Page 164 of Five Mountain Daddies

“What, are you fucking arresting me?” she asksdefiantly.

He shakes his head. “Unfortunately for you, no, we’renot.”

I give him a look but he ignores me. He takes her arm and pulls her toward thedoor.

“Hey, man, what the fuck! Getoff!”

Wyatt looks back at me. “Grab her stuff, or whatever she’ll need. Meet me downstairs in thelobby.”

With that, he drags her out into the hallway, and they disappear. I stand there, totally confused about what’s happening, but I do as he asked. I pick through the rat’s nest that is her room and find a duffel bag with clothes, some makeup and toiletries in the bathroom, and a bunch of used condoms in the trash. Frowning, I head back out into the hallway and godownstairs.

I find Kristi and Wyatt standing in front of the main desk. Kristi looks chastised, but at least she’s not yelling. Wyatt has a big old smile on his face and turns to me as Iapproach.

“How do you fancy a little stay in this here lovely establishment?” he asksme.

I stare at him. “Are youjoking?”

He shakes his head, grinning. “And you have aroommate.”

I look over at Kristi and she doesn’t meet my gaze. I look back at Wyatt, mouth hanging open. I’m about to tell him no fucking way, but the clerk is already back and giving him three white roomkeys.

“What the hell’s going on?” I ask Wyatt as he herds Kristi back over to the elevator. We shove in with a couple of fat tourists, and he just gives me a look. We ride up a couple floors in silence before we stepout.

“You’re staying with this lovely girl here,” Wyatt says to me. “You’re going to watch her, make sure she gets sober, and then we’ll have a chat withher.”

Kristi glowers at me. “Bitch,” shesays.

I ignore that. “No way,” I say tohim.

“I got separate beds, don’t worry,” he says, still grinning. “I’m in the room nextdoor.”

“This is crazy. I can’t do that. She’s a stranger and ajunkie.”

“Bitch,” Kristi grumblesagain.

“Look, I know this sucks,” Wyatt says softly. “But she’s too fucked up right now to be of any use. Just one night, let her come down, and then we’ll get what we need from her in the morning.Okay?”

“I want my drugs,” Kristisays.

I glance at her and back to Wyatt. “Are yousure?”

“I’m sure.” He grins at me. “Come on, let’s go see yourroom.”

I want to argue, but he’s already walking away, dragging Kristi by thearm.

The room is half a hallway down. Wyatt hustles Kristi in there and I follow, gloomily carrying her duffel bag. I toss it onto one of the two beds and Kristi runs into the bathroom, but before she can lock herself in there, Wyattfollows.

“No fucking drugs,” he growls at her softly. I glance in and watch him pat her body down. “Hear me? Or I will arrest yourass.”

“Fuck you,” she sayssoftly.

“I’m not kidding, Kristi. I’ll trump some charges up and make sure you fucking rot foryears.”

“You’re scum.” She looks dreamy, butangry.

He finishes patting her down. “Play ball and you’ll walk away from this. And I’ll give you back yourdrugs.”

That seems to grab her attention. “Really?”

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