Page 63 of The Originals

The ride was fairly smooth considering the distance. By the time they reached the motel, it was after eleven, and instead of their usual protocol of hitting a bar, they retired to their rooms. They had a short ride to their destination the next day, and the meeting was set up for the afternoon. It was an easy trade with no expected hiccups.

Unless they had their women, the brothers always doubled up at motels to keep costs at a minimum. Grain didn’t carewhere he slept or who he roomed with as long as he got his own bed. Mick opened the door, and Grain followed inside. He was in desperate need of a shower, but that wasn’t his priority. He dropped his small duffle bag on the floor and walked over to the nightstand. He grabbed the receiver, dialed nine, and waited for the dial tone.

“You want first dibs on the shower?” Mick asked, hooking his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the bathroom door.

“No.” Grain tapped the buttons on the phone. “Gotta call Gee.”

He tried her at the clubhouse first. Even without him being there, she was one of few women who had free rein to stay there. It wasn’t the first time he’d been gone on a run, and she’d stayed there. But she wasn’t there this time.

He didn’t feel guilt often, but this hit him. Regina wasn’t the type of woman to make a big deal about anything romantic. She’d said it herself, flowers, jewelry, and candy were for suckers, and she didn’t buy into it. The one time he’d bought her flowers, she nearly tried to beat him with the bouquet thinking he’d fucked up with something.My woman is a different fucking breed.

He called their apartment. but it continuously rang. It left only one plausible conclusion. She had to be working. If he hadn’t been so tired and in a better frame of mind, it would’ve been the first place he’d called. Weeknights at Starr’s weren’t usually busy, which added to his aggravation when the phone rang four times.

“Starr’s.” The voice on the other line was high-pitched and too welcoming to be his woman’s.

“Put Gee on the phone,” he snapped, dragging his hand down his beard and tugging lightly.

“She’s not working tonight.”

Grain stilled and furrowed his brows. “Put Ernie on the phone.”

“He’s a little busy with customers, but I can…”

Grain tightened his grasp on the phone and shouted. “Put him on the fucking phone!”

He heard the music in the background and mumblings before Ernie answered.

“Yeah?”

“Where the fuck is Gee?”

Ernie snorted. “Not working tonight.”

“Yeah, I fucking know that, so where the fuck is she?”

“You’re askingmewhereyourgirlfriend is? How the hell should I know?”

For most bosses, it would be a valid, understandable, and believable response. But Regina and Ernie were close. They had a bond that resembled a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Ernie might not keep tabs on her, but considering the current situation and her fight with Grain, Ernie would know.

“Where the fuck is she? Tried her at home, she ain’t answering. Not at the clubhouse. I’m gonna ask again, where the fuck is she?”

He heard a heavy sigh, “Haven’t seen her since she finished her shift. The last I heard, she was taking a few days to spend with you.”

Fuck.That had been the plan. The same one he’d forgotten about when he took the job for the club.

“Run by her house. See if she’s there. I’ll call back in fifteen.”

“Grain.” Ernie sighed. “I’m running a fucking business here, and I had a no-show waitress. I can’t leave my own bar to check up on your woman. Maybe if you had kept your promise to her, you’d know exactly where the hell she is.”

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“You heard me.” Ernie paused. “Look, I can check on her once we close. But if sheishome, she’s probably not gonna answer. Maybe she’s off somewhere celebratingyouranniversary. Just ’cause you don’t give a shit about it, doesn’t mean she doesn’t.”

Grain opened his mouth, prepared with a rage-fueled response, but Ernie hung up. In a more sensible mind frame, Grain may have considered Ernie’s words.Probably not, but maybe.However, he was beyond livid and letting his anger take the lead in all his thoughts and actions. He balled his fist and punched the closest thing to him, cracking the drywall. He’d regret his loss of control when his knuckles swelled and ached. For now, it did nothing to temper his rage. He slammed the phone down and stalked across the room to his bag. He swung it over his shoulder just as the bathroom door opened.

“What’s going on?” Mick asked, eyeing the duffle bag.

“You gotta go three in. You good with that?”