Nomad's Baby

Bad Influence 2

At some point they merged onto the highway. From the signs they were close to state lines.

One time they stopped briefly for him to give her the second helmet before they encountered major traffic.

Sera held on to him so tight for so long her hands were numb. To keep her head on straight she just focused on the wind.

Whisper pulled into a motel parking lot. It was small but most of the spaces were taken.

The neon sign was worn and some of the letters were missing so it said 'hel' instead of Shelly's.

When he killed the bike engine Sera still felt the vibration.

It took a second to realize she needed to lower her arms. It ached her knuckles to unclasp from around him.

Then no one moved.

"How -" she cut herself off to lick dry lips. "What happened back there?"

"What do you mean?"

The feigned stupidity would have ticked her off any other time. Likely part of his personality, but right then she just wanted an answer.

"How did we beat the Mustang?"

"Venom's modified." He gently patted the bars. "For when I need to get out of a sticky situation."

Stiffness jerked her movements when she moved to exit the bike. "I couldn't see anything."

Whisper fully removed his helmet. "You need rest."

Sera removed her helmet before glancing at the motel.

"We're staying here?"

"Yup." He dipped his head. "She needs rest too."

**

Whisper checked them in while she waited outside, taking in air, trying to let her body settle on the ground while 20k sat in the cheap backpack she wore.

He came out and offered her the key. "You'll be safe here. The owner goes back with my MC."

A little sweat was on his shoulders, outside of that he was cool as a cucumber.

She accepted the key.

"You're ok?" he asked for the second time, looking down at her.

"Yeah." Her answer was quick, flanked by what could be passed off as a smile.

Dark almond shaped eyes stayed on her for a bit before he spoke, "I need to get gas so we can head out in the morning."

"Ok."

He moved toward the parking lot.

Sera's hand tightened around her bag strap. "Whisper?"

He turned back casually between a set of cars.

"Thank you for coming back for me." Her voice was lighter due the breath she held as she spoke.

He might have nodded or something. Maybe she was supposed to read his mind.

The biker swung back around on the heel of his boot and continued across the parking lot.

The room was on the first floor.

And it was clean and quiet. Sera was thankful for both.

She shot Vicky a quick text and hoped that was enough. She wasn't really up for conversation.

The bag was set in a chair.

Sera's emotions were somewhere between wanting to jump on the bed from joy or just fall completely where she stood.