When she emerged from the bathroom, her face was damp and slightly less grimy. She'd pulled her hair into a messy ponytail.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded, not meeting his eyes.
"Let's go then. My truck's right outside."
She followed him without argument, clutching her backpack like it contained everything precious in the world. Maybe it did.
As they stepped outside, the mountain air hit them. Blade watched as Lily took a deep breath, possibly the first fresh air she'd had in days. She swayed slightly.
"When's the last time you ate?" he demanded.
She shrugged. "Yesterday? Maybe the day before."
If he had to force-feed her, he would. He made a quick plan to get her to safety and get food inside of her. Real food. He opened the passenger door of his truck and waited for her to climb in. She hesitated, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "Taking me to your place. Protecting me. I almost got your club destroyed."
"Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades," he replied. “I don't leave people behind. Especially those forced into impossible situations."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You know it was forced?"
"We know enough," he said. "Get in. You can tell me the rest once we get home."
Home. The word hung between them, foreign and strange.
Lily climbed into the truck, her movements slow and careful. Blade shut the door and rounded to the driver's side. Before he got in, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Savage.
Blade: Package secured. Heading to the cabin now.
He slid behind the wheel and started the engine. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lily shiver. Without a word, he cranked up the heat, then shrugged out of his leather jacket, dropping it in her lap. She stared at it like it might bite her.
"Put it on," he ordered. "You're freezing."
"I'm fine," she protested weakly.
"That wasn't a suggestion," he said, his voice low and firm.
Something shifted in her expression at his tone. She bit her lip, then reluctantly slipped her arms into his jacket. It swallowed her whole, the sleeves hanging well past her fingertips.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He nodded once, then pulled out of the parking lot, leaving the Lucky 8 Motel in the rearview mirror.
They drove in silence for several minutes. Blade kept his eyes on the road, but he was acutely aware of the woman beside him. She was fidgeting, her fingers picking at a loose thread on his jacket sleeve.
"Stop that," he said without looking at her.
Her hand froze. "Stop what?"
"Picking at my jacket. You're going to unravel the sleeve."
"Sorry," she mumbled, tucking her hands under her thighs.
Another mile passed in silence.
"Are you going to tell me what's going to happen to me?" she finally asked, her voice small.
