Page 14 of Outlaws’ Runaway

Crank sighs as we step onto the porch.

“What?” I ask.

“Would be cooler if we could slam the door.”

A crazy laugh bursts out of me. But what happens now? Will they take the money? Or bring me back? Or both?

I don't know, and it's terrifying.

7

PAIGE

“I gotus two doubles with a door between,” Poe says as he comes out from the motel office.

“That works.” Savage takes one of the key cards, and leads the way.

After finding the money and dealing with Neil, the decision was made to grab food and crash for the night, leaving the hard talk for the morning. I didn’t think I was hungry until the van filled with the smell of fast food burgers and fries. Much to their amusement, I practically inhaled mine, and on the ride to the motel, my eyes closed and I didn’t wake up until the van stopped.

It’s a typical highway motel, shaped like a capital L with rooms that open to the outside and face an inground pool in the courtyard. Nothing fancy and straight out of the nineteen eighties, but it seems safe enough. A small, tired part of me imagines sneaking out during the night with the bag under my arm. I could let the air out of their tires and be long gone by the time they wake up. It’s a pretty fantasy, but I don't think they'll give me the chance.

Even if I managed to get away, where am I going? I know for sure now that people are after me, and while my sample size is small, I’m not sure I want to take my chances on who would find me next. Savage, Crank and Poe have quickly become the devils I know. It isn’t smart, but I want to trust them.

Crank yawns. “I'm fucking beat.”

Savage nods. “Yeah, but we gotta talk and I want to check in with Prez. You good with taking the first shift with Paige tonight, Crank? We'll set her up in one room, and then we'll discuss in the other, but after that I want eyes on her the whole time.”

“Sounds good.”

They let me shower and change in the bathroom while Crank sits guard outside. I don’t know how much time I spend under the hot water, but it’s enough to turn my fingers into prunes. Living above Mike’s garage came with the use of his downstairs bathroom, but it was made very clear to me that he was keeping an eye on the water and electricity. It can’t wipe away the memory of fighting for my life behind the diner, or of everything that came after, but it’s a start.

As soon as I leave the bathroom, Crank holds up a pair of handcuffs and jingles them. “Sorry, honey, but for the moment we have to play it safe.”

I’m too tired to be upset, and it doesn’t really surprise me that they don’t trust me not to try and run because I might. Heck, I was already daydreaming about it. I hold up my arm. “Let’s get this over with.”

Crank chuckles. He clicks one end closed around my wrist and the other around a support post near the bottom of theheadboard. “You know, back at the club, there's plenty of sluts who'd beg me to do this.”

I glare up at him. “Well if that’s what you want, then you should’ve taken Lee and her friends up on their offer earlier. And who the heck says slut anymore? The nineties called, they want your misogyny back.”

“Whoa, hold the fuck up. Let’s get a few things straight. First, I ain’t got shit against what anyone chooses to do with their own body, but if I want pussy, I don’t need to pay for it.” He leans in close, his blue eyes locked onto mine. “Second, I know you’ve clocked our cuts. The three of us are full, blooded members of the Outlaw Sons MC. It’s not always the prettiest life, and the only way out is in a bag, but there’s plenty of women who enjoy the kind of men we are. Slut is just slang for the ones that become regulars. No harm meant and they don’t give a shit.”

I feel a little stab of guilt. “I'm… I'm sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

“Yeah you fucking did, but I get it. You don’t know us for Jack. You’re how old?”

“Twenty,” I say defensively. I feel like I’ve aged about a decade in the past six months.

“Shit, even Poe has a couple years on you. Go to sleep, kid. Tomorrow’s problems aren’t going anywhere.”

“I’m not a kid,” I grumble, trying to get comfortable.

Crank helps pull the blanket up for me and brushes a lock of hair off my forehead, lightly running his fingers over my scalp. “I know. A lot can happen in twenty years. We're gonna be right next door. Got some talking to do. Like Savage said, we’ll taketurns keeping an eye on you, so if you wake up, don’t freak the fuck out.”

I yawn. They’re worried I’m going to try and escape, but right now I feel safer than I have in a long time. “I won’t.”

Crank shakes his head, a strange look on his face. “Maybe you should.”

For a while I pretend to sleep, trying to hear what they’re saying in the other room, but their voices are deep and quiet, so all I hear is a soothing rumble. Listening to the relaxed, friendly way they talk makes me a little wistful. I haven’t had anything like that since I finished school. Slowly, steadily, I float off to sleep.

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