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“Looking so much better,” she says in a sing-song voice that makes me want to stab her. Throwing clothes on the counter, she nods at me. “Get dressed, brush your teeth, and come with me. You’ll have slippers while you’re here, and you will have to earn time in the community room or walk outside. Something tells me you’ll be with us for a long time, and be a royal pain in the ass too.” Her voice turns on a dime, reflecting the sneer now gracing her face.
I stumble over to the counter, just happy to have my feet under me. I dress quickly, grateful for the toothbrush. I drink water greedily from the faucet too, uncaring at how it tastes. Nurse Elaine clears her throat and I close my eyes for just a moment, asking myself how the fuck I got here.
“Out we go now,” she says, yanking me to her.
I can only hope the doctor may have some answers for me. If he works here though, there has to be some sort of nefarious reason.
As I walk, Roark’s rugged face fills my mind and I hold onto it.Please find me.All I have are unanswered prayers right now, and an aching body.
Derek
I blow out a breath as Barclay pulls into the hotel parking lot. I am about to walk into so much shit, and I fully believe I deserve it all. Even if it entails being beaten to death by Sally.
“Why do you look like you’re walking into the gallows?” Barclay asks, bemused as he puts the rig into park.
Startling, I glance over at him, shrugging. “I’m sure it'll be fine. Listen, thank you for everything,” I say with a smile. “You didn’t have to help me, and I definitely am not at my best right now.” I look down at my borrowed pants and chuckle. “Frankly, I’m a hot mess, and you still stopped in the middle of nowhere for me.”
Barclay rolls his eyes with a shrug. “It’s not like I could let Derek Williams, professional football player extraordinaire, walk all the way back,” he teases.
My jaw drops, because I didn’t expect anyone to recognize me right now. “I seriously appreciate it. If there’s ever anything I can help you with, just reach out, please.”
“Half the fun of being a truck driver is all of the stories you accumulate,” Barclay reminds me. “You be careful, alright?”
I nod with a grin, because I’m about to break that promise. Nothing about finding Lennon and getting her back will be careful or safe. It’s just something I need to do.
Opening the door, I climb out of the rig and close it behind me. Waving at Barclay, I make my way to the lobby, hoping I’m not turned away.
“Ah, Sir? Can I help you?” asks the valet.
Wincing, I ask myself why I didn’t just call them when I pulled up. I texted them when I was an hour out, saying I would. I meant to, but I’m a ball of nerves right now.
“Derek?” Roark steps out of the alcove against the wall. “I’ve got it, mate,” he tells the valet. “We had a bit of trouble and Derek was robbed at gunpoint. He was lucky to get away with his life, so let’s not give him trouble over the dress code, yeah?”
The valet’s eyes widen and he nods. “I’m so sorry to hear this happened in our city, Sir. Please let us know if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, mostly impressed with Roark’s ability to lie so well at the drop of a hat. I may have underestimated him.
I follow Roark into the lobby, feeling really out of place as I’m surrounded by marble floors and low, pretty lighting. I feel like a damn homeless person right now, and I would kill for a shower.
“We have a lot of questions, Derek,” Roark rumbles, and looking over I realize the calm exterior I saw outside is a facade. His fists clench and unclench, and there are lines of stress around his eyes.
I sigh, scratching my neck. God, I’m so damn itchy. “Yeah, I get that. I’ll answer everything, but I swear I didn’t have anything to do with this. I was there when it happened though.”
I’m purposefully vague still, because I’m very aware we are still in public. While it’s early, there are businessmen already up and headed to meetings. Six-thirty in the morning means the sky is already starting to lighten, and reminds me of how much time has already passed since I last saw Lennon.
“I want—”
“Stop, Derek,” Roark barks softly, mindful of the people around me. I wince, sucking in a breath. “It doesn’t entirely make sense for you to go to these lengths if you took Lenny. I mean, why the fuck come back at all?”
Roark stabs the elevator, intent on getting to his room. I nod, crossing my arms over my bare chest. As much as I want a shower and some fucking coffee, I would rather get my story out first. Following Roark into the elevator, he stares at me as he hits the button for the tenth floor.
“How the hell did you get that truck driver to pick you up, anyway? You look like hell,” he says in disbelief.
Nodding, I lean against the wall, grateful for how cool it feels. I stare down at my dirty socks and smirk. “I crossed the road because more trucks seemed to be passing that way and started walking. Barclay laid on the horn, scaring the shit out of me. It was so damn dark, all I heard was the woosh of the truck right before he hit the horn. I turned and screamed and yelled for him to stop. Barclay blew past me… and then started to stop. I ran full stop, determined to get back here to tell you about everything.”
I stop laying my head back as I stare at him. I’m really fucking tired, and now I know I need to defend myself. “Look, I woke up in the middle of the desert in a pair of socks and my underwear. I walked for hours, and then ran for the semi, because I knew it was my only way off the highway. Bastard greeted me with his shotgun, but finally let me climb on. I’m so grateful that he did, otherwise I’d probably still be trying to walk my ass back here.”
Roark blows out a breath as he stares at me. “I just want her back man,” he rasps. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing without her.”
