My ear-piercing scream gained attention. Those near me stopped, wondering what was wrong—or perhaps wondering why an old lady had a twelve-inch phallic clutched to her chest.
“Cripes, Mars! You nearly gave me a heart attack. Why did you scream?”
“I’m so sorry, Sylvia. I was scared, and then you grabbed my arm.”
“I was trying to get your attention,” she said. “So many people out tonight.”
Jack bulldozed his way out to the sidewalk. “Did you scream? Are you okay?”
“Sylvia scared me,” I said. “Did you hear me inside?”
“The whole club did.” He glanced at Sylvia, only to have to stare at her again. “Why are you holding that?”
I felt his presence. Brett. He was here. It wasn’t the cold chill I had felt before at the gas station. This was a warm warning. Brett was close, and if Jack heard my scream from inside the bar, Brett was sure to have heard it.
“We’re drawing too much attention,” I said. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”
“What about the bar? Dinner?” Sylvia asked.
“Brett’s here. I can’t stay.”
Jack and Sylvia quickly scanned the crowd. “Where?” they both asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve been able to feel his presence before. I feel it again. He’s close.”
Without further explanation, Jack and Sylvia walked on either side of me, closing the gaps. We tried to hurry to the hotel only a short distance away, but our progress was slow as we weaved through the milling crowd.
“I can’t believe he found us so fast,” Sylvia said.
I believed it. With the entire gang of ladies and bikers helping me, it’d be simple for him. He’d even know what hotel . . .
I halted. “If he’s here, he knows where we’re staying. We’ll walk straight into him.”
“Is there a back door?” Jack asked.
“Should we even attempt it?” Sylvia asked. “We’d be stuck in the building with him.”
“The others are in there,” he said. “It’s no good to anyone if we start splitting up.”
“Let’s check the back, then,” she said. “But as soon as I get to the room, I’m bolting the door.”
I didn’t want to tell her that locking the door to Brett would be useless. It’d be like saying, “don’t cross that line.” He could, and he would. Thankfully, my room was paid for in cash. He’d have a harder time finding me.
“Maybe everyone should move into my room,” I said as we ducked through the alley. “He’ll find the rest of you before he finds me.”
“Have the bikers and the ladies stay with you?” Jack asked as if I was cracked. “That’s sixteen people in one room.”
“That’s okay, Mars,” Sylvia said. “If Brett finds us, we’ll tell him we’re on holiday. I can stall him by giving him a personal tour of my new things,” she said, waving the johnson.
That wouldn’t stall him. It’d make him run. But it also meant that the girls might just be safe. I doubted he’d lay a hand on them. But that was the Brett I thought I knew. There was no telling what hitman Brett Thompson would do.
My heart withered a little more. By the time we reached Boston, I doubt I’d have much of it left.
Harvard!
Harvard was near Boston. I could leave tonight, hide out at Evan’s, and meet up with everyone the next day.
But, how would I get there? Damn. No, it was a bad idea. I couldn’t show up at Evan’s apartment. It wouldn’t be fair to involve him in this.
“I don’t like this,” Sylvia said, her footsteps slowed. “There’s hardly any light back here.”
Jack stopped. “Let’s turn around.”
She nodded. “It’s better out front where there are witnesses.”
We rushed back out to the front and crushed in through the revolving door. It jammed, trapping us. We couldn’t move forward or backward.
“My johnson is stuck,” Sylvia panicked. “My johnson is stuck!”
“Yank it out,” Jack yelled.
“I can’t! It’s stuck!”
“Use the lube,” I hollered, crushed to the window like a splattered bug. I groaned as Sylvia fumbled in her bag, elbowing me in the back.
“It won’t open,” she cried. “I can’t get the seal off.”
“Use your nails,” Jack ordered.
“I tried!”
“Give it here,” Jack growled. In his fight to get the bottle, he also elbowed me in the back. “Shit!”
I felt it as soon as he cursed. The extra-large bottle of love oil rained down, oozing down the glass, trickling down my arms and neck, and coating the floor.
We all hollered as Sylvia’s toy slipped out from the door and we fell into the lobby, sliding to a turbulent stop at the concierge desk.
Groaning again, I stood only to slip in my slick shoes, falling back into a heap on top of Jack.
He cursed. “Take off your shoes, both of you!”
“He’s here,” I squeaked, eyeing Brett across the wide lobby. “Brett’s here!”
I ripped off my shoes, abandoning them as I ran full speed to the closing elevator. “Hurry!” I yelled, punching the open button so Jack and Sylvia could make it in time. As soon as they rushed in, I punched the closed button. “Close, damn it!” I repeatedly hit the button until the doors finally began to move.
I took a breath, relieved that we were safe in the elevator. Right before the doors closed, I looked up and saw Brett still across the lobby. Our eyes met, and it was as if the Sledgehammer had taken a swing at me. His eyes were dark, angry. And then the doors closed.
“As soon as we get to our floor, run to your rooms and warn everyone you can,” I said.
“What about you?” Sylvia asked.
“I have to warn Rand.”
