Axel
It was dark by the time I rolled into Elko, but the diner was right on the main drag. Easy to find, even though half the lights on the sign were out.
I parked in front of the run-down building and swung off my bike. The windows glowed in the darkness, and a couple came out carrying to-go boxes. The woman cast a wary glance my direction, and I grinned at her. She nudged the guy with her, and they hurried to their car.
The inside was just as dingy and dated as the outside. Worn-out tables and chairs, threadbare carpet. Most of the tables were empty, and a sign in front read Seat Yourself.
I picked a table near the back where I could see the whole place. No Summer, but I might have gotten there too late. Or on her day off. Didn’t matter. I’d grab a motel and stick around. She’d come to work eventually.
A middle-aged guy who hadn’t figured out his beer gut was too big for his shirt came to my table.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Coke.”
“Menu’s right there.” He gestured to the laminated menus tucked into a stand on one end of the table. “Or do you know what you want?”
“Just a burger.”
“Fries?”
I nodded once.
He left to take my order to the kitchen, and as soon as he stepped away from the table, I saw her.
She stood with her back to me, talking to the customers at a table across the restaurant.
Was it her? Long blond hair in a ponytail.
Wicked curves that could certainly be Summer’s.
My eyes trailed up and down, taking her in, and my lip curled in a sneer.
As much as I hated her, she did have a hot ass.
Maybe I’d have to get my hands on it again. She’d resist, but that would make it fun.
I stared at her while she took the table’s orders.
In about ten seconds, she was going to turn around and see me.
I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.
She thought she could run? Who did she think she was dealing with?
You couldn’t run from us. We were Mayhem. Of course we were going to find her.
She turned, but instead of grinning at her in triumph, my mouth dropped open.
Fucking Cutthroat. It wasn’t her.
Not Summer disappeared into the kitchen. It was tempting to get up and follow her for a closer look, just in case, but I waited. The guy brought my Coke, and a moment later, she emerged again, carrying a tray of drinks to her table.
Definitely wasn’t her, although I could see why Cutthroat thought it might have been. Who knew when he’d actually seen her last, and the waitress did resemble her.
She dropped off the drinks and glanced my direction. I was hardcore staring at her, and she clearly noticed.
Her eyes darted around, like she wasn’t sure if I was looking at her or something else. I didn’t bother glancing away—held her eyes while I took a drink of my Coke. Her lips twitched in a smile.
That was interesting. Maybe it wouldn’t be a wasted trip after all.
The guy brought my food. I ignored him, but every time not-Summer was in view, my eyes were on her. I watched her like a hawk, and she ate it up, casting coy glances in my direction. Finally, after bringing food out to her table, she came over to mine.
Son of a bitch. Her name tag said Summer.
I almost laughed out loud.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, fine.”
“Can I get you anything else?”
Grinning—it was too fucking funny—I looked her up and down again. “How about a drink with you?”
She bit her bottom lip and smiled. “Yeah, sure. I’m off in a few.”
“I’ll wait.”
“What’s your name?”
“Axel.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Summer.”
I nodded at her name tag. “I see that. Let me know when you’re done.”
She looked me up and down again. I could see it in her face. She’d already decided we were fucking later. “I will.”
Nope. Not a wasted trip after all.
I took a drag of my cigarette and blew smoke at the No Smoking sign tacked to the motel room wall. The beat-up armchair was scratchy on my bare ass, but I hadn’t bothered to get dressed yet. Summer lay sprawled out on the bed, passed out. She’d been okay. Nothing to get excited about.
With a soft murmur, she shifted, pulling the sheet over herself before settling back down. My eyes narrowed in a glare. She was looking too comfortable.
And too much like the other Summer.
The coal of anger in my gut flared hot. I’d ridden all that way for a mediocre fuck with a dumbass girl who thought she was staying the night?
What a waste of time. Summer had taken my kid, and I was no closer to finding them. And that seriously pissed me off.
Rage seared through my veins, making me itch for destruction.
I finished my cigarette and dropped the butt in my half-finished beer. I thought about waking the bitch in my bed, but I didn’t give a shit about her. Besides, if she was still there when I got back, I could just fuck her again. Mediocre or not, pussy was pussy.
I got up and tugged on my clothes.
Her eyes cracked open as I slipped on my vest. “What are you doing?”
“Going to get more beer.”
“Should I come?”
“No. Stay there.”
Tucking her hands beneath the pillow, she smiled and let out a contented sigh. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
My teeth ground together. That smile looked too much like the other Summer. It made me want to break a fucking window.
But if I trashed my own motel room, I risked bringing down heat on Mayhem. That was a bad idea.
The diner, however? No one would suspect me of burning it down.
And that was exactly what I was going to do. I couldn’t get retribution from Cutthroat for being wrong about the waitress. Or on Hammer for telling me. But someone had to pay. The fury raging inside me demanded satisfaction.
So the fucking diner would burn.