Mo Grá| Derek Morgan

chapter nineteen

New York City
2011

The hotel loomed ahead, its façade shimmering in the glow of the streetlights, casting an eerie shadow upon the pavement. I parked the car, feeling the weight of the moment settle heavily on my shoulders. As I stepped out, I seen him waiting, casually leaning beside the driver's door. I shut the door behind me, as he wrapped a firm yet gentle arm around my waist. "Don't say anything," he warned, his voice low and steady. "Just... don't try anything while we're in here."

I nodded, horribly aware of my precarious position and the uncertainty swirling in my mind. As we walked toward the entrance, his hand remained at my waist, a reminder of his control over the situation. Inside, the lobby enveloped us in warmth, a contrast to the cold outside. The scent of polished wood intertwined with hints of cinnamon, creating an oddly comforting atmosphere.

Killian approached the front desk with a casual confidence. "Hey, how are you doing tonight?"

"Good, how about you two?" an older woman replied, donning a pair of glasses. "Oh, we're good. Could we get a room, please?"

"Sure, for tonight?" the receptionist asked, glancing up from her computer. Killian nodded, and she smiled as she began typing. "And what's the name?"

"Leah Sloan," he replied. I raised my eyebrows in surprise, but he glanced down at me, his expression silently urging me to go along with it. The woman's gaze shifted to me, and I forced a smile as I stepped forward.

"Okay, we have a room available. It's a king suite, would that be okay?" I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, that's fine."

"Alright, it'll be $800 for the night, and checkout is at 1 PM tomorrow. Can I see your ID?" I nodded, rummaging through my purse for my credit card and ID. "Here you go," I said, handing them over. Moments later, she returned both along with the keys.

"Thank you," I said to her, turning to Killian, who now had his hand resting at my back, guiding me toward the elevator. "Why use my name?"

"Well I can't have no one finding me, now can I darling?" Killian said as led the way down the narrow hallway.

"212," I murmured, glancing at the keys in my hand. He stopped in front of the door and with a swift motion, he snatched the keys from my grasp, unlocking the door and pushing it open. I stepped inside, taking in the simplicity of the room.

"So, what are we doing?" I muttered, flopping down onto the small couch by the window, crossing my arms defensively. Killian closed the door behind him, the sound of the lock echoing ominously. He turned to me, his expression still stoic. "What do you think we're doing?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, I don't know, Killian. I'm being held against my will, so is this some kind of power play?"

He stepped closer, leaning casually against the wall. "Against your will? You can leave whenever you want."

I looked from him to the door, curiosity piqued. "Hmm, okay." I nodded and stood, willing to test my theory and walked past him toward the door. But before I could even touch the knob, he interrupted. "However, if you know what's best for you, I wouldn't." His tone held a low threat that sent a shiver down my spine. I turned back to find him now facing me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"You know my team is going to find me. They will come looking, and when they do..." I let my voice trail off, the weight of my words hanging in the air. He chuckled, pushing off the wall and slowly closing the distance between us.

"And what? You think they'll just swoop in and rescue you?"

"Why did you wait all this time to come find me?" I asked, attempting to regain control. My voice steadied, though my stomach twisted with uncertainty. His gaze roamed over me, as if he was assessing my every move. "I've always known where you've been," he replied, as casual as if discussing the weather. "I just waited for the right time."