Free Dance With Me by Hayden Braeburn Page A

she let out a frustrated squeal and slapped him hard across the jaw, throwing his head to the side. “I can out wait you.” She crossed the room, turning just before opening the door. “I'm leaving you alone to think about what you've done."
    Now his jaw throbbed along with his head, his ass, and his arms and legs. Although he knew he was playing with fire, he couldn't help but ask the question, “Just what have I done?”
    She made a tsking sound. “You have deprived me of my children—our children—long enough.   I'll leave you here to think on that.”   She looked at the slim white gold watch on her left wrist.   “I'm coming for you in one hour, Mason.   You'd best make a decision.”
    An hour?   He had an hour to decide whether or not he would comply with her or die?   “I love Kat.   That will   never   change.”
    She brandished her small handgun.   “Are you so sure?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ I'm giving you that hour, Mason.”   She turned on her stiletto and sauntered out of the tiny room.
    He wasn't worried about waiting. It was after the waiting that scared him shitless. He didn't move for long minutes after she left the room before he began to work at his taped appendages. He had to get out of there. Now.
    ~*~
    “ We've got a location on the car,” Sean told Dylan as they drove out of town.
    “ Where we headed?”
    “ Motel outside of Aylesford.”
    “ There's no way they'll be there,” Dylan predicted with a shake of his head. “She ditched the car and either had another waitin' or stole one from the lot.”
    Sean tapped his thumbs on the wheel. “I can't believe it'd be this easy either.”
    “ Drive on anyway. Maybe we'll find a trail to follow.”
    Sean did just that, arriving at Night and Daze Motel before three. A quick scan of the lot revealed Priscilla's cherry red convertible Mercedes in all its glory. The two made an imposing pair as they emerged from Sean's SUV and strode into the tiny office.
    Dylan stifled a laugh at the expression on the face of the young woman behind the counter. Her eyes were so wide, he couldn't help but imagine her eyeballs actually falling out. He mimed tipping his hat to her, playing up her obvious fascination. “We need your help, darlin'.”
    “ Anything, anything,” she stammered, smoothing a hand over her frizzy brown hair.
    Sean was impressed with his impromptu partner. He adopted what he hoped was a sexy smile. “Have you had any guests today?” he asked.
    She stood still for a moment, apparently unable to speak. When she finally opened her mouth, it was to say, “Yes. Guests.”
    Dylan graced her with another smile, this one apologetic. “We really need to find a blonde woman and a dark haired man. Did you see them earlier? They would've arrived in the red Mercedes parked outside.”
    The girl nodded vigorously. “I don't know about a man, but there was a blonde woman. Real pretty. She was super skinny, and dressed in a beautiful suit. I think it was silk. Or maybe it was linen, or... hell, it was expensive, I can tell you that.”
    Great. Once she started talking, she didn't stop. Not quite what he'd been aiming for, but it would have to do. “What room did you give her?”
    She pulled a key from the bank of hooks. “Eight.” She nervously licked her lips before she went on. “Before you ask, I didn't have her sign in or nothin'. I know I should, but she paid extra.” She crossed her hand over her mouth in secret-telling fashion. “I think she was here just for sex; she left after a couple hours.”
    He mentally cringed at the thought. “Can we see the room?”
    “ Sure.” She turned to leave the office before abruptly coming to a stop. “Wait. Shouldn't I ask for a badge or somethin'?”
    Sean stepped forward, ID in hand. “No badge, but this should work.”
    She took it from his fingers, touching him far longer than was necessary. “You're a close protection agent?” Her brows furrowed. “What does that even mean?”
    He