Page 30 of Bratva Hunter

“I assume that doesn’t include the hot chick.”

“Fingers.”

“Sure, boss. I’ll keep my ideas to myself. Do you want short-term rentals or motels on your adventure back to New York?”

“Motels are fine, but I like the Campbell Luxury Hotel in New Orleans, so book that and include a new wardrobe for Rosa with designer luggage, so she’ll ditch this stuff.”

“Okay. Tell her I said bye.”

We both stand up as Fingers collects his stuff to put in his backpack. “How much time do we have before they find us again?”

“If they follow the usual pattern, the Dallas bikers should be here in the morning, early. Might want to head out sooner rather than later. I’ll leave the SUV I borrowed.” He smirks to let me know he swiped it from the airport. “I’ll Uber back to catch my flight.”

Walking Fingers to the door, I notice Rosa watching from the hall. “Bye.”

“See ya.” Fingers throws up his hand and catches my eyes as he leaves. He won’t tell my father or Cynric.

ROSA

Rory convinced me to take a nap at the house so we could travel by night on our way to New Orleans. He thinks the safest place for me is New York, where the cartel won’t think to look. I’m not sure it makes the most sense, but I trust him. We’re heading down Interstate 45 South, in case we need to divert to Houston. It’ll take us almost nine hours unless we stop for more than gas. And I’ll have to stop to pee.

“Whatcha thinking about?”

“I’ve always wanted to see New Orleans.” I chew on my lower lip, thinking.

“Are you sad we didn’t reach out to your family?”

His comment catches me off-guard. He talks like we had a choice. “I’m glad we didn’t see them. I don’t want to bring trouble to their door.”

He reaches over the console and squeezes my hand. “It won’t be forever, and then we’ll get you back to your mother.”

“Pfft. I don’t see how that happens. It’s not like my family is going to just let me get away. At some point, they’ll find me.” Tears slide down my cheeks. “And you.”

“You worry too much. Let me take that burden. You just relax.”

“I feel so blessed that we found each other again. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Rory squeezes my hand again. That’s it? After everything, you don’t offer any words for me? My heart seizes in my chest, thinking I’ve given my heart, and he doesn’t care. Tears continue to fall, more for the feelings he didn’t share or maybe doesn’t feel.

“Hey?”

I jerk my head to stare at the man who barked to get my attention. “What?”

“Stop. Getting all worked up isn’t good for you. You have to trust me.”

I nod. What can I say? I trust him, but I wish I knew where this whole thing between us was going.

RORIC

It’s three in the morning when we pull into a diner off Interstate ten in Baton Rouge. The thud of the tires riding over the curb jars Rosa awake.

“Sorry, babe. I should have woken you when we got off the highway. We’ll grab some food.”

She scrapes at her eyes and reaches for the bottle of water in the center drink holder, taking a swig. “What is it with you and random diners?”

I shrug. “I like diners. People don’t stick out, and no one will be looking for us. We’re just a couple grabbing a meal on our travels.”

“Sure. But I have to pee.”

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