Page 80 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

“Damon!” Jasper shouts. “Cops!”

Shit.

I run back to Blake and scoop her into my arms, ignoring the man’s gurgled cries filling the air. Once I’m outside, I hear the wail of sirens getting closer.

Blake has gone limp and quiet, with blank eyes and trembling parted lips. I run around my car and gingerly sit her in the passenger seat, buckling her belt before hurrying to my side.

Kicking the car into drive, I peel around the corner, searching for Leon’s bike. When I see it missing, I sigh in relief. They must have made it out right before us.

As I turn onto the main road, I spot a black sedan without plates speeding away in the opposite direction. It takes one look at Blake to stop myself from going after them. Those scumbags don’t deserve to go free. Fuck, it kills me. But she’s more important.

I head in the direction of the prearranged site, a cheap motel near the highway. The apartment is no longer safe, and knowing that some of them left the warehouse alive, I’m even more affirmed in our choice to abandon the place.

It takes about thirty minutes to get to the rundown motel, but the stunned silence in the car makes it feel longer. I know Blake needs to process what’s happened, so I don’t push her to talk. I just keep a hand on her thigh like an anchor, letting her know I’ve got her. I won’t let her float out to sea.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Leon’s bike parked near the office entrance. This place should allow us to fade into the background, plus they don’t ask for ID and they take cash. Checking my phone, I notice a text from Falin. She checked us into room numbers ten and eleven. Smart of Leon to park away from our doors. I follow his lead and do the same.

With Blake in my arms, I take stock of the surroundings. The cracked concrete walkway is teeming with weeds that have pushed their way to the surface. Crushed broken glass is scattered around like fairy dust, while empty beer bottles lean against the rust-covered siding. There are only two other cars in the lot, an old pickup and a white minivan. Both look like they’ve been here a while from the layer of dirt on their windows.

I knock twice and Falin swings the door wide, a panicked expression on her face. “Oh shit, is she okay?”

“I think so, but she’s in shock.”

Leon’s sitting at a dilapidated desk in the back of the room, clicking furiously on his laptop while simultaneously checking his phone screen. He turns at our arrival and jumps up. “Fuck, is she alright? Bring her here.” He yells toward the bathroom. “Jas, start the hot water.”

Blake stares ahead, not meeting their eyes. I continue rubbing calming circles on her back. Leon comes up behind me and runs his palm over her blood-stained cheek. I breathe out. “Thank fuck you guys got out okay.”

“It was close, but we took a bunch of them out. They clearly knew we were coming. No idea how.” Leon kisses Blake’s forehead and backs away. “No idea who called the cops either.”

Jasper comes out of the bathroom, rubbing a towel over his damp face. His clothes are covered in brown dried blood. When he spots Blake in my arms, his shoulders slump and his nostrils flare. “Is she?—”

“She’s alright,” I tell him before he has the chance to ask. “Just shocked and exhausted. Let’s get her cleaned up and we can catch each other up. Falin, you grabbed the stuff from the apartment, right?”

“Yeah, whatever I could fit in Mrs. Langston’s car.” She pulls the drape over an inch to peer out the window. “You’re sure you weren’t followed?”

“As sure as I can be,” I say.

“Falin?” Blake says in a hushed tone. Falin’s at our side in a second, speaking low to her best friend.

“Why don’t you let me take care of Blake while you guys catch up?” My arms tighten around her, but Falin’s right. She’s better for this and clearly Blake needs her. I nod, and bring Blake into the bathroom, placing her down on the closed toilet lid.

I bend so I’m eye level with Blake but my gaze volleys between the two of them. “If you need anything, I’ll be right out there.” With a soft kiss on Blake’s forehead, I step out, closing the door behind me.

Jasper’s pacing the room, clenching his fists, while Leon is back to his screens. I slump down onto the edge of the bed and release a long winded, “Fuck.”

“What room did you find her in?” Jasper asks. “Tell us everything that happened once we separated.”

I spend the next few minutes recounting how I kept to the edges, searching offices and closets, until I finally found her in a large warehouse storeroom. I filled them in on what I heard in the moments before I found Blake covered in her brother’s blood. What that guy said.

“What do you think you’re doing? You think because you’re Sweeper, you’re above me? Above my uncle’s own flesh and blood? You’re wrong.”

Sweeper—the guy we have been looking for this entire time has been right where we thought. The address was correct. He was just better than most at hiding his true nature.

Jasper and Leon are stunned still, taking in this new development.

“So the guy who shot him? Was it the same guy from the club? King?” Leon asks.

I nod. “The same piece of shit. From what he said, his uncle is involved. Seems like that’s who we really want.”

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