Page 41 of Puck (The Lost Boys MC)
“What?” I asked.
I looked over at Puck for answers, but he already had his back to me. I watched as he tossed his leg over his bike and I waited for him to have the balls to look me in the eye.
He never grew them, though.
Which left me clinging to Frost as we tore a path toward the rehab center.
“Park at the edge of the lot,” I said.
Frost nodded and did as I asked, causing the other two men to pull over with us. I slipped off Frost’s bike without any sort of help and gave him his helmet back. And after I was done fluffing my hair out, I shoved all of my emotions down and got to work.
“Diego, I want you to keep your eyes on the property. You know what to look for, so keep an eye out for it,” I said.
He nodded. “Of course. Got it.”
I turned to the rest of the guys. “Until I can get her checked out, I need a distraction.”
Puck grinned. “I’m good with those. West? Please tell me you brought that laptop.”
I looked over just as he pulled it out. “Always, my man.”
Puck nodded. “Great. Do what you do best.”
And as West started typing away, I found Puck staring at me for the first time since I had emerged from my room.
“What?” I asked flatly.
He nodded toward the front doors. “You can go on inside now. You’ll know when the distraction has started.”
I wanted to ask what the fuck he was talking about, but I didn’t have to be around him any longer than necessary. I turned on my heels and started across the parking lot, watching Diego in the corner of my eye as he made his first set of rounds along the outer perimeter of the place. I slid my hands into the pocket of my dress to conceal their trembling as I eased my way inside. And after checking in my normal way, I went in search of Lori.
“Bingo,” I whispered as I got to her room.
I knocked on the door and called out her name, but she didn’t answer. Which was odd, seeing as Maria at the front desk told me that she was back in her room after a rousing game of Bingo. I knocked again and called out her name a little louder, yet still I heard no sounds coming from behind the door.
But when I turned the doorknob, I found it unlocked.
“Lori?” I asked softly as I poked my head in.
“Get out!” she yelped.
A lamp zoomed across the room before I reached my hand out to catch it. My eyes widened as I stepped into the room and for a split second, Lori looked like she had seen the monster from her dreams. I sat the lamp down on the dresser to my right and slowly turned in her direction, not wanting to spook her in any way.
And when she saw it was me, she rushed over to me and hugged me close.
“My God, I thought you were someone else,” she said breathlessly.
I hugged her tightly. “I’ve got you. It’s okay. Did you not hear me saying your name?”
She shook her head quickly. “I was too focused. Too-too concentrated.”
“On what?” I whispered.
She sniffled. “It’s not safe here. Not anymore. I have to leave. I have to get out of this place.”
At least she’s in my corner. “Okay, okay. Just come with me. We’ll get this sorted out somewhere where you feel more comfortable.”
She clung to me as tightly as possible. “Thank you, thank you so, so much.”
After peeling her away from my body, I took her hand in mine before we eased back out into the hallway. And the second we closed her door behind us, the fire alarms blared.
Way to go, guys.
“Shit!” Lori squealed.
I turned around and cupped her cheeks. “What exit are you supposed to use?”
She pointed a shivering finger toward an exit behind me. “There. I’m supposed to go through there.”
I took her hand in my own once more. “Then follow me. We’re finding another exit out of this place.”
After weaving our way through the stampeding hallways, we slid out a side exit and right into Diego’s line of sight. He rushed up to us and tossed his coat over Lori’s shoulders before we raced her toward the entrance to the parking lot. Everyone flooded the green grass and the parking lot as we ducked behind cars and trucks, trying to stay out of sight.
But the second we got back to the guys, Lori gasped.
“Oh my God,” she said.
Puck’s back straightened as his eyes went wide. “What the fuck?”
I furrowed my brow. “What’s going on? Do you two know each other?”
And as Lori slid Diego’s coat off her shoulders, I watched tears crest her eyes.
“Jared? Is that you?”
Twenty-Three
Puck
I’d recognize that voice anywhere, even though her face had filled out since I’d last seen her. Plus, I hadn’t been called Jared in years.
