Chapter 14 Freya
FOURTEEN
FREYA
We ended up going to the places Bronx told the driver to go to, and I ate in the back of his car.
And Bronx was right. Holy hell, that place had good food.
I inhaled the veggie sub, which had every single fresh vegetable on it I could have imagined.
The macaroni and cheese was to die for. And my stomach was so full I could hardly move.
But it didn’t chisel away at my disappointment for not running into anyone who knew who this woman in the picture was.
Which meant I needed to speak with Bronx again.
Not that I didn’t want to. I did. I really did.
I was so disappointed when his crew called him away.
For what reason, I have no idea. I never did with my father growing up, either.
But I had a strange feeling it had to do with my quest to find my half-sister.
It didn’t matter, though. My want to see him was beginning to override my need for answers.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, either.
I rattled off the address for the hotel, and the Uber driver started in that direction.
I sipped on my soda with the window rolled down, wondering if it was smart to want to see Bronx like I did.
I mean, that kiss. Just thinking about it made my arms pucker with goosebumps.
I hadn’t been expecting it. I would have never thought a man like Bronx would have kissed me the way he did.
But it happened.
And I wanted it to happen again.
I tried to tip the driver, but he waved me off.
Said the “man in the leather” gave him more than enough money to “cart me around.” A crass way to put it, but I was thankful nonetheless.
So, I got out of the car and waved him off.
With my full stomach and my soda gone, I was ready for a nap.
But first, I wanted to stop by the vending machine and pick up a few snacks for later.
They had some things in there I’d never seen before.
I walked into the hotel and fished around in my purse.
I had a few ones and some change, so I used it all up in the vending machine.
Honestly? I didn’t want to go out tonight.
I wanted to curl up in my hotel, wait for Bronx to call, and sleep.
I was mentally and emotionally exhausted from the whirlwind of my first couple days in the area.
And Lord only knew my father would expect me to pick up on the first ring tonight.
I made my way inside, tossing my empty drink into the nearest trash can.
Then, I made my way to the vending area.
I slipped the change into the drink machine and pulled out four sodas to keep in my fridge.
They weren’t the best for my health, but I didn’t care.
If I was going to enjoy San Diego, I wasn’t going to hold myself to some sort of diet my mother thought I needed to be on.
Every time she went on a diet to maintain her weight, she expected me to do the same.
It was exhausting, sure, but I knew it came from a good place.
I knew it came from a place of love and not wanting me to be overweight.
But I liked my curves. I liked the way they made me feel and look. I enjoyed dressing them up and covering them up.
And judging by the way Bronx held me, he enjoyed them too.
Oh, that man.
I shivered as I slipped the sodas into my purse.
Then, I turned my eyes onto the snack machine.
I had nine dollars in ones to tank through so they weren’t so bulky at the bottom of my purse.
So, I slipped them each in and picked out a snack.
There were chips I’d never heard of and candy bars I had yet to try.
There were energy bars that would work with my morning breakfast and a couple different kinds of honey buns.
I never could resist a good honey bun.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I bent over to scoop up the treats. For some reason, I got the vague impression someone was watching me. I sighed as I stood up, easing the snacks into my purse. Then, my head was on a swivel as I looked around.
My father always told me to stay on alert.
He taught me to always trust my gut. That, no matter what, my instincts would never betray me.
That was why I felt as if I could trust Bronx.
I knew he was good people, even though I’d already encountered people that weren’t good.
At all. I gazed out the windows behind me looking out toward the main road the hotel sat on.
I watched cars go by and people walk past on the sidewalk.
But I didn’t see anyone with their focus on me.
That sensation at the nape of my neck didn’t go away, though.
You’re being paranoid, Freya. Like Mom sometimes is.
I mean, it was true. My mother could get very paranoid at times. Again, it came with the territory of what my father did for a living. I shrugged off the sensation as a fluke, but in the back of my mind I knew it wasn’t.
Bring it up with Bronx when he calls.
If he called.
I made my way up to my room and closed the door quickly behind me.
