Page 52 of Menace in Vegas

Allie visibly withers while I immediately nod. I don’t care if they have fifty rooms available. There’sno fucking wayI’m leaving Allie alone in this creepy hellhole.

I pay in cash.

Allie hisses under her breath. "Oh my God, we’re actually going to get murdered."

I sling an arm around her shoulders. "Don’t worry, sweetheart," I murmur. "I’d never let anyone lay a hand on my wife."

She mutters curses, threatening to stab me.

I grin, having the time of my life.

She showers first while I lounge on the bed, tryingnotto think about her naked.

By the time she’s done, she’s still rattled.

"Need coffee," she mutters, grabbing her wallet.

“Just hold up.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed. “Let me grab a shower before it storms, and I’ll go with you.”

She sinks onto the bed, which I take as a sign she’s listening.

For once.

I strip in record time and jump beneath the lukewarm spray.

I’m in such a hurry that I forgot to grab my body wash, so I use hers.

I’m lathered up when I hear the door slam.

“Allie?” I yell.

Silence.

I rinse, shut the water off, and wrap a towel around myself.

I’m dry and dressed in no time.

“Allie?” I yank the bathroom door open.

The room is empty.

“Fuck,” I run a hand through my damp hair. “Why is she so goddamn stubborn?”

* * *

The coffee shopis a few doors down.

I practically jog to get there.

Call it a gut feeling. Intuition. Whatever. But something feelsverywrong.

I yank the door open, my eyes roaming over the small, mostly empty place.

No sign of her.

“What the fuck?”

The gnawing feeling in my gut sharpens into a blade.

---