Free Crave by Erzabet Bishop Page B

were weak. Ryder was one of the strongest men she’d ever met. She had to bury her cat. But first she had some planning to do.
    “I have to make a phone call.” She returned to the kitchen and pulled her phone from her purse. “Captain. Things have ratcheted up a notch.”
     
    ***
     
    He followed her home, watching the lights dance behind the sheer drapes until the late hours of the night. She’d gone to Crave. He hadn’t expected that. But maybe he should have. So he’d found out where she lived and killed her cat.
    The little beast fought hard. He clawed and scratched, the cat connected with his face, leaving a scratch down the side of his cheek. No matter. He just had to get through tomorrow. Then he could claim his prize.

Chapter Seven
    Ryder drove up to Linnet’s home at the agreed upon pickup time. She still hadn’t said a word about her discussion with Gage at the club. Nor would she tell him her plan for tonight. Not completely.
    “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Gage. The three of us are going to meet in one of the themed rooms. He’ll come. We just have to be ready.”
    She was glorious. Dressed in a short red microskirt and corset with lace-up ballet style slippers, she made him hard just looking at her. He adjusted himself and got out of the car.
    “I can do it, Ryder. But can you carry this?” She handed him an overnight bag, a determined glint in her eye.
    What was she up to?
    “Of course.” He wanted to be whatever she needed. But then there was Gage. How could he fight a ghost from the past? He had no choice. He had to take her to him. There could be no secrets. She would either love him or not. He had to accept that, even though it killed him.
     
    ***
     
    Gage picked up his phone and stared at it for about the four hundredth time. Linnet and Ryder should have been here by now. With a maniac on the loose, he was worried. Linnet’s plan was good, but if he got to her before she reached him… Spending the night in one of the rooms made sense. He just didn’t know if he could do it and not touch her.
    Ever since he’d seen her yesterday he’d had a hard-on that wouldn’t quit. He’d watched her with Ryder. The other man loved her. Of that he was certain. The question is, how did all of this fit together now?
    His security team was on alert both in the club and out in the parking lot. The cameras were manned in shifts so nothing got missed. Not this time.
    His earpiece buzzed. “Watson here, sir. Nothing yet.”
    “Keep looking.”
    “Wait. Here they are.”
    Gage swallowed, his gut churning. “Get them in here safely.”
    “Will do.”
    He paced the classic style suite and wondered just why she’d chosen this one. It didn’t matter. Being with her, even for a little while until this guy was caught, was a win. Then they could get back to their lives. Or not. He voted not.
    There was a knock at the door, and he tensed. It opened, revealing a very sexy Linnet and a pensive Ryder.
    “Hi. Sorry. We got held up with traffic.”
    “No problem.”
    Ryder carried an overnight bag into the room and placed it on the bed.
    Linnet cleared her throat and reached for Ryder’s hand, giving it a squeeze. He took something out of the bag and slid it beneath the pillow. She placed a phone and a small bag on the dresser near the door.
    His stomach twisted all over again. She was expecting trouble. He could read it in her face. So why this elaborate setup?
    “I don’t understand why we’re not out there canvassing the club.”
    “He’ll come to us. I want to keep whatever happens localized here, away from the rest of the club members. Ryder has a phone and a gun under the pillow. I have my phone and my bag on the bed. One of us should be able to get close enough to do something with both of those options should they arise. Also, this room has the silent alarm on the nightstand. All of the other rooms have it next to the door.”
    “Clever girl.”
    This was a new side to Linnet. This