“I’m freezing. When are we going to stop?” Penni complained through chattering teeth.
“Not for another hour.”
She gaped as he tugged off his leather jacket, holding it out for her to slip on.
Penni tried to move away, shaking her head. “You’ll get cold.”
He ignored her, zipping up the jacket then getting back on his motorcycle. “I’ll be fine.”
Jackal carefully watched the speeding traffic then skillfully maneuvered back onto the road.
Penni felt as if her ass was numb, and her head would fall off. She pressed into his back, hoping to share her warmth. She didn’t know why it bothered her that he might get cold.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she felt strangely secure despite the traffic. She had ridden with Shade a few times, and Jackal was almost as good. She would grudgingly admit he might even be better, but Shade was her big brother, and Penni had hero-worshipped him since she had been old enough to walk.
She was relieved to see Hennessy taking an exit with several hotel and food signs an hour later.
Jackal had ridden in the middle of the pack, surrounded front and back by the Road Kingz. The large group of bikers riding down the road were an impressive sight. Penni would have appreciated it much more if she been there willingly.
Penni attempted to get off the motorcycle when they pulled in front of the hotel.
“Wait.”
“My butt is killing me,” Penni protested yet remained seated at Jackal’s order.
“It won’t take long.”
Thankfully, Cruz came out of the office not long after, handing out room keys.
Penni wanted to cry in relief when Jackal parked his bike in front of a room. Every muscle in her body ached as she slid off the motorcycle. She didn’t know how she was going to make it three more days.
When she had ridden to Treepoint with Jackal, she hadn’t appreciated how easy he had taken it on her, giving her time to rest and more breaks. Hennessy didn’t give her the same consideration. He was pushing her on his timetable, not caring how uncomfortable he was making her.
Jackal took her arm to steady her. Penni was self-conscious as he led her to the hotel room.
She looked around the room when Jackal flipped on the light switch. It was much cleaner than she had expected.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Penni tightened her lips as Jackal strode across the room. His lean body moved with ease despite riding on the motorcycle as long as her. He went through another doorway, and a light came on.
“It’s through there.” He raised a brow at her resentful expression.
Penni waited for him to step to the side before going inside and closing the door behind her.
Mumbling to herself, she relieved her aching bladder then washed up with the clean washcloth. When she finished, she sat down on the side of the tub.
The tiny room didn’t even have a window. How could she escape if they didn’t give her the freaking chance? Her normally cheerful attitude was cracking under the strain.
She heard male voices outside the door then the front door closing.
“Cruz is getting us some food.”
Yippee!
Penni didn’t respond.
Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her useless cell phone. As they had left the Road Kingz’ clubhouse, she had seen it sitting on top of a trash can. She had refused to get on the back of Jackal’s bike until he had gone back inside and retrieved it for her.
“Hennessy took the SIM card, so it won’t work.”
She had snatched it from his hand with a genuine smile.
She was more upset about the loss of her contact list and pictures that she’d never had the time to get printed. Penni was hoping that, when Hennessy released her, he would give the SIM card back.
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. The universe had gifted the huge man with an arrogant nature. It was no wonder he was the president; his size alone made it difficult to stand up to him.
Penni ran her thumb over the black screen, tempted to throw it against the wall. As an alternative, she tucked it back inside her pocket.
“You’re not the only one who needs to take a piss.” The sound of Jackal’s voice on the other side of the door had her rising up to open the door.
“Sorry.”
Jackal tilted his head. “I get an apology two days in a row? I’m amazed.”
She removed his jacket, handing it back to him. “Thank you for letting me borrow it.”
“You sick?”
Penni frowned in confusion. “No, why?”
He shrugged. “I thought you would have to be stinking drunk to say anything nice to me.”
Before she could reply, he went inside the bathroom.
Ashamed, she sat down on the bed, folding her legs crisscrossed. It took her several minutes before she realized she might have a chance to escape. She was about to jump from the bed when Jackal came back into the room. Folding her legs again, she resumed her meditation position.