Chapter 23 Angel #2
Each plan was met with hesitation. They could all go wrong and, at worst, since these men were carrying guns, they could just decide to kill everyone here. It wouldn’t do to get a poor motel employee involved.
So, with that in mind, I did the only thing I could.
Considering the type of place this motel was and what kind of customers it likely attracted, I decided to remove my sweatshirt and tie it around my waist. I gripped the tank I’d had on underneath and yanked it down until the cups of my bra were visible and then I pulled it down another good inch to make it clear.
When I didn’t think that was enough, I pulled up the hem of the shirt and made a quick knot above my belly and below my breasts.
The more skin I showed off, the more distracted and dismissive they would likely be.
My cut-off jean shorts were thankfully frayed and small.
They’d looked perfectly acceptable with the sweatshirt on, but now I pulled the waistband down and reached underneath, gripping the straps of my thong and raising them over my hips.
I pulled my hair out of the ponytail it’d been in and let it drop over my shoulders. I scrubbed a hand through the strands, fanning them out even more and then flipping the pieces at the front of my face to cover one side more. Once I was done adjusting myself, I took a deep breath and stood up.
The two stomping towards the front office paused as they caught sight of me and I forced a light and overly relaxed smile. “Heyyy, big boys,” I murmured, faking a thicker, far more southern accent as they looked me over. “Y’all here for a good time? I can provide that if ya need.”
The two exchanged looks and then kept walking without saying a word to me.
My racing heart slowed as I realized Gaven couldn’t have sent them.
Even with my fake accent and the skin, there’s no doubt he would have made sure each of his men knew who they were hunting.
That only left one reason for these people to be here. My client.
As the men stormed off, I forced a casual pace as I continued walking, curiously watching the three left behind as if I didn’t have a damn clue who they were or what was happening.
As I approached, the three men from the SUVs stood in front of Ronald’s door. “‘Scuse me, gentlemen,” I said lightly. “My … erm … friend didn’t say nothin’ bout a party.”
The taller of the three tossed a look my way and scowled. “We’re not here for you, whore. Get moving.”
I faked a gasp of outrage and bristled. “How dare you!” I squealed. “I’m a respectable lady!”
One of the men with him—a slightly shorter man with ginger hair and a scar that ran down the side of his jaw—scoffed. “Yeah, right,” he snickered. “With your tits out like that, there ain’t no question what you’re here for. Your client ain’t free no more. Do what the nice man said and move along.”
I twisted my hands in front of my stomach, pressing my arms together as it plumped up my breasts. “B-but my stuff’s still inside,” I said. “I-I can’t leave without no payment, neither!”
The ginger man moved away from the other two and blocked me.
My eyes widened as the first pulled his gun out and sent me a glare before he twisted the handle of the motel door and when it didn’t move—because I’d locked it on my way out—he reared back and kicked it in.
I flinched and gasped as the door splintered apart.
Inside, I heard Ron’s cry of shock and fear.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This was getting out of control fast.
“Oh my god!” I screamed.
The ginger’s hand came down and covered my mouth as his eyes jerked up and looked past me. “Now, now, sweetheart,” he said. “You must be new to this line of business if you don’t know how to mind your own business.”
I sniffed hard and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing tears to the surface. When he removed his hand, I sobbed hard. “Please,” I said as the two others disappeared into the room. “That bag’s all I have. I need it!”
His eyes panned down to where my breasts were shoved into his chest. “You need it, eh?” He licked his lips and I found myself fighting the urge to recoil as his fingers grasped my arm and held me in place.
“Did you already fuck your client, sweetheart? I don’t like to share, but if you’re still free, I can see about getting that bag back to you … for a price.”
I shook my head and sniffed again for good measure. “N-no, sir,” I said, fluttering my wet lashes. “I-I just—”
Curses sounded from inside the room and another scream sounded behind me—a female scream. Fuck. The cleaner must have heard the commotion. As the man’s gaze lifted up over my shoulder, I took my chance and reared back, grabbing hold of his shoulders as I swung my knee right into his groin.
With a shocked look, the man wheezed and crumpled onto the sidewalk just as the two men from before came out, hauling a bruised and crying Ron with them. “Eve!” he screamed.
Frustration rolled through me and I dove for the man on the ground, lifting up the back of his shirt and retrieving his gun.
I flicked the safety off and lifted it. I didn’t give a warning or make any demands.
It was clear these men were here for a reason and I would not be letting them see it through.
I aimed and pulled the trigger, putting a bullet in the shoulder of the man who held his gun in hand. He slammed back against the wall, his gun falling from his grip. I switched my attention and aimed at the second man—shooting both of his legs and at this distance, there was no chance of missing.
“Grab my bag!” I screamed to Ron. He dove away from his captors and for the first time since I met him, he actually managed to follow my orders without question or breaking down.
The first man growled and even with a bullet in his shoulder, he leveraged away from the wall and I stepped out of the way—watching him stumble over the ginger who’d been trying to get back to his feet. Both of them went down in a heap as the third man reached for his own weapon.
I didn’t hesitate. Turning on him, I lifted the gun in my grasp and pulled the trigger—once, twice, three times until his chest was riddled with holes. This was survival. Pure and simple.
Ron came back out of the room, holding my satchel. “Keys,” I snapped to him. “Let's go.”
The two of us took off running. I reached back and felt him slap a pair of car keys into my grasp and I hit the unlock button, flashing the lights of the sedan.
“Hey!”
Shit! I cursed internally. The two others were back from the office, but that didn’t stop me.
I leapt into the driver's seat as Ron dove for the passenger seat and as the two unharmed men raced across the parking lot, I turned on the car and pressed down on the gas.
“Eve?” Ron’s panicked voice rose above the sound of my pounding heart.
“Take this!” I snapped, shoving the firearm into his hand as I gunned the engine and steered towards the two men.
They’re eyes widened and while one managed to dive out of the way just in time, the second wasn’t as lucky. His body hit the front of the sedan and then the windshield—leaving a large crack as his body rolled over the top of the hood and then down the back, dropping to the pavement.
I glanced in my rearview as I sped out of the lot. He didn’t get back up.