Chapter Ten
The taxicab stopped in front of a garishly pink two-story stucco building with a tin-roof awning over blue painted wrought-iron gates. Brightly colored potted plants hung from the second-floor balcony, and boxy air-condition units jutted from the windows. A scraggly palm tree leaned dangerously over the lighted sign, “Motel Rancho Cumbres,” and a row of yucca plants stood like sentinels beside the driveway.
A string of Christmas lights was tacked under the rafters of the red-tiled roof. From the looks of the neighborhood, Leanna would have preferred bars on the window, but the attached cantina looked friendly with flowers in the window and a covered patio with bistro tables behind a wrought-iron fence. A wall topped with barbed wire separated the motel’s parking area from the street.
“Are you sure this is the place?” she asked the driver.
“Closest to the address you’re looking for,” he said. “Unless you’d like me to take you downtown. There are American chain motels there.”
“Does it have a swimming pool?” Leanna asked.
“Behind the wall.” The driver grinned. “Lots of privacy. Each room has thick curtains and a separate entrance from the garage. I’ll drop you off inside if you don’t want anyone to see you.”
“Is this one of those motels where…” She blinked at the bright-red hearts painted over the outside facing windows.
“It’s private,” Axe said. “Drive in and show her.”
The taxi passed under the arch through the open gates to a small circular driveway. Instead of a lobby, there was a drive-up booth jutting from the building.
Axe lowered the window on his side and checked in. He paid with cash.
“You sure you want two rooms?” the woman behind the sliding window asked.
“Yes, we have huge appetites.” Axe winked.
The receptionist giggled, handing him two keys. “I put you in adjacent rooms with a connecting door.”
Leanna gaped at the layout of the motel. Instead of a group parking lot, each unit had a parking area underneath. There were no visible doors to the units, definitely not like cheap American motels where all doors faced a walkway, both upper and lower.
Leanna didn’t expect five-star accommodations, especially since she was on a budget, but this was over the top if it was one of those rumored sex motels, or euphemistically called auto motels, for people to arrive clandestinely by automobile.
“Thanks for getting two rooms,” she said. Despite all the blatant flirting and dirty talk on the way over, this trip was serious business. Her first priority had to be finding Carmelita.
Axe gave her a key and nodded. “Remember, I’m one of the good guys.”
“Wanna bet?” She hooked a smirk at him.
He threw his head back and laughed. “All bets are off once we’re done with what we came for.”
“I agree,” she replied as the driver pulled the car into one of the garages.
She was glad when she entered her room that Axe wasn’t with her. The furnishings were garishly tacky, with pink hearts painted on the walls and red pillows in the shape of hearts. The ceiling above the four-poster bed was covered with a mirror, and another mirror was mounted on the headboard.
A bouquet of tired flowers was placed on the table next to a gift basket filled with chocolate, edible panties, and condoms. Leanna jerked her hand from touching the basket and scanned the bedside menu. In addition to eggs and shrimp tacos, a patron could order Viagra, KY jelly, and massage oils.
Leanna wandered into the bathroom and clapped a hand over her mouth. Not only was the entire shower mirrored, but a stripper pole rose from floor to ceiling in front of the sunken jacuzzi. This was definitely the fun zone.
She looped her hand around the pole and hugged it, shimmied up and down, then twirled around it. Oh yeah, Axe was going to lose big time.
Little did he know that the one who gave the most orgasms won. With the stripper pole and her assets, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Too bad he was taking a shower alone in his room.
* * *
Axe barely looked at the furnishings inside his room. The sex motel was the best place to hide because the staff and patrons made it their business not to be aware of the other clients. It was an unspoken code of honor. No one saw or remembered anyone.
He’d told Leanna he was taking a shower and to meet him in half an hour. As soon as he put his luggage in the closet, he made a phone call, then slid out the garage exit into an alley.
Because they’d flown commercial, he had to leave all of his guns—not that he wanted to use registered