Jack shook his head. “No, I’ll stay with you. I can call Hank and the others from your room.”
I nodded. If he wanted to stay with me, I wouldn’t say no.
The doors opened, and we bolted. Sylvia scurried down one hall, while Jack and I headed to my room down the opposite side. We made it into the room just as the staircase door opened.
Bolting the room door, I leaned against it. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath; my heart pounded as if it wanted to burst from my body.
I felt him again. Brett was right outside the door. Turning, I looked through the peep hole. Brett stood on the other side of the door, staring back at me with furious eyes.
He’d found me.
And then he walked away.
Why? Why would he walk away? He’d found me. Just like I could feel his presence, I also felt his acknowledgment of that connection. He knew I was here. And yet he just walked away. What was his purpose in coming if it wasn’t me?
“Come away from the door,” Jack said. He drug a chair over and wedged it under the handle.
“He’s gone. Brett was standing there, and then he left.”
“If he left, then he’s picking his battles. It’s not like you’d open the door for him. We’ll lie low tonight and meet up with everyone tomorrow.” Jack looked down at himself, covered in lubricant.
I cautiously peek at myself and found we were identically goobered.
He laughed, and I couldn’t help but join him.
“She yelled her johnson was stuck,” Jack sputtered, laughing harder than before.
“You told her to yank it out.”
We crumpled into a fit of giggles. My sides hurt as I fell into silent, body-shaking laughter.
When it subsided, I wiped the tears away, realizing they weren’t only from laughing.
“It’s okay, Mars,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “We’ll figure out what to do. In fact, we should be calling people to warn them.”
I nodded. He was right.
“I’ll start with Hank, Bob, and Mac,” he said. “You call the ladies and make sure they’re okay. Rand too.”
I nodded again and fumbled with my phone. How had all my fingers turned into thumbs?
Jack clasped his hand over mine, steadying them. “Brett’s moved on. You can relax.”
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t relax. He might have moved on but now he was invisible again. He knew where I was, but I had no eyes on him and no idea what he was planning.
Taking a shaky breath, I steadied my hands and dialed Mrs. Janowski. She answered on the first ring.
“Sylvia briefed us on what happened,” she said. “We’ll be on guard all night. What room are you in? We’ll send a biker over.”
“No need,” I said. “Jack is with me.”
“Good. Make sure one of you stays alert at all times. I’ll call you once we have a plan set in place.”
My next call was to Rand. He didn’t answer as quickly as Mrs. Janowski did, but then again, I wasn’t sure if he’d answer my call at all. Over the past day he had been civil to me, almost nice. But I knew not to expect it to last long.
“Why are you calling me on this number? You know Brett can track it,” he barked. “We have adjoining rooms, for God’s sake. Knock on the damn door.”
In my high-adrenaline scatterbrain, I had automatically used my saved contact number without thinking. “I didn’t know if you’d be decent! And why is your phone turned on if you’re so concerned?”
“I forgot Lil and Mike’s number. I turned it on to get it. And then Emily decided to call, whining about poor, fucking Brett. And now you’re calling.” Rand cursed. “The asshole’s going to be breathing down our necks by morning.”
“He already is. I called to tell you he’s here at the hotel. I saw him, and he knows what room I’m in. I just wanted to warn you.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, for now. I’m locked in, and Jack is here.”
“Jack?” Rand questioned. “I knew you had something going on with him.”
“Like anyone in their right mind would get mixed up with me now,” I growled.
“We all have our types,” he muttered. “Knock if something happens.”
“Yes, because I could knock if I died.”
I distinctly heard him curse all women right before he hung up.
“Hank’s not answering his phone,” Jack said, frowning. “Bob and Mac haven’t seen him since he turned in.”
“Maybe he’s sleeping.”
“Possible, but he’s a light sleeper. Any slight noise wakes him up. As a kid, I tried to play tricks on him, but I could never get close enough without waking him.”
“Could his phone be on silent?”
“I thought it might be, so I called the room number. If he was sleeping, it would’ve woken him up.”
“Maybe he’s in the bathroom or getting ice,” I said. “Try again in a few minutes.”
He nodded. “Did you reach everyone?”
“The girls and Rand are fine. Mrs. J. said she would call as soon as they had a plan.”
Jack sat heavily in the chair. “That might take a while.”
“Which is exactly why I’m going to go take a shower. I might as well scrub this lube off me while they argue.”
Jack slid down in the seat, propping his feet up on the table. “Take your time. I’ll shower after you.”
The hotel wasn’t anything special, but it did come with robes, which I was very thankful for. I hadn’t had time to buy clothing, so I’d been spot cleaning as best as I could. But now my clothes needed a serious cleaning. Hand washing would have to do.
I stripped once I was in the bathroom, setting the phone on the counter and dumping my clothes into the sink. Hazarding a peek in the mirror, I cringed. I looked a complete mess. Even without the lubricant in my hair, I’d still look a disaster. I’d been using my fingers as a brush, and there were dark circles under my eyes. Moving to the shower, I turned it on and waited the few moments for it to warm. There was no need to stare in the mirror, torturing myself with how horrible I looked. I had been serious when I’d said I wouldn’t date again. It wasn’t worth it. No man was worth this much pain and misery.
