Page 81 of Enforcing the Rules

“Enough,” Utah bit out.

I stared at the silver Chevy Malibu parked in front of door number fourteen. On one side was a corridor with an ice machine and laundry, a set of metal steps going up to the second floor.

“Get out of the car,” I said.

Utah swiveled his head. “What?”

“Get out of the car. I’m going to talk to him.”

“No, you’re not, babe.”

“Yes, I am. What you’re planning may get you killed. He probably has a weapon. He won’t open the door for you.”

“Then I’ll bust the fucking window in.”

I stared at him. “And he’ll be waiting with a gun. You could die. I can’t sit here and let that happen. He’ll open the door for me. I can get inside.”

“You think I’m going to stand by and let you walk in there alone? You’re dreaming, babe. He could take you hostage.”

“Then I’ll get him outside. He still thinks I won big on a scratch-off. Nothing tempts Ray more than money. I’ll get him to come with me.”

“She has a point,” Memphis said at the window.

“Stay out of this,” Utah snapped.

“It beats busting in there and getting shot,” Baja agreed. “There’s only one door in. It’s not like we can surprise him.”

“No way.”

I yanked open my door, and Utah’s hand clamped on my arm. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Utah… He’s not gonna hurt his own daughter,” Memphis murmured.

“You don’t fucking know that. You don’t know what he’s capable of. He stabbed Night Train, didn’t he? And he had the balls to steal from the club.”

“He’s a fool or an idiot,” Baja muttered. “I’ll give you that.”

“He’s more than that. He’s desperate. That makes him unpredictable and deadly,” Utah barked.

Memphis studied the motel. “Are we sure he’s even in there? Could be a different Malibu.”

“Utah, at least let her knock on the door and find out if we’ve got the right guy,” Baja suggested.

Utah worked his jaw. I knew he didn’t want to let me go, but they were right. He looked over at me. “We play this my way. You don’t make a move until the boys and I get in position, and under no circumstances do you step across that threshold. If he comes to the door with a gun, you run. Understand?”

I nodded.

He took my chin. “Promise me.”

“I promise.”

He kissed me and stared into my eyes. “I don’t want anything happening to you.”

“I’ll be safe.”

He got out of the car. The three of them murmured quietly and then jogged across the street to the motel. I saw Memphis take up position behind the Malibu, Baja took up position behind the dumpster across the lot, and Utah leaned against the wall near the ice machine.

I shifted my car into gear and rolled into the lot, parking next to the Malibu. I climbed out and watched the window, but the drapes were drawn, and they didn’t move. I grabbed my purse and walked to the door, saying a prayer this went easy, and no one ended up dead.

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