Page 18 of Claimed By the Hitchhiker

Standing by the window, I watch and listen to the Jeep’s rumbling engine growing fainter. My gaze shifts to the wooden chair nearby, and I start dragging it across the room, its leg scraping against the floor and making me cringe at how loud it sounds.

The owners must be wondering what I’m up to. I hope they’re not curious enough to check.

I position the chair under the doorknob and wedge it against the frame. Next, I move to the windows and lock each of them, hands trembling. Not that it matters. They can break the glass and I can’t do much to stop them.

I’m just about to sit back down on the bed when I hear a rumble outside. Huh. Damien’s back? That fast? Maybe he met them halfway so he won’t leave me long? But it hasn’t even been ten minutes.

My knees and legs go weak when I realize there’s not one or two but multiple cars not far away from here, the hum of engines and the purr of tires becoming louder.

Moving closer to the door, I rest my palm on the smooth wood and strain my ears. But I can’t hear much past my heartbeat pounding in my chest like a fist on a drum. No. Please.

The cars come to a stop, engines idling.

Maybe it’s not them. Maybe it’s a family about to check in for the day. Maybe a couple of friends on a road trip decided to rest. Maybe—

Panic digs into every part of me when I hear footsteps making their way from the gravel parking lot to the wooden floor of the motel, stopping just in front of my door.

A lump forms in my throat, making it difficult for me to breathe. My palms are damp, and beads of perspiration form on my forehead and the top of my lip.

I’m so stupid. God. I should’ve gone with Damien.

My whole body is trembling violently, and I slump to the floor with a thud. I almost jump out of my skin when whoever’s out there bangs a fist on the door, the sound sending shockwaves into the eerie silence of the room. The walls seem to close around me and my vision begins to blur at the edges, the world spinning in a whirl.

I’m breaking out in cold sweat, and no matter how I try to stand, my legs refuse to follow me.

“Come on out, Dani. We know you’re in there. Father’s waiting for you outside, and you know how he hates waiting. We don’t want to kill the couple in the office, but we will if you leave us with no choice.”

Oh god. No, no, no, no.

I’m doomed.

7

DAMIEN

I’ve never dropped a call so fast in my life.

After Chief told me they were only thirty minutes away, I make a mad dash to the truck and throw myself into the driver’s seat. I slide the key in and the engine roars to life.

I back into the road and accelerate, the truck’s tires squealing in protest.

The Chief’s friend dug out some records and found several girls who sought help and complained about being locked up at the compound. No investigations were conducted. Cases were closed, and the reports chalked it up to minors running away from their mothers.

Fucking disgusting. Corrupt officials are second on my list of people I loathe, just next to criminals. Looking the other way just because you need money? They all deserve to go to hell.

I understand Dani’s earlier hesitation to come with me. It’s a lot for her to take in. I can still remember the fear and panic on her face when she wasn’t sure I was on her side, if she could count on me not to turn on her. Based on what she told me, it was a massive operation. To have something like that operating seamlessly for years, maybe even decades, her Father must have some big names on his speed dial.

This. This is why I didn’t think twice about working for the Chief. He’s incorruptible. He’s not rich, drives a ten-year-old sedan despite how he constantly badgers me about leaving my truck in the junkyard, and lives in the old Mediterranean. His wife is a teacher, and they have one kid in college.

Money’s most likely tight in their household.

But the last man who tried to bribe him with a couple of million dollars found himself locked up five minutes later. The Chief made lots of enemies that day but also earned massive respect from men like me, men who just wanted to make the world a better, safer place.

Dani’s Father is about to find out that his money won’t always buy him protection and freedom.

A few minutes away from the motel and a sudden, nagging feeling of unease creeps over me. My senses are on high alert, and I know something’s not right. I wasn’t kidding when I told Dani how much I relied on my intuition.

I see the motel’s sign, and a prickling starts at the back of my neck. Nothing’s unusual…yet.

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