The vehicles whizzed past without slowing, so he felt certain they were safe.
But ditching the tan sedan was still a top priority.
The vehicle ran well enough, eating the miles to Bloomington, with flat, boring countryside whizzing past them. He preferred woods or mountains that were nice to look at while providing cover, but the lack of cover went both ways.
And hopefully they’d be back in Wisconsin in the next day or so.
He passed the first few Bloomington exits, searching for something a bit more remote. Maybe the north side of town, where they’d be just a little closer to their ultimate destination.
Olivia shifted in her seat, and he knew she was uncomfortable sitting for so long.
“Almost there,” he assured her.
“There, where?” The smile that curved her lips made his breath catch in his throat. She was stunning when she smiled, and he told himself he was a jerk for even thinking of her as an attractive woman.
Not only was she pregnant but he’d helped kill her brother and the father of her children. The fact that she didn’t seem to blame him was humbling. Still, he knew more of the grim details than she did. “Keep your eyes peeled for something farther off the interstate. Something that won’t be easy to target.”
“Not easy to target.” She paled and he inwardly smacked himself for using such a blunt term. “Okay, then.”
“Use my phone to find something small and outside the city proper.”
“I found a motel that advertises two-bedroom suites for a decent price,” she said to him a few minutes later. “Take the second exit.”
He did and found the place. It wasn’t a highly rated motel, but it would work. After pulling up near the lobby, he took his phone and called Duncan to let him know where they were.
“Got it. We’re finally past the accident scene, so we should make good time from here.”
“Great.” He couldn’t hide the relief. Soon he’d have more than enough backup. “See you soon.”
He booked a suite on the first floor for easy access. He paid in cash, but was forced to use a credit card for incidental expenses. He convinced the manager not to run the card until they checked out by giving him another fifty bucks.
The suite was a bit musty, but overall clean. He carried the car seat and Olivia’s bag in and set them near the doorway. Aaron was thrilled to be out of his car seat, running around the room with his new toys. Olivia stretched out on top of the bed with a low groan.
“Where are my ankles?” She looked down toward her elevated feet with a forlorn expression. “I had them a month ago, but now they’ve disappeared.”
He wasn’t sure how to respond, so he changed the subject. “Are you hungry? I can grab us something to eat while we wait for the guys to arrive.”
“I’m always hungry, but it feels like we should wait for the guys.”
“They won’t mind. There’s a fast-food restaurant across the street. I’ll pick up something to go.”
She didn’t look thrilled, but pushed herself upright. “Okay.”
He didn’t want to leave her alone, but he could see how tired she was. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you rest for a bit? Just tell me what you’d like, and I’ll head over with Aaron.”
She hesitated, uncertainty shadowing her gaze. Finally, she nodded. “Thanks. I’ll have a grilled-chicken sandwich if they have it. Otherwise a cheeseburger.”
“Grilled chicken.” He nodded and held out his hand toward Aaron. “Ready to take a walk?”
For the first time, the child hung back, as if he wasn’t sure about leaving with a stranger. Ryker was glad the boy was wary, but didn’t like the idea of scaring him.
“Go on, Aaron,” Liv encouraged. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“All right. But can I get a toy?”
“Sure.” He felt certain there would be a toy in the kid’s meal.
Aaron crossed over and put his small hand in Ryker’s. The trust in Aaron’s gaze was nearly his undoing. He couldn’t stand the idea of the little boy and his pregnant mother being in danger.
They needed to track down the men in charge of the Blake-Moore Group, and soon.
Outside, the warm early June sun was still high in the sky. He swept his gaze around the motel parking lot before heading out toward the restaurant.
He didn’t think they’d been followed, but couldn’t shake the impending sense of doom. Maybe once Duncan and Mike arrived, he’d be able to relax a bit.
The line was long at the height of the dinner hour. While he and Aaron waited, the kid changed his mind several times before settling on chicken strips.
When he had their meals and more bottles of water securely tucked into the to-go bags, he took Aaron’s hand again and walked him back over to the motel. Still nothing appeared out of place, but he hoped Duncan and Mike would get there soon.
He entered the suite and tiptoed across the main living area to the bedroom where Olivia had been resting. She was asleep. The peaceful expression on her face was like a sucker punch to the gut.
She deserved to look that restful every day. Not chased by jerks with guns.
“Mommy?”
“Shh.” He put a finger to his lips while closing the door. He steered the boy toward the television. “Let’s unpack your meal, then find something for you to watch, okay?”
“Okay.” Aaron knelt in front of the coffee table, waiting for him to place the chicken strips, French fries and carton of chocolate milk in front of him. The toy was a plastic lion, but Aaron pounced on it. “Mustafa!”
“Sure, kid.” He had no clue who that was, but was grateful Aaron was happy. He found a children’s channel on the television and gestured to the table. “Eat your food, okay?”
“Okay.” Aaron chomped on a French fry.
Ryker sat on a chair near the door,
