Page 40 of Talk to Me

Smart.

Not that it would do her any good. I had one arm wrapped around her and locked over her throat as I gripped her gun arm with my free hand and kept it aimed at the bed. She slammed her head backwards, but I was ready for that move.

She impacted a few times against my collarbone. Definitely gonna leave a bruise, but it didn’t affect my hold. I increased the chokehold. Squeezing tighter.

Even with the suppressor on, the gun sounded unnaturally loud in the room as she fired at the bed.

Four bullets before she slumped. I didn’t let up until her hand spasmed and dropped the gun. Another thirty seconds, because playing possum would be smart.

With that in mind, I didn’t waste time getting her restrained and tape over her mouth. I emptied my larger suitcase after sizing her up then stuffed her inside it. It was going to be a tight fit, but she was on the tinier side.

I had her packed, secured and my weapons ready in under fifteen minutes. Checking my bugs, I could hear them, breathing, moving, and occasionally farting.

These men needed new diets.

That much gastrointestinal distress could not be good for them.

I was about to walk the suitcase out to one of the rental cars when a familiar sound of a door hitting a safety bar hit me.

“Maid service,” a woman called.

“Not interested,” Locke replied. “There’s a do not disturb.”

“Oh, I’m sorry?—”

Yeah, I didn’t believe in coincidences. I texted him at the number he’d given us with a warning and sent another one to McQuade, then invited them to the cabin I’d rented further up the mountain with or without their plus ones.

I had questions for mine.

The sounds of the struggles echoed in my ears as I headed out and down the hall—a fresh do not disturb sign on the door. The smell of gunpowder was going to linger in that room. I’d have to pick up a new bed topper thing and then just replace the sheets.

As long as they left everything where it was, the new mattress cover and topper should hide it. Long enough to disappear. The ID I’d checked in with would be burned, but a small price to pay.

I whistled when I hit the door for outside and because a complaint came from inside the bag. Another followed when I bounced it down three stairs.

No one was around though and when she landed in the trunk. I leaned closer to say, “I’d work on breathing, and keeping it nice and shallow. Not sure how much carbon monoxide this car emits. Could be a bit nauseating.”

I patted the bag, then closed the trunk before I headed around to slide into the driver’s seat. The sound of smashing glass, and grunting echoed over my earbuds.

They were going to be paying some fines on their rooms. Still humming, I pulled out of the parking lot.

Chapter

Thirteen

PATCH

Consciousness hit like a brick. Or maybe it was the bare stone floor I landed on. My arms screamed as feeling rushed through them once again. The buzzing of murder hornets determined to destroy me. A sob stuck in my throat because frankly, everything hurt—including crying.

The cold, unforgiving stone actually felt good against me. It wouldn’t for long. I’d begin to shiver. Then stiffen. It seemed like a mercy. But there wasn’t a merciless bone in these assholes bodies.

Not a single one.

I tried to lick my lips but there was no moisture in my mouth. As it was, my tongue wanted to stick to my lips. Yeah, that wasn’t good.

They gave me water periodically. Sometimes food.

Right? They gave me something to eat now and?—

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