Page 38 of Ride Forever
“Where are you going?” I demanded.
“Stay there, and keep your head down.”
I wasn’t exactly inconspicuous in my sparkly dress, so I did what he said and slid down in the seat. Flipping open the glove compartment, I saw my revolver was stashed inside, so I pulled it out and checked the barrel. Thankfully, it was loaded.
I lifted my head just enough so I could peer out of the window and scanned the lane for signs of Chaser. It wasn’t long before he reappeared, jogging down the dilapidated lane.
“So?” I asked as we slid back into the driver’s seat.
“We should be clear.”
“Just like that? It was a little too easy if you ask me.”
“I got top marks on the precision obstacle course at Quantico. We’re fine.”
I stilled. He didn’t talk about his time with the FBI. Was something changing in him?
Chaser gunned the engine, and we edged out of the driveway, down the alley, and onto the street. He seemed satisfied we’d lost our tail, so we continued on our way again. He took us on a random path through the outskirts of Las Vegas, but the black SUV didn’t reappear.
Thankful for one thing going right today, I sank into my seat and wished as hard as I could for a bed.
* * *
Chaser found us another nondescript motel on the fringes of society.
Eyeing the decaying building as we found our room, I was sure this was the place where dreams went to die and rot away. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the clientele were sketchy. Prostitution, dealing drugs, growing drugs, cooking drugs. There was an upside, though. No one would ask any questions.
I opened the door and was immediately hit with the ripe scent of mothballs. Screwing up my nose, I walked inside and dumped my bag on the bed.
“You really know how to pick ’em,” I drawled.
“Believe me, I’d rather that hotel room on the Strip,” Chaser replied, closing the door.
“Honestly, I’d rather we sign up for the first manned space mission to colonize Mars.”
“You need to sleep,” he murmured, smoothing my hair behind my ear.
“Are you sure we lost them?”
He nodded, and my heart began to sink as I let some of my guard down. Man, I was so tired it was a wonder I hadn’t collapsed yet, but sleep felt further away than it ever had. So many things were left unsaid. King, the deal…the timer was ticking.
“Chaser…”
He looked at me, his brow creasing. “What?”
“When I was…you know, I got a visit.” I hesitated, and he raised his eyebrows. “From King.”
Chaser’s whole stature changed in an instant. His shoulders tensed, his lip curled, and his eyes were brimming with a fury I’d never seen before.
“What did he do to you?” he demanded, looming over me. “What did he say?”
I edged backward, suddenly frightened of the man before me. I knew he had these feelings toward King but seeing them on his face? It was something else entirely. He looked…manic. I decided I didn’t like it.
I swallowed hard and centered myself. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Sloane.”
“He’s… There’s something dark about that man,” I went on. “He’s terrifying, Chaser. He knew how to manipulate me into a position where I was nothing. My arrest, the interrogation, my release… It was a setup. We’ve never had any chance.”