Whispers of what-ifs floated through my mind as I scrubbed my hair, but I locked them away. There’d be no what-ifs, especially about Brett. I was done.
I owned my own home. I had Mrs. Janowski across the street. I had work. Well, technically I didn’t, but that was going to change as soon as I got back, after I found the texter.
Crap! I’d never read the text after Sylvia had scared me and the following chaos.
As I hurried to rinse off, shampoo dripped into my eyes, stinging them. Stupid hotel shampoo. Couldn’t they have bought the no-tear kind? I splashed water into my eyes, trying to rinse out the irritant.
“Are you okay?” Jack asked, knocking on the door.
“Yes, why?” I blinked my eyes rapidly, hoping it would help move the water around.
“Because you sound like you’re in pain.”
I hadn’t realized I was making sounds. “I got soap in my eyes. But come in.”
“Why?” he asked hesitantly.
I would have rolled my eyes, but they were still stinging. “I’m not asking you to get the soap out. I want you to read a text.”
He cracked the door open. “Are you decent?”
“I’m behind the curtain.”
“Okay, don’t come out.”
I poked my head out. “You don’t have to act like the sight of me will cause you to turn to stone.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant I don’t want to see you naked.”
“I think I should be offended, but I don’t want to see you naked either.”
“You sound offended.”
“Because I probably am. I checked the mirror. I know I’m a mess.”
“Let me start over,” he said. “I think of you as family, and you can’t unsee naked. Believe me, I’ve tried many times after seeing Hank.”
“So, seeing me naked would be like seeing Hank naked?”
“I didn’t say that! Christ!”
“Just read the text! I promise not to pop out of the shower and scare you.”
Jack glared at me. “I’m finding a lot of similarities between you and Andrea.”
“Read the text!”
He snatched the phone from the counter.
“Well, what does it say?”
“Are you trying to find me or the gatekeeper? Come if you must, but be careful. Brett and Annie are right behind you. Meet me at ten tomorrow night. Come alone or don’t come at all. I’m watching.” Jack looked up at me. “Is this the same guy who texted you warnings about Brett?”
“Yes. I don’t know how he found me again.”
“According to the message, he’s watching. I have a bad feeling about this guy.”
“I do too, but he’s our only link to the gatekeeper. In fact,” I said, shutting off the shower and reaching for a towel, “he asked if I was looking for him or the gatekeeper. If he knew I was heading to Boston, why would he mention the gatekeeper unless the gatekeeper was in Boston? We’re getting closer.”
“It also means he could warn the gatekeeper. We need to turn back. The risk isn’t worth it.”
“Jack, I have to keep going. With or without your help. If it was just about me, I’d fly to a deserted island and eat coconuts for the rest of my life. But it’s Brett’s family too.”
“Exactly. Brett’s family. Not yours. He’s the one who got everyone into this jam. Let him deal with the repercussions.”
“No. I will not abandon them.”
“So you’ll continue to Boston to find the gatekeeper. What happens when you find him? Are you going to kill him? Because that’s what it will take to stop him.”
“I was hoping to send him to prison.”
Jack laughed. “Do you really think that would stop him? Mars, think for a second. The guy has access to assassins. Prison won’t stop him.”
Jack had a point, I grudgingly admitted to myself. But I couldn’t kill him. I’ve never killed anyone. It’s one thing to fight someone in self-defense. It’s another to take their life. Not that the gatekeeper deserved the life he had. But it wasn’t me who would rip it from him. It had to be prison.
Or . . .
Brett.
Brett could kill the gatekeeper.
“Why do you have that look on your face?” Jack asked.
“I just thought of something.”
“Why do I have a feeling I won’t like hearing it?”
“You said the only way to stop the gatekeeper is by killing him, right?”
“Yes,” he said hesitantly.
“So, we find the gatekeeper, and Brett can do his hitman thing.”
“We’re trying to run from Brett, not hire him.”
“And then he can take out Annie when he’s done.”
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“No, it’s perfect. Brett is already at the hotel, which means Annie is only a step behind. She’ll follow us to Boston. Two hits. One hitman.”
Jack’s fists anchored on his hips. “So, I can just step out into the hall and flag Brett down to ask him if we can hire his services. Would you care to dress before or after that? And what’s to say he won’t lodge one into your brain and walk off. What if he doesn’t want to kill his boss?”
“That’s not his boss,” I said, waving off Jack’s concerns. “I’m on to something here. I just need to plan it properly.”
With a sound of disgust, he tossed up his hands and walked out, snapping the door shut. I stared at the closed door, thinking he couldn’t be too upset—he hadn’t slammed it.
But I was right. Maybe. I had to believe Brett would rather kill the gatekeeper than me.
T had said something. It was around the time Brett said he had to kill me. What was it? Something like, “You know what you have to do.”
Did they already have a plan? Did they know this was going to happen?
I needed to know what T meant. And since Brett already knew where I was, a call to T might prove insightful.