Cade jumped out first to help the women out. Bailey took her time, clinging to Cade much longer than necessary. Next was Jane, who felt a spark of electricity as his hands circled her waist when he lifted her to the ground. Killyama moved next to her, not wanting help to exit.
“Killyama!” Jane and her friend both turned around at Train’s yell.
“Remember our deal. I’ll be calling it in soon.”
“Deal with this!” Killyama shouted above the roar of the blades, making an obscene gesture before jumping out of the helicopter.
Jane noticed the wary look on her friend’s face as they waited for the helicopter to take off with The Last Riders inside.
“How did you get them to help?” Jane asked, watching them fly away, no doubt heading straight home to Kentucky as soon as they dropped off the helicopter.
“You don’t want to know. Put it this way, you owe me one, bitch.”
“I already knew that.” Jane smiled at her friend.
The four went down a flight of stairs before finding an elevator.
“Your dad is here. He’s booked several rooms for us to stay in until we can get a flight out.”
The elevator reached their floor, and Killyama led them to a suite. When the door opened, Bailey broke away from them, running to their father who stood up from a chair.
“Bailey!” Her father embraced Bailey with tears in his eyes. “My baby.”
Jane stood by, feeling like a third wheel. After several minutes, he turned with his arm around Bailey.
“Jane.” He held out his free arm to her. Jane stepped forward, letting her father embrace her for a moment before stepping away.
“Are you two all right?” he asked, gazing down at Bailey.
“I’m fine. Jane is, too,” Bailey answered. “What I need is some food and something cold to drink.”
He laughed. “I’ll order it now. What would you like?”
Bailey gave her father a large order, which he relayed to room service.
“Jane?”
“Anything is fine, but I’ll take a hamburger if they have it.”
“Cade?”
“I’ll grab something later. What I want is a shower and a bed.”
“Of course.” Her father finished their order before hanging up the phone, and then he went to a side table, handing Cade a card key to his own room. “Thanks, Cade.”
Cade nodded before turning to leave without saying a word of goodbye.
Jane swallowed back the lump in her throat.
“Wait, Cade. Don’t forget you promised me dinner when we got back,” Bailey stopped him.
“I remember. I’ll meet you downstairs tonight at eight,” he said, going out the door.
She felt the silent scrutiny of Killyama as Bailey gave a bright smile to their father.
“I think I’ll grab a quick shower while we wait for the food,” Jane said, wanting to escape from her friend’s watchful gaze.
“Certainly.” Her father pointed to a doorway. “You can take that one. Bailey, the one next to it.”
The women separated. Jane went into the bedroom, aware that Killyama was following on her heels.
“I packed you a bag,” Killyama said, throwing herself down on the bed.
“Thanks for everything.” Jane shut the bedroom door.
“You’re welcome, but you’re still not out of trouble with me.”
“I know.” Jane grimaced in dread as she opened the suitcase. She pulled out a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and knee-high, black leather boots. Killyama had picked the clothes she usually wore around her friends, not the more conservative ones she wore around her father and work.
She showered then changed as Killyama took her turn in the shower.
As Killyama was getting dressed, she stared at her intently.
“What?” Jane asked.
“Nothing.” Her friend shrugged, putting on her boots. “Cade’s a good-looking man.”
“Yes, he is,” Jane acknowledged.
“You fuck him?”
Her bluntness didn’t startle Jane. “No, he’s a mean person.” Jane licked her dry lips. “Besides, Bailey has her eyes on him.”
“So what?”
“You know what Bailey’s like when she wants something.”
“She been up to her old tricks?”
“No, she’s too scared of you and the rest of the girls to be too nasty to me.”
Killyama relaxed her fighting stance. “So, what’s the problem, then? You have the same equipment she has.”
“I haven’t decided if I want him yet.”
“Well, you better make your mind up,” she said matter-of-factly. “We’re going home tomorrow, and I’m willing to bet Bailey won’t be sitting around, trying to make up her mind.”