Page 14 of Vicious Deception
“Bodyguards?”
“Two. One is in the room, and the other will be in a vehicle in the parking lot keeping watch.”
“And the motel is the best place? We can’t wait until they leave?”
“Ludo wants her dead before sunrise.”
Of course.
“Again with the prep, Axel. I need to know more about her bodyguards—more about the motel. More abouther.There’s barely anything in here.” I gesture to the folder.
“I’ll make sure management gets your complaints,” Axel replies dryly.
Fucking hell.We always try to minimize collateral damage, but this time around, I don’t have a choice. Using a gun would be the most efficient, but even with a suppressor, it’ll wake the neighbors. I’m sure I’ll be able to get out in time, but it’s not ideal.
Who am I kidding?Ideal?None of this is ideal. It’s stupid for me to even wish for it.
“There will also be a man in bed with her,” Axel tells me. “You can hurt him if necessary, but keep him alive. Ludo doesn’t care about the bodyguards.”
Great.This just keeps getting worse and worse.
By the time we’re pulling into the motel parking lot, I’ve come up with a couple different ideas, but they all depend on the room layout and the positioning of the bodyguard who’s inside the room—things I won’t know until it’s already too late.
You can do it. You just have to be quick.
Axel tosses me a ski mask, which I shove into the pocket of my jacket. For my plan, I won’t be able to use it at first. I’ll have to keep my head down and hope that it’s dark enough that no one will get a good look at my face.
When Axel places a handgun on the center console, I sigh.
“No suppressor?”
He shakes his head.
“Does Ludowantme to get caught?” I bite out.
“He’s confident in your abilities.” After the slightest pause, Axel’s gaze cuts to mine. “And your motivations.”
Visions of strangling Axel fill my mind, but I know I can’t act on them. Instead, I take the gun in my hand and check the chamber. “I’ll need a key.”
“Don’t have one.”
“Not one to the room. Literally any key.”
Axel narrows his eyes at me before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his keychain. He fiddles with it for a moment before placing a single key into my waiting hand. “Room seventeen. Don’t fuck up, Hayes.”
“I won’t.”
Before reaching for the door, my eyes sweep over the parking lot. There’s a sedan parked nearby that’s facing the motel, and I can just barely make out someone inside. No doubt, he’s watching our vehicle, and it’s possible he’s already notified the second bodyguard of us. Considering it’s two in the morning, it’s worth keeping an eye on any vehicles that pull in close to their room.
However, I can take advantage of the fact that it’s so late. Before getting out of the car, I tuck the gun out of sight and slip the key into my pocket. Axel is watching me suspiciously as I slide out of the vehicle and pretend to lose my balance.
Keeping my head low, I stumble along the sidewalk until I get to room seventeen. I make a show of falling into the door before fishing the key from my pocket and trying to shove it into the doorknob. Obviously, it doesn’t fit, but that’s not the point.
Behind me, I hear a car door shut quietly, and then the sound of footsteps gradually getting closer.
“Come onnnnnn,” I groan after a few seconds. “Go in already.”
A heavy hand grips my shoulder. “Wrong room, bud. Move along.”