Page 50 of The First Cut

“And then I’m left questioning my own actions. Maybe I antagonized him. Perhaps I flirted with his club brother without realizing it. Of course, he told me what he wanted for dinner. It must have just slipped my mind,” I say without thinking.

I freeze and wait for his reaction. He just grits his teeth and strokes his fingers through my hair. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him. I’m going to dismember him piece by piece.”

“As long as those pieces don’t end up in our home, I don’t care what you do with him.”

He gives me another kiss, this time on the forehead, before he lifts me back into my seat.

“Strap in, doll. I want to find us a motel so we can get some rest.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep for a while. Not now that I’ve had a nap.”

“Then let me just hold you for a while. Nothing and nobody will get to you without going through me.”

“You promise?”

“I swear it.”

Chapter Fifteen

Hannibal

Iknew there was more to the story. As her walls start to crumble and fall, she blurts out a little more. I knew Driller was a piece of shit. I just didn’t realize she was getting it from everyone else too. Don’t get me wrong, I figured she wasn’t everyone’s favorite person after she went from Havoc to Driller, but shit happens, and it’s nobody’s business but theirs.

I look over at her as she fiddles with the frayed hole in her knee. She doesn’t know what set her off. Though I told her it was me mentioning the club, it wasn’t. It was my stupid comment about her getting with Driller, making things ten times worse. I don’t know what that was about, but things went downhill fast after that.

I look back to the road just in time to catch the turn for the motel. It’s set back from the road, so the sounds of traffic won’t be an issue. I can sleep through most things, a side effect of being in the military. When you’re in active combat, you take a nap where you can because going to bed for the night is never guaranteed.

“I hope they have space,” she yawns as I bring the truck to a stop.

“Let’s go find out.”

She flicks the light on before looking at me. “Does it look like I’ve been crying?”

I know some women are pretty criers, but Lola'sn’t one of them. Her face and eyes are puffy and red.

“A little.”

She blows a hair from her face before looking for something around the cab.

“What are you looking for?”

“The cap I had on earlier.”

I unclip my belt, reach down into the footwell on her side, and grab it for her.

“Thank you.” She slips it on her head and flips the mirror down. She frowns at her reflection before closing it once more and looking at me. “Okay, this is as good as it’s going to get.”

“I have zero complaints.” I jump out and walk around, opening her door and lifting her out. I lock the truck up and take her hand.

The entrance is brightly lit, and through the glass doors I can see someone sitting at the reception desk. A bell jingles as we walk in. I want to yank it off the wall and stomp on it, but I refrain. Instead, I slip on what I hope is a charming smile and approach the older woman at the desk.

“Hi. I was wondering if you have a room we can book for the week?” Havoc said a few days, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

“I have a few empty rooms but nothing available for the full week except for the honeymoon suite.”

“Well, as we just got married, that would be perfect.”

She eyes me before her gaze lands on Lola and then her hands. Her ringless hands.