Obsession (A Bad Boy's Secret Baby)(49)

In a few hops, he climbed the front steps. Knocking on the wood, he didn't wait long for an answer. A new man appeared, cracking the door open with a friendly grin that vanished when he spotted his visitor. “Shit, Ronin? Is that you?”

Ronin? Blinking, I reconsidered the long haired biker. Is that his name?

Saluting in a sharp jerk, two fingers to his forehead, Ronin chuckled. “Long time no see, Roach.”

“Not long enough,” the gaunt, shiny-faced man mumbled. “And it's Lewis, not Roach. You know that.”

“Sorry, my memory isn't so good at times.” Ronin's eyes twinkled.

Squeezing the edge of the door, Lewis started to say more—but then he spotted me. His skin faded into milky white. “I didn't think you liked them that fucked up.”

Ronin shifted, giving me a side-eye. “Club business. We need a room for the night.”

Lewis was already scowling, fidgeting in the doorway. If he was also unhappy with the biker, maybe he'd be willing to help me where Ronin wasn't.

My plan was to walk forward, open my mouth, and calmly explain that I did not need a room. What I needed was a ride back to the brothel, before my one chance at finding Claudine slipped away.

One shaking leg held me up; that was all I had in me. Gasping, I reached out, balancing myself on the motorcycle seconds before stumbling into the dirt. My ears were echoing, but through them, I heard Lewis mumble, “Fucking hell, Ronin.”

Gingerly, Ronin slid an arm around my middle. I couldn't fight him off, I didn't even try. Moving my eyes too fast made me dizzy, so I watched the ground while he led me onto the porch.

“She's pretty when she gets all wobbly,” he said, then his flippancy turned flat as a rancid pond. “Like I said. We need a fucking room. Care to oblige?”

Huffing, Lewis moved to the side, waving us into the building. “I'm legitimate now, I can't be getting mixed up in your bullshit anymore, Ronin.”

“Come on, Roach, you know you always loved my bullshit.” He held me to his ribs, my cheek pressing on his warmth. It was comforting, as much as I hated to admit it. “Show me where to put her. I think she's—”

“Flora,” I cut him off, my voice thick. “My name is Flora.”

Hesitating, Ronin adjusted his hold on me. “Show me where to put Flora. I'd rather she not break her jaw if she passes out. Nice place, you know? Hate to get blood on anything.”

“Upstairs,” Lewis sighed. “What's wrong with her? She a junkie?”

My spine tightened at that word.

“She's got some juice in her, but it'll pass. Speaking of, privacy would be best while she sweats it out.”

Lewis sounded less than impressed. “There's no one else here, couples don't usually book in until the weekend.”

Chuckling, Ronin guided me up the creaking wooden stairs. “I've never stayed at a Bed and Breakfast before, I wouldn't know.” It didn't take him long to get me to our room, the dark hallway easing the tension in my eyes. Gripping the knob, he half-carried me over the threshold.

The room was quaint, a fluffy white bed and a small, oval-shaped pinkish rug that could use some updating. It reminded me of something from a Martha Stewart's catalog. Considering the violent events of the evening, ending up in such a gentle place felt... wrong.

“Sit on the bed,” he said firmly.

Pulling away from him, I slumped onto the edge of the mattress. Lifting my eyes, I forced every bit of strength I had left into my words. “I don't care if I can barely stand. You need to take me back.”

“That again,” he groaned, scratching at the back of his head. “You're serious, aren't you?” Shaking his head in a slow swing, Ronin leaned on the doorway. “I have the worst luck with damsels. Trust me, I was doing you a favor.”

His tone was amused, but I thought—I thought there was something hollow in his eyes. I didn't have the energy to examine it, not now. “Please, you don't understand. Those men... they're the only ones who know where my sister is.”

Ronin arched his brows, but he didn't move otherwise. “Your sister?”

Shivering, I looked down at my palms, spreading my fingers. “Claudine. She's all I have, and those guys know where she is. If I go back, I... maybe I can find her.”

“You have no idea how any of this works, do you? Okay, so you go back. What stops those men from raping and killing you?”

His blunt words made me cringe. “I don't care. If I can save her, that's all that matters.”

“Martyr is an ugly color on everyone.” Flicking his hair over his shoulder, Ronin considered me for a long minute. “You'd do anything to get back there, huh?”

My heart thumped, control flowing slowly back to my muscles. Gripping my jacket, I leaned forward. “Yes, god, yes. Anything.”