Page 14 of Unholy Cross

“Limp, just like your dick,” Cross taunted.

He picked up his booted foot and kicked Georgie in the stomach, sending him sprawling on his ass.Then he pocketed his gun and they left the hellhole behind.

Chapter Seven

They rode down LasVegas Boulevard and once more, Lorelei’s head swiveled back and forth.She’d never been somewhere so vibrant with life, and the bright lights of the casinos fascinated her.The further south they traveled the more glamorous the buildings.The complete opposite from the house they’d just been in.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the Strip, he drove them to a hotel and parked in the designated spot for motorcycles.Lorelei didn’t even wait until he tapped her leg, dismounting immediately and taking off her helmet.Once more, he held out his hand and she didn’t hesitate to take it.The hotel seemed a lot nicer than the first one they stayed in, and it didn’t take Cross long to register them.He handed over a license that had a different name and paid in cash.The clerk gave him a blinding smile, not even bothering to acknowledge Lorelei.Jealousy hit her, although she knew she didn’t have a reason to feel like that.He didn’t bother giving the clerk a second glance.

They rode the elevator up to the third floor where they quickly found their room.Cross stuck the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door before locking it against the world.One bed again, but this time she didn’t mind.The thought of cuddling against Cross made nervous butterflies dance in her belly, but his presence made her feel safer.Lorelei tossed her duffel bag onto the bed then walked over to the large window and looked out, seeing the blazing decadence of Sin City.

A small swooshing sound had her turning, and her gaze fell upon the bed where Cross had tossed the envelope he’d gotten at the house.She looked up at him and cocked her head.

“I can’t believe that was still hidden under the floorboards.Or that the house was still standing.Go on, open it.”

Lorelei picked it up and looked inside, at a stack of twenties with a band that read “Five Thousand” wrapped around it.Shocked, she pulled it out.

“That, along with the ten grand your non-dad gave me will help us settle somewhere,” he said.“I left Vegas so quickly, I didn’t have time to get that money.In truth, I thought it more a sacrifice I had to make to get away from here.I hate this fucking city.”

She raised an eyebrow.What did he mean byus?He wanted them to stay together?Like,staystay together?As a couple?As lovers?She’d never even had a boyfriend.Back before she was sold to Costello Birsha, her and her friends would giggle over boys in P.E.class.Aera Cross would never consider himself aboyfriend, that’s for sure.He’d probably been born a man and skipped the whole pimples and awkward puberty stage.For one moment, daydreams of them dating, holding hands, and living happily ever after filtered through her head.

Then ...reality came roaring back in screaming color.

She wasn’t a normal girl.She had issues several miles long, and trauma with a capital T.Plus, a pesky little superpower people would pay good money to possess.

Five years of her life, stolen.Five years as a cash cow to Costello Birsha and his henchmen.

Now that she was free, what could her life be like?If she left Cross, where could she go?What could she do?She had no skills.No money.No family.Would Cross respect her enough to let her go if that was what she wished to do, or would he become her next jailer?

“That place back there?That was the world I grew up in.”He rubbed a palm into one socket, as if staving off a headache.“I’m not a good person, Lorelei.This city didn’t allow me to be a decent human being.I had to fight for everything, including the right to breathe.Every bad thing you can think of, I probably did.I get that you don’t know me, and you have no reason to trust me, but I promise I will never hurt you.”

Tempestuous dark secrets lay in the jade depths of his eyes, and she wasn’t sure she should believe him or not.Lorelei laid the money on the credenza and approached, stopping in front to assess him.Cross held very still as he met her inquiring gaze.She grabbed the hotel stationery and pen, writing quickly.“What if I wanted to go my own way?Would you let me go?”

He folded his arms across his chest.“No.”

Something sank in her belly as fear sluiced through her.

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