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“But you did tell me not to use my cards. I wasn’t listening to the subtext of your words.”
“You shouldn’t have to listen for subtext—this is life and death. I’m going to spell it out for you from now on.”
From now on? He took the next turn a little too fast. Ava could help him figure out what was on Arnoff’s computer, and then she needed to get out of here—away from him.
He swiped the back of his hand across the beads of sweat on his upper lip.
“The pills?” She hunched forward in her seat, her brow furrowed.
“Yeah, I could use another, but I’m going to try to hold out.”
“You’re not going to hold out as long as you did yesterday. That’s just dangerous.”
“It’ll be dangerous when I run out of the meds, too.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
He swung into the parking lot of the midsize motel. The night clerk was talking to another guest when they walked into the lobby.
Max sized up the other man with a glance—tourist looking to escape his room filled with the wife and kids.
Although he had some cards with an alternate ID, Max repeated his bankruptcy story and the clerk was only too happy to take cash.
“The luck’s with you tonight. We have two rooms left and both have a king-size bed.”
“Great.” He’d be spending the night on the floor.
Max handed over the cash and the clerk slid two key cards across the counter. “Enjoy your stay.”
Ava tapped her card against her chin. “Free Wi-Fi?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They left the clerk and the guest to their conversation and headed for the side door that led to their room. Steam rose from the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi to their right, and heads bobbed above the gurgling water.
Max rolled his shoulders. “That looks inviting about now.”
“Tell me about it.” Ava rubbed her head.
He stopped and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay? That was a wild car ride and you must’ve gotten jostled around. I’m sorry I didn’t even ask if you were hurt.”
Her lashes fluttered as her chest rose and fell quickly. The pulse in her throat beat out her scent, and it was as intoxicating as the bougainvillea creeping along the gate surrounding the pool.
“I—I’m fine. I didn’t think we were going to get out of there alive.”
He gave her shoulders a squeeze before releasing them. “Too bad they heard Mrs. Arnoff talking to us before she opened the door. We could’ve gotten away and they would’ve never known we were there.”
“Too bad Lillian opened the door at all. She’d still be alive.”
“No, she wouldn’t be, Ava.” He turned back to the lit pathway, and she followed him silently.
He told her he was going to be truthful, and that meant making sure she knew the tenacity of the enemy they faced. Tempest came to do a job and Mrs. Arnoff’s death was the goal of that job. Finding him and Ava there had just been a bonus.
They reached their room, and Max opened the door for Ava, pushing it wide. The big bed dominated the space, but Max did his best to ignore it.
He dropped his bag in the corner. “You must be starving. I noticed a pizza place a few doors down. I’m sure they deliver here.”
“That sounds fine.” She parked the laptop on the credenza next to the TV and placed her suitcase next to his duffel. “Should we start in with the laptop?”
“Let’s get some food in first. It might take some work to get around Dr. Arnoff’s security.” He reached into the front pocket of his jeans and shook the tin back and forth, tumbling the pills inside. “Besides, I’ve got four pills left. We have plenty of time.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Is that your attempt at humor?”
“Not very funny, huh?” He tossed the tin onto the nightstand.
“Don’t give up your day job.”
“Now, that’s funny.” He yanked open the single drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a telephone book. “Pizza, pizza. Here it is. We’re on Cochise Road, right?”
She perched on the edge of the bed, reached across him and plucked up the notepad next to the phone. “Yep, Cochise Road.”
