Semua Bab Pelican Bay Security: Bab 151 - Bab 160

"What are you listening for?" I ask as Lukis hunches over his laptop. One ear bud rests in his right ear as he watches the grainy picture of Antonio and one of his goons talking in his motel room.Antonio's room has been upgraded and redecorated unlike ours. The bed sheets are a light color, which shows up white on the infrared computer screen video feed. Antonio sits at a small round table reviewing a stack of papers. Every few minutes, he signs the bottom of one and flips it over onto a pile sitting to his right. Gooney, who's followed him around since the first day but still has no name in my mind, lounges on one of the double beds. Every few minutes, his hand flicks up, waving the television remote at the screen, probably changing the channel. From the angle of the camera, I can't see what he's watching."Antonio took over the business from his father. It's a standard practice. Every few years, he gets together with another member of organized crime from Oklahoma. In a leather

With a cold smile on his face, Lukis reaches over and plucks Antonio's hand from my knee. He rubs the spots where I'm sure to have fingerprint bruises tomorrow and places his hand on my other side."Antonio," Lukis says, still smiling. "I see you've met Sugar Lips."Antonio stares at him quizzically for a second. "You mean Hannah? Yes, she is a delight." Antonio's smile looks more evil as his friendly demeanor falters for a moment. "It's a pity she ended up in your lot. I could've done great things to her."Lukis shudders as if he's imagining the horrible possibilities of what Antonio means. His grip on my knee tightens with a loving affirmative, not out of anger. At least, I hope not. "We're all glad you'll never get that chance.""Is she? She could live it up my mansion. Instead, she'll be traveling the world in your beat-up Jeep as nothing more than a lapdog for Ridge Jefferson."It's the first time someone has mentioned the name Ridge, and I can't help but wonder who he i

One Year LaterThe light from the sign towering a few feet above us highlights our location on the Vegas strip. It isn't the town that brought us together, but it's close enough. Vegas is where I was headed when my car got stranded on the road one year ago and I met Lukis, the man who changed my life. It's also the first place we stopped once we hightailed it away from the Last Chance Motel. I figured he'd drop me off once we hit civilization and tell me good luck, but here we are, still together.Elvis says something, his top lip curling higher on his face, and I chuckle. Who knew Lukis, of all people in the entire world, would want to be married by Elvis. And who in their right mind would've thought I'd agree to it?The last year has been full of surprises. We traveled the world together... Well not the world, but the continental United States. Everywhere his Jeep could take us. Most of the time, Lukis makes me sit in the motel room while he does spy things. It's not as cool as

Knuckles rap against my wooden door and I drop the book I'd been trying unsuccessfully to read the last two hours. My heart immediately accelerates. The last time I opened my door to a knock it wasn't good news. Quietly, so as not to let anyone figure out I'm here, I ninja-walk my way to the living room. My apartment is not that large, so it doesn't take long.Whoever installed the peep hole in this door was ridiculously tall so I stand on my tiptoes to peek out. The view that greets me stops my breath. On the other side, standing with his cowboy hat to the side of his head in a way I've started to think I'd only imagined, stands my savior. I didn't know if he would come and I'm not sure if he can help, but I've never been so glad to see someone as I am to see Huxley Weiss right this moment.No longer worried about who's standing in my hallway, I throw open the door with abandon."Huxley," the words are breathless as I grab onto his elbow and pull him into my apartment. I don't w

"You don't understand," Blondie stutters over his words, cutting Huxley off. "She doesn't accept failure.""We'll consider this a learning opportunity. Or if you're really that scared of a woman," the way Huxley says woman like we couldn't be scary is a bit irritating, "then pretend his trail led you to the Southwest. I don't care where, as long as it's far away from here."I've pressed my body so close to the side of the wall to hear better I lose my footing as my socks slide against the tile floor and I'm forced to reach around and hold on to the wall so I don't fall. When I regain my balance, I stay hidden on the side, hopeful Huxley didn't notice."And you can come out now, Winnie," he calls.Busted."You're also going to apologize for making Winnie cry." Huxley wraps me up in a big side hug, pulling me close to his body in the middle of the living room. The black gun is still held firmly in his other hand and pointed at the blond giant.My dress gets caught around my k