Hard Bastard(44)

I had to get out of that room. I put on some jean shorts and a black top, pulling my hair back in a tight braid. I paused, staring down at the small pistol Gage had left for me. He told me I should use it only if I absolutely had to, but he didn’t have anything to say about me leaving the hotel room.

I slipped it into the waist of my jean shorts just like Gage did and draped my shirt overtop of it. Nobody was going to notice the bulge, and if they did, nobody would care. Ashertown was a gun-toting town, and practically everyone carried.

I probably would know how to shoot better if we had stayed instead of moving away. My father wouldn’t have liked that, but I was positive boys would have taken me out to the range anyway. Maybe even Gage would have. Instead, we went out to Seattle and I never shot a gun.

I couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. On the one hand, it was better that I lived my life not needing to shoot a gun at all. On the other, now suddenly I needed to know but I had absolutely no experience.

It didn’t matter. I was carrying the gun. It made me feel better, even if I probably wasn’t going to use it at all. I briefly thought about how I almost shot Gage the day before, but I was past being that jumpy. I was going to keep myself calm and centered for this.

I stepped outside onto the balcony and took a deep breath. I looked both ways and it seemed clear, so I walked down the walkway and took the steps fast. Once in the parking lot, I walked along the edges, staying away from the middle where I was easily visible.

I didn’t know what I was doing. I was trying to be sneaky, but really I probably just looked like a crazy person. The diner was back down the road a few minutes, and since Gage took the car, I was going to have to walk.

I didn’t mind. It was a beautiful day and there weren’t many cars out on the road. I walked slowly, taking my time, trying to enjoy what little bit of nature I could.

The diner was about ten minutes down the road. I spotted it ahead and picked up my pace, suddenly starving again. I made it without any issue and walked in the front door.

Fifteen minutes later, I had a to-go bag with a cheeseburger and fries waiting to be devoured. I debated whether I wanted to eat at the counter or not, but I figured I needed to get back in case Gage showed up. I headed back up the road, smiling to myself, feeling halfway decent for the first time since all this happened.

I let myself daydream. I thought about what my body felt like up against Gage’s, the way he took me so easily, his thick cock between my legs. He dominated me so completely and I loved it. His broad shoulders pressed me up against the bed while his skillful hands explored my skin. I got wet just thinking about him touching me, which was totally unheard of for me. Usually I could control myself. People said I was a cool customer, not showing my emotions, playing my cards close to my chest. But with Gage I felt like it was all out in the open for him to take, and he knew exactly what to do with me.

As I walked, a car passed me. It was a large black SUV, and it was driving pretty slowly. I glanced at it sideways, wondering what the heck it was doing, but I couldn’t see the people inside. The windows were tinted practically black.

The car kept driving, though. I shook my head, keeping myself steady. I took a deep breath and went back to daydreaming about Gage.

He was surprisingly tender for a man that loved to be so rough. Whenever we spoke, he was so gentle with my feelings, though he didn’t seem to be bullshitting me. He was honest and soft in a way I never expected for such a hard man. The way he touched my hand and held me after we fucked said so much more than anything he could possibly say out loud. I even caught him looking at me once like he was surprised to see me lying there next to him.

He looked at me like he did when we were still teenagers. It was that adoring look, filled with lust and admiration. Nobody had ever looked at me that way before, and it made me feel good, deep down to my core.

Ahead, I saw the motel looming up through the trees. I started walking up the long driveway, heading toward the parking lot. I couldn’t wait to get back to the room just so that I could devour my food. I felt so silly for being so hungry and leaving the room when it was probably pretty dangerous, but I couldn’t help myself.

Just then, that black SUV came back. At least it looked like the same one. I couldn’t be sure, but it drove past me again, going slowly.

I got a really bad feeling. I started walking quickly back to my room, nearly jogging. My heart started beating fast in my chest, and I realized that I was being more than just silly.

I was being straight up stupid.

I should never have left my room. I should have stayed hidden there until Gage got back. This was such a stupid risk and all for a cheeseburger. I just wasn’t used to living my life like the mafia was trying to kill me, which they absolutely were trying to do.