Page 95 of Resistant

I swallow the lump in my throat remembering how her eyes silently pled with me to leave and raise her sons as my own. I don’t even know what to do with that except to try for her, a little more every day.

I mash the heel of my palm against my eye when I feel a tear threatening to fall. My chest hurts, my entire soul aches for Brynn, and I don’t know how to save her.

The hotel room is even shittier than I expected. Before nightfall, a motorcycle club arrives and parties in the glowing fog.

I’m exhausted. I don’t have the energy to fight. I pull on some pants and step outside. Bikes line the parking spaces outside my door and about 50 people are milling around drinking from a keg and having a good time.

Where the fuck did they get a keg from?

A large man wearing a ripped jacket and scarf tied around his bald head watches the crowd. Patches are sewn haphazardly on his jacket and a long unkempt beard waves in the night breeze. His beard is mostly gray, and he’s old enough to be my father.

I step next to him and watch the others laughing, dancing and talking.

“Hey, man.”

He grunts in my general direction.

“Is there any chance I could sweet talk you into getting your crew into keep it down? I haven’t slept for more than 30 hours, and I gotta get back on the road in about 6 hours.”

He looks over me silently, tapping his forefinger on his thigh while he studies me.Fuck. I don’t want a fight.

“What’s your name?”

“Declan.”

He reaches out to shake my hand, and I grip his firmly.

“Any chance you are looking for someone Doc?”

I stiffen and glare at this guy.Does he know who I am? Have I stepped into a rendezvous unintentionally? There is no way this motherfucker knows who I am.

“You are about 3 days shy of the coordinates, so I’m not sure if you are lost, or if you’ve been sent by the Reform.”

I blink at him. Suddenly, all the chaos behind me quiets into complete silence.Motherfucker. This is not going to be good.I stare at this dude. I am so totally fucked. How does he know about the coordinates? And what do I do? I don’t know who my mole is, and I don’t know if I can trust anyone.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. Either way, if this doesn’t work out well for me tonight, I’ll end up at the bottom of a lake with rocks tied to my wrists and ankles. I take a deep breath and stare into this guy’s eyes.Fuck it.

“Larry?”

He laughs, full on laughs, the motherfucker. And I don’t know if I’m about to get hugged, or knifed. Turns out he does neither, he slugs me on the back a few times and I choke on my spit.

“Where is Brynn, Doc?”

I almost fall to my knees, and I send out a prayer to the universe that this guy will not fuck me over.

“Knox won’t let go of her. I’m going back for her, but I need backup and resources.”

“Leave this piece of shit car here, and we’ll take you to the ranch and get you set up. We have lots of plans for you to help fix this situation and get Brynn out. You need to hold tight and trust me.”

“Fuck man.”

“Doc, you are the only person she will come to. We need you, and we need her. You are safe with us.”

A woman approaches and lays a hand on my shoulder.

“Nice to meet you Doc. I’m Nancy, you’ll be riding bitch with me tomorrow. You should get some sleep. Hey Larry, you didn’t tell me that Doc is so pretty.”

I shake my head in disbelief at this woman. She’s 95 pounds soaking wet with salt and pepper curls and seemingly a badass attitude.

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