Page 29 of Stryker's Ruin

“Working my way to you. Stay in the bathroom till I get there.”

She hangs-up but I hear knocking on the door via the necklace mic.

“Give me a few more seconds,” she calls out. “I’ve got diarrhea and cramping. I’m sorry…So sorry. I’m trying to hurry.”

Sticking to the shadows, I work my way around the crowded room where clothing is minimal to non-existent. The crowd is dancing, getting drunk, doing lines, and having sex on the couches. I see Frankie, one of the Camassa guards bouncing one of the workers on his lap at the bar. I wonder who the Camassas have in the O’Kelley camp.

When I get to the hall, the guard is tapping on the door. “You got to come out now!”

I’m halfway down the hall before he sees me. His eyes go wide, and he reaches for his weapon. I get there first and knock him out. Then tap lightly on the door. “It’s me. Let me in.”

She opens the door and I drag the man inside. “We need to go. Our best shot is through the crowded bar.”

Taking her hand, I lead her down the hall pausing at the curtain. She edges closer and looks around me. “Oh!”

“It’s okay. We just need to blend in enough to make our way around the perimeter to the exit. Ready.”

“No. I’ll never blend in dressed like this. I’ll get us both caught, maybe killed.” She turns her back to me. “Unzip me.”

Shimming out of the dress she kicks it under the curtain. The tiny black lace bra and panties with her black high heels are sexy as fuck. Oh yeah, she’s gonna blend in. A little too well.

Unbuttoning my shirt, I let it hang open still covering my weapon holster. Sticking to the shadows we make our way around the room. We’re almost at the door when there’s a commotion from the private hall area. As we reach the exit, the music shuts down and the lights go up. The guard at the door cocks his head as if listening to something. I give him a throat punch and shove him to the side and we push out the door.

Outside I take her hand. “Can you run?”

She kicks off her heels. “Yes.”

Taking her hand, I’m impressed by the way she keeps up with me as we work our way to the vehicle. Using a circuitous route, I drive to a downtown parking garage and pull in.

She glances around. “This is different.”

“We’re ditching this car.” When she meets me at the rear, I stifle a groan and pull my shirt off. “Put this on or I won’t be able to concentrate. We aren’t safe yet.”

She does as I ask. Then throws herself into my arms. “They said you were dead. I was so afraid. I know you’re strong and you take precautions. I just kept telling myself they were wrong. That they didn’t know you.”

I can’t help myself. Placing a palm on her ass, I lift her and capture her lips. Equally needy, she wraps her legs around my waist, brackets my face with her palms and meets me stroke for stroke. I taste fear and desire. “I’ve got you, babe. You’re mine and I’m not letting anything happen to you.”

Keeping her wrapped around me I take us to the elevator, and we ride to a different floor of the garage where I keep a backup vehicle.

CHAPTER 18

Ruin

I’m surprised when he drives us to the park we’ve been going to. This time there are two guards at the gate. One has a rifle hung over his shoulder and a handgun at his side. The other, also armed, takes the keys to Stryker’s vehicle.

“Everything set?” Stryker asks.

“Yes, sir.”

He takes my hand and leads me around the tree line of the open field stopping beside a large oak. Turning his back to me he smiles and squats a little. “Hop on, I’m giving you a piggyback ride. You can’t walk through the woods barefoot.”

I laugh, throwing my arms around his neck and I give a jump, lifting my legs to his hips. “My first one.”

“Then I’ll have to make it fun.” Gripping my thighs he starts jogging through the trees making soft whinnying sounds.

I’m laughing at his antics when he dashes into a clearing and I see a wood cabin with a wide front porch. Dim light shines through the windows on either side of the door. “Oh Stryker, it’s so cute.”

He slows and lets me slide off at the top of the stairs and leads me inside. A rich tantalizing aroma fills the inside and makes my stomach growl. “What is that smell? It’s amazing?”