I tossed my purse of treats onto the bedside table, resolving to put them in their rightful place later.
I flopped down onto the luxurious bed and groaned, feeling myself sink into the softness of the mattress.
Of the down comforter. Of the pillows that cradled me while I slept.
“So fucking good,” I moaned.
I lay there and felt myself falling asleep.
My body was ready for an afternoon nap. However, I wasn’t ready to take it.
I slid off the bed, walked over to the window, and threw back the curtains.
I cracked it open just a smidge. Just enough for the saltiness of the ocean in the distance to filter into my room.
Sure, the smells of the city came along with it. But it was worth it.
And if I paid close attention, I could hear the echoing of the waves crashing against those sharp shorelines.
I put all my snacks away on top of the fridge and stuck the sodas in the freezer. I pulled out my phone just in case someone called and then ripped off my boots. My jean shorts came off, and I slipped my bra out from underneath my dress. Then, I slipped underneath the covers of the bed.
I was just about to fall asleep for good when my phone vibrated on my bedside table.
“Hello?” I asked groggily.
Bronx chuckled. “Hello, sleepyhead.”
My eyes shot open. “Bronx. Hey.”
“I didn’t mean to disturb your nap.”
“No, no, no. You’re fine. Promise.”
I leaned up in bed as he cleared his throat.
“So, how did the search go?” he asked.
I sighed. “It didn’t yield anything. Though, I kind of figured it wouldn’t.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t know. I think this city is protecting her too. Maybe I’m not supposed to find her.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
He paused. “Can I come over? I mean, you’re back at your hotel, right?”
“Seeing as you caught me on the cusp of a nap, I’d say yes,” I said, giggling.
“Good. Can I come back over?”
“Sure. You’re more than welcome. I’m in room 902.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
We hung up the phone and I lay there on pins and needles.
I kept my ears trained on the noises outside, flinching and jumping at everything that could have been interpreted as a motorcycle sound.
But when I heard Bronx roaring down the street, I sprung out of bed.
I paced the room, my heart slamming against my chest. And after almost twenty minutes of being strung out to dry, a knock came at my door.
“It’s me,” Bronx said.
I strode over to the door and ripped it open. And there he stood in all his glory with that damn leather jacket stretched across those muscles. I smiled up at him before I stepped off to the side, allowing him to come into the room. The man was massive, and he made the room seem so small.
Hell, he was practically a double bed in his own right.
“I’m sorry. For earlier,” he said.
I closed the door and locked it and then turned back to him.
“I promise, you have nothing to apologize for. It’s not a big deal. I get it,” I said.
“I know. It’s just…”
The sentence trailed off as my eyes met his.
“It’s just what?” I asked softly.
His eyes rushed down my body, and I flushed underneath his gaze.
I licked my lips, wondering what he was thinking.
Did he want to kiss me again? Because I sure as hell wanted to kiss him again.
Did he want to touch me? Holy shit, I hoped he did.
I wanted to feel those big, strong arms around me again.
Wrapping around my waist and picking me up clear off my damn feet.
“I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of the kind of man I am,” Bronx said.
I furrowed my brow. “What impression do you think I’d get?”
“That I’m someone here to manipulate you. To mislead you in some way.”
“Well, are you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then don’t. It’s as simple as that.”
He walked toward me, his dark brown eyes locking with mine.
His jet-black hair fell into his face as he stopped only inches shy of my body.
I pushed myself away from the door, closing the distance between us.
And as I craned my neck up to keep his gaze in view, his hand came up and cupped the back of my head.
No, not cupped.
Cradled.
Like he was holding something precious.
“I’m working on it. I promise,” he whispered.
I nodded softly. “I know you are.”
His face fell to mine, and my eyes closed. His lips pressed against me, and fireworks ignited in my brain. My hands came up to grip his leather jacket, feeling the roughness of the zipper against my palms. His arms cloaked my back as he walked forward, pressing me against the door of my hotel room.
And when I slipped my tongue into his mouth, he reached up and flipped the last lock on the door.