmi snarls as the three of us climb the stairs as fast as humanly possible. We've already put the call into Kent. Time to go.

“Maybe,” Mel says, not sounding nearly as upset as she should. We almost got our asses screwed back there and she's acting like it's no big deal. No big deal that the cops were already waiting for us. If Kimmi's paranoia hadn't gotten to her, we'd be behind bars right now.

“No, not maybe,” Kimmi growls as I shove open the door to the hallway and storm down the brown carpeting, watching as doors on either side of me are opening and Triple M'ers are appearing with frowns and mussy hair. Fucking sucks to get up and leave in the middle of the night, and it's never happened with my group before. Not once. A few of Kent's other operations have f*cked up, and we've had to leave town, but nothing like this, nothing orchestrated by another MC. What bullshit.

“How much time do we have?” Kent asks as I pass by him and Melissa attaches herself to his bare chest like a leech.

“Before the cops come a knockin'?” I ask, jamming my key card into the metal of the door. “Thirty minutes? Less? Shit, I don't know, just hurry up.” I push open the door and stalk into the room. My plans of coming back and ravishing Amy Cross are being tossed to the wind, and I am not happy about that. Stopping mid-f*ck? Not exactly my idea of a good day. And now I ain't got time to ease her into things or introduce her to the group. Shit.

I pause at the end of the bed and find myself face to face with Gaine.

“What the hell are you doing in here?” I ask with a frown.

Amy's dressed in a pair of silky, pink pajamas that are just begging to be torn off of her body. I didn't even know adult women wore shit like that anymore? Admittedly, it's kind of hot. But then I see that she's laying on the bed with a glass of wine in one hand, Gaine lounging just a few inches from her, and what I am supposed to think? And then I see that the linens have been changed out.

“Am I interruptin' something?”

Gaine swings his feet to the floor and sets his own glass of wine down on the side table.

“I just stopped by to pay you a visit and ended up meeting Miss Cross here,” Gaine says, shaking his head like he's had a bit too much to drink. “When she told me she was the newest member of Triple M, I had to personally show her a warm welcome.” He smiles, but his lips are tight, and his eyes are angry.