Levi shoved her at Hang Nail and punched a number into his cell phone as he walked toward the motel reception area. Hang Nail gripped her shoulders hard. “Don’t think about running,” he growled.
Lana snorted her derision. As if she would leave Kickstand or stand a chance on foot with eight Wolverines hovering around her.
Levi returned and threw Hang Nail two sets of keys. “The Fanelli brothers said they’ll be here at dusk with her passport and a trailer to load up our bikes for the border crossing. They’ll take us to the smugglers’ trail after the sun sets. It’s just off Zero Avenue and runs the full length of Langley. The rest of the guys can cross like normal and meet us in Blaine.”
Hang Nail frowned. “Why can’t we take our bikes?”
Levi clamped a hand around Lana’s neck and shoved her in the direction of the motel. “There’s a huge ditch between the two countries. Too wide to jump with our Cruisers. It’s heavily policed but the Fanellis know where and when to cross on foot.”
“So we have some time to kill.” Hang Nail and Levi exchanged a glance that chilled Lana’s blood.
Levi laughed. “You and the boys can keep the prospect entertained. I’m going to reacquaint myself with my wife.”
“Don’t forget. No visible marks,” Hang Nail called as Levi dragged her to the motel.
Levi’s gaze found hers and he snickered. “Not a problem. Hidden wounds hurt the most.”
“What’s taking so long?” Jackie tapped her spoon on the table in the motel’s tiny coffee shop. “Why didn’t we just steal a car and chase after them? Why do we have to wait for Ryder? We could go and buy a car or go to an auto shop and get new tires. I would even take a bus. They could be in the US by now.”
Jackie’s anxiety was fuel to James’s fire. Not for the first time in the last hour did he wonder if he’d made the right choice to wait for Ryder. What if Levi hurt her, touched her or…worse. He slammed a mental wall down and pushed the betraying thoughts away. If he didn’t stay clear and focused, he would be no use to anyone, especially Lana.
“They can’t cross the border during the day,” James said. “Especially at a border crossing. Too risky. They’ll have to lie low until dark and my guess is they’ll find somewhere else to cross. We can’t take them on alone. We need help and firepower. The Wolverines aren’t going to hand her over without a fight. Ryder said he would meet us here. I believe him. I’ve already called the local police and they’re on the lookout too.”
Jackie snorted her disdain. “Seriously? You’re gonna put Lana’s life at risk because you’re that sure Ryder will show? Didn’t he also tell you he was going after Kickstand? He hasn’t answered any of my texts or calls, so he’s already zero for one hundred in my book. And I’ll tell you something else. He’s not who he appears to be. You sleep with a guy and you get some insight into who they really are. Ryder has a whole lot of mystery going on.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Although he wasn’t one to talk relationships, he was perversely glad for the distraction of Jackie’s conversation.
Jackie lowered her eyes and stared down at her lap. “It’s over between us,” she said quietly. “I didn’t tell Lana because she’s got enough stress in her life. He’s a great guy. Nothing like the bikers I knew. We got along well. He wanted to take things further. But…” she picked up her coffee cup and took a sip, “…he wasn’t the one. Sounds stupid, I know.”
“Doesn’t sound stupid at all.” James glanced down at his watch and drummed his fingers on his thigh under the table. He would give Ryder thirty more minutes and then they would head into town and rent a car. Thirty more minutes of distraction. “So, tell me about the one.”
Jackie shrugged. “I don’t mind playing around, but…I had a couple of bad experiences before I met Lana. Life’s too short to put up with that crap. If I’m gonna open myself up, then I need to know I’ve found the one. Someone who lights up my life and makes my heart sing. All that stuff. So that no matter what life throws at us, I’ll know, in the end, we’ll wind up together. I told that to Ryder. He was cool with it.”
James raised an eyebrow. “You weren’t his one either?”
“I’m thinking not. And that’s a good thing.” Jackie glanced up at the clock and then dialed Lana’s number for the umpteenth time that morning. When she didn’t get an answer, she dropped her phone on the table with a sigh. “Let’s go, J. I can’t take it anymore. I’ve been doing my best to keep us distracted, but I’m too damn worried. And if something happens to her while we’re sitting around, I’ll never forgive myself.”