by Lara Lacombe
Determined to ignore him, she glanced around the room, looking for any sign of Alex. Where the hell was he? Had he really left her alone with Tony? But why? He’d made such a big deal about keeping her out of danger—had he really abandoned her to face that danger on her own? He didn’t seem to be the type to just run away, but she hadn’t known him very long. Still, she remembered the intensity of his gaze, the total focus as he’d tried to convince her he wanted to keep her safe. He’d seemed almost desperate for her to believe him, as if the thought of her doubt caused him physical pain. Surely he wouldn’t drop her after she’d decided to trust him?
She glanced back at Tony as a new thought struck her. Had something happened to Alex? She dismissed the possibility almost immediately. She knew there was no love lost between the two men, but Tony could barely sit up, much less do anything to incapacitate Alex. Furthermore, she would have heard something if Alex had been injured. No, wherever Alex had gone, he’d done so willingly.
And she couldn’t wait around for him to return.
Jillian pulled on her heavy black coat, glancing around the room to make sure she wasn’t leaving behind anything the gang could use to identify her. If she was lucky, maybe she could make it to a main road before they showed up so her tracks would disappear. It would be tough going, but she could do it. She had to, if she wanted to survive the night.
Her gaze caught on the brown bag of medical supplies and she paused, remembering the bottles of controlled substances. No way was she going to leave them behind for people to abuse or sell. She made a quick detour to the bathroom to grab the half-full syringe, then recapped it and shoved it into the bag. Tucking the bag under her arm, she moved to stand over Tony.
“If you have trouble breathing, open the valve at the end of the tube to let the air out of your chest. Try not to move around too much, and keep the bandages on your bullet holes for a few more days, until they start to heal. That tube needs to come out soon. You should really go to an emergency room.”
He nodded at her, even though she knew he wouldn’t follow her instructions. Oh, well. He wasn’t going to be her problem anymore, and she’d done all she could to help him.
She glanced past him, noticing for the first time what appeared to be a door in the back corner of the room. It was hidden in the shadows, so she’d missed it before, being more focused on treating Tony than anything else. She walked around the bed and quietly pulled it open, pressing her ear against the door of the neighboring room. As far as escape routes went, it was preferable to hiking through the snow, but if the room was occupied she couldn’t very well burst in.
It sounded quiet, but then again, it was the middle of the night. Most people, if they had any sense, would be asleep, so the lack of sound didn’t fill her with confidence. Still, she had to try.
Straining to hear the slightest noise, Jillian slowly turned the knob, holding her breath as she eased the door open. A shaft of moonlight spilled across the floor, but otherwise the room was dark. And empty. She breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the door to Tony’s room closed before shutting this door and flipping the lock. No sense making it easy for them to follow her.
She started across the empty room, intent on finding the door that connected this room with the next. She needed to put distance between herself and Tony, needed to get as far away from him and his gangbanger friends as possible. If she could make it to the office, she could use their phone to call the police—her cell phone had died hours ago, before she’d even left the hospital.
Stepping lightly, she crept toward the opposite wall. The curtain billowed as she moved, making the silvery light in the room shift and bringing the shadows to life. It was an unsettling illusion, one that made her increase her pace.
She was a few feet from the door when a shadow detached from the wall and moved in front of her. Jillian jerked back, a scream lodged in her throat as a hand wrapped around her upper arm.
“Just where do you think you’re going?”
* * *
Alex knew the moment she recognized him by the way she relaxed. The tension left her muscles and her shoulders slumped slightly as she exhaled, her head dipping to land against his chest with a gentle thud.
The simple gesture of trust reverberated through him, the act more powerful than any words. Her acceptance of his protection lit a spark of warmth in his chest—a bright spot in this otherwise horrid night. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her, to bring her closer so he could hold her. To savor the contact. It had been so long since he’d truly enjoyed the touch of another person that the idea of embracing her was almost too much to bear.
It took almost all of his willpower, but he kept his distance, knowing that if he did touch her further he wouldn’t want to let go. Even though he was desperate, he realized that he’d scared her enough for one night. For one lifetime, really.
Still, he couldn’t help but drop his own head, his nose hovering close to the tantalizing scent of her hair. Warm vanilla and something else, subtle and familiar. He took in a deep breath, part of him hoping Jillian wouldn’t realize he was sniffing her, the other part not caring if she did. It had been months since he’d been around people who didn’t smell like drugs or booze, far too long since he’d encountered the delicacies of a woman’s perfume. The indulgence of her scent brought some measure of comfort, made him feel almost human again.
She raised her head from his chest to stare up at him, her eyes glossy in the dim moonlight of the room. “What are you doing in here?” she whispered.
Her breath flowed warm across his lips and chin, a soft caress. Alex closed his eyes as sensations swept through him, battering his control. It had been too long since he’d kissed a woman. Too long since he’d been around a woman he was tempted to kiss, one who wasn’t a user or a dealer, one who wasn’t reduced to selling her body in a desperate bid for survival. He opened his eyes to stare down at the shadows of her face, her lips dark and indistinct. No matter. He filled in the details from memory—the perfect bow of her upper lip, the fullness of her lower lip and the way she bit down on it when she was concentrating. No doubt about it—her mouth was sexy as hell, and he wanted to taste it.
