Page 97 of Defiant Beta

I don’t know what this was. Just an affair or something more, but it has nothing to do with us, and we’ve invaded their privacy enough.

“I feel bad for bursting in there,” I admit quietly. “And for judging them for coming to this disgusting place.”

“You’re a good person, Della.” Levi bumps his shoulder against mine.

“Not really. So, what now?”

He shakes his head. “Not sure. He was our number one suspect.”

As we walk back down the hallway, the motel clerk suddenly appears at the end. His eyes narrow. There’s a suspicious bulge in his pocket, and I don’t think it’s the kind that says he’s happy to see us.

“Everything okay with your room?” he calls out.

“Fine.” Levi’s hand tightens on my arm as he guides me to the right side of the hallway. “Thanks.”

He unlocks a door and pulls me inside, closing it and pressing his ear to the wood. “We just got here, and he’ll thinkwe’re cops if we leave so soon. We need to give it some time. Fifteen minutes, maybe.”

I eye the burgundy comforter with the lime green sheets on the bed, the only place to sit in this room. Then I take in the mustard yellow carpets, and I don’t know what repels me more. “Amazing.”

Levi stands near the door, arms crossed and head tilted slightly as if he’s listening.

“Is he still out there?” I whisper.

He lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug. “Not sure.”

A knock sounds on the door.

“Oh myGod,” I yell. “Yeah, just like that.”

Levi trains his unblinking eyes on me.

I shrug and gesture, making a ‘you’re next’ motion.

He groans.

I lift an eyebrow, mouthing, “That’sit? You get an Oh my God, and I get a tepid groan?”

He shakes his head and presses his ear to the door again, mouthing. “He’s walking away.”

Great.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Levi turns the doorknob, pulls, and the thing comes off in his hand.

I stare at the round piece of wood. “Please tell me that doesn’t mean what I think it means.”

He attempts to reinsert it. “It’s come loose. There should be a screw.”

“Where’s the screw?”

“On the other side of the door.”

Shit.

I eye his broad shoulders, figuring they’re going to save us. “Can’t you knock the door down?”

He continues fussing with the door. “It opens on the inside.”

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