Drunk on her scent and the nearness of her in the dark, he dipped his head. It was only when she said his name, this time with urgency in her voice, that he recalled his senses.
Releasing her, he stepped back and took a deep breath to clear his head. Now was not the time to scratch an itch. He had to find out why she was here and not in the room with Tony. Had something happened to him?
“What happened to Tony? Why aren’t you with him?”
She shuddered, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Had the bastard said or done something to her? He looked her up and down, but it was impossible to see if she was physically hurt. He’d been so sure Tony was incapacitated—it was the only reason he’d left the room. God, had he misjudged the situation? He’d never forgive himself if Tony had harmed her...
“Tony’s fine. But we have to go.”
“What?” His relief at her assurance must have messed with his hearing. “Did you say go?”
“Yes. The gang is on the way here.”
Alex shook his head. “Impossible. They have no way of knowing where we are.”
“Tony texted them our location. When we were in the bathroom.”
A cold fist gripped his stomach as he digested her words. He’d taken a cell phone from Tony before stuffing him in the car, but he hadn’t conducted a thorough search. It was entirely possible the kid had another phone stashed away, one Alex had missed.
He cursed, long and low. A rookie mistake, in a night filled with them. And one that had cost him a safe place to wait out the storm.
“Let’s go.” Jillian tugged on his arm, clearly anxious to leave.
“Wait,” he said, resisting h
er pull. “We can’t just run out of here. We need a plan.” She paused, but he could tell she wasn’t happy about it. He appreciated her instinct to run, but leaving in a panic was a good way to get killed.
He mentally reviewed his options, wondering how much time they had before the 3 Star Killers showed up. The snow was still coming down, but that wouldn’t stop them. They were fueled by vengeance, and no amount of winter weather would douse those flames.
The car was parked out front, in clear view of the road. The vehicle was no match for the icy roads, and it would take too long to clear the snow from around the tires so they could get enough traction to leave. Besides, the car was on its last legs, likely to stall even if he did manage to get it started. Not exactly an ideal getaway.
One thing was certain—they couldn’t stay here. The gang wouldn’t give up when they found Tony in an otherwise empty room. No, they’d search the entire motel, methodically going from room to room as they hunted their prey. He was just glad the motel was otherwise empty, as his conscience couldn’t handle any more innocent deaths.
A car rolled into the parking lot, the flash of its headlights brightening the room and interrupting his thoughts. Time to move.
Alex grabbed Jillian’s hand and tugged her toward the connecting door, pulling her into the next room and locking it shut behind them. Quickly and quietly, they made their way through several rooms, putting more and more distance between themselves and Tony. He had no way of knowing if the newly arrived car held gang members, but it wasn’t worth the risk of sticking around to find out.
As if she’d read his mind, Jillian whispered, “Do you think that’s them?”
“Not sure,” he whispered back. Muffled shouts and the thud of a slammed door urged them forward. “But I’d say it’s likely.”
Jillian made a soft whimpering sound that hit him like a punch to the gut. “I’ll keep you safe,” he said, pushing her ahead and drawing his gun. “Keep going—I’ll watch your back.” He turned around to face whatever danger might lie behind them as she moved forward.
He heard her grab the handle of the connecting door and twist, but nothing happened. She cursed and tried again, rattling the door with her efforts. “It’s locked,” she hissed. “What do we do?”
By now Alex could hear the gang members as they approached, kicking down the connecting doors and searching each room. They had maybe half a minute before they were found, and with only his two guns for protection, he didn’t like their odds.
“Oh, God, they’re coming. Should we hide?”
He shook his head, pulling her over to the window. They were close to the office and from this angle he could see an older model pickup parked at the end of the lot, half hidden by the hulking form of the Dumpster. Probably the attendant’s car—and their best shot at getting out of here.
“See that truck?” He pointed it out to her, careful to keep his voice low. “That’s where I want you to head. I’m going to open this door and make sure there’s no guard, and when I give you the signal, I want you to run like hell for the truck. Get around to the passenger side and wait for me.”
She nodded mechanically, eyes wide. Alex caught her gaze. “Listen to me, Jillian. No matter what you hear, I want you to stay hidden. If I’m not right behind you, stay crouched by the truck until you hear them leave. Then go to the motel office and call the police. Do you understand?”
“Why wouldn’t you follow me? You can’t leave me!”
He laid his free hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. “Tell me you understand. Stay hidden, stay safe.”
“Okay,” she whispered, blinking hard. She threw herself into his arms, squeezing him tight in a brief embrace. “Be careful,” she said, her voice low and thick with emotion.
Alex nodded, stunned by her apparent concern for him. Her touch stirred up emotions he didn’t have time to examine now, so he shoved them aside and focused on the task at hand. Staying low, he eased open the door, gritting his teeth against the blast of frozen air. He peeked out, looking back toward Tony’s room for any sign of a gang member monitoring the parking lot. It was empty, no doubt too cold for any kind of foot patrol. The windows of the car were heavily tinted, so he couldn’t be sure there wasn’t someone inside watching, but it was a chance he’d have to take.
Motioning Jillian forward, he kept his eyes trained on the car as she ran for the truck. There was no sign of movement, so he decided to make a break for it. Keeping as low a profile as possible, he plowed through the snow, trying to stay in her footprints to make it look as though only one person had crossed the lot. Tony had clearly tried to save Jillian by warning her about the gang, which meant he might not tell his friends about her role in all of this. If Alex could keep her hidden, so much the better.
He made it to the truck and tested the door, relieved beyond measure to find it unlocked. He quickly climbed inside to find Jillian already in the cab, hunched down in the front seat.
“You made it,” she breathed, clearly happy to see him. He spared her a quick grin as he began a search for keys. Anyone stupid enough to leave their vehicle unlocked in this neighborhood probably didn’t have the brains to take their keys with them. He hit the jackpot when he flipped the sun visor down, releasing a small bundle that landed in his lap with a metallic clink.
“You didn’t really think I’d leave you here all alone?” he said, stabbing the key in the ignition and cranking the engine. It groaned and the truck shuddered, but the engine didn’t turn over.
He heard a muffled shout and glanced over to see two gang members staring at the truck from the doorway of the room they’d just left. In unison, they drew their guns and started across the parking lot.
Crap.
“Get down,” he said to Jillian as he turned the key again. Still no response.
By this time the manager of the motel had stepped out, no doubt drawn by the noise of the struggling engine and the taunting shouts of the gangbangers as they drew closer. When he saw his truck was occupied, he moved forward, his face contorted with rage.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Alex watched as the taller of the two gang members raised his arm and fired a shot at the motel manager. It went wide, but just barely. The man stopped walking toward the truck, swiveling to focus on this new threat. When he saw the two young men approaching with guns drawn, his expression morphed from combative to terrified in the blink of an eye. Apparently deciding the truck wasn’t worth it, he beat a hasty retreat back to the relative safety of the office. Good—one less person to worry about.
“What’s happening?” Jillian asked from her position on the floorboard of the passenger seat.
“Nothing,” Alex lied, pumping the gas pedal. “Stay down.”
He twisted the key again, the engine whining for an endless second before turning over with a beautiful roar. Throwing the gearshift into reverse, he skidded backward out of the spot, making a wide arc in the snow. Realizing their quarry was about to escape, the two gang members broke into a run in an attempt to close the distance. They fired several times, shooting wildly at the truck without really stopping to aim. The bullets pinged off the frame of the truck, but a few hit the windshield with a sickening crunch. Alex grunted as something—bullet or glass, he wasn’t sure—hit his arm. It felt like a red-hot poker had been jammed into his shoulder, but he didn’t have time to take care of it now. Peering through the spider-webbed windshield, he put the truck into drive and lurched forward.
The gangbangers didn’t have time to get out of the way. There was a satisfying thud as he sideswiped them, their soft bodies no match for the steel of the truck. “Whoops,” he muttered, feeling no remorse. “Gotta look both ways, boys.”
He checked the rearview mirror as he pulled onto the street. They were lying in a crumpled heap in the snow, clearly hurting from the impact. He didn’t think they were dead
, but they should be out of commission for a while. Served them right for shooting at him.
Alex reached up to touch his shoulder, hissing when the contact sent a fresh burst of pain down his arm. His hand was wet when he pulled it away, the blood looking almost black in the streetlamps.
“Doc?” he said, steering as best as he could on the slippery streets. He hadn’t seen the gang car pull out behind them yet, but it was just a matter of time. He needed to make it to a main road, and fast, so they could blend in with the other cars.
Jillian didn’t respond, which kicked his heart into overdrive. Had she been hit, too?
“Doc?” he said again, this time louder. He scanned the road, looking for a place to pull over in case she was hurt. He wasn’t sure how much he’d be able to help, but no way was he going to keep driving if she was bleeding out on the floorboard.
“Is it safe to come up now?” Her voice was muffled but steady, and he exhaled in relief.
“For now. Better for you to buckle up than stay crouched down there.”
She unfolded herself with a wince and slumped into the front seat, pulling the belt across her torso. “What happened back there?”
“There was some objection to our leaving.”
She snorted at that. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it. Did you hit something? It felt like we ran into something.”
Alex kept his gaze on the road. “I may have clipped a couple of guys who were shooting at us.”
“Oh, my God. Are they dead?”
He narrowed his eyes at the concern in her voice. “No. But would it matter if I had killed them? Are you honestly worried about the health of two guys who were trying to end us?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know!” He saw her glare at him from the corner of his eye. “I’m a doctor—I don’t like to stand by while people are hurt. It goes against everything I believe in.”
“Well, I believe that if someone is shooting at me, I get to defend myself. Even if that means hurting them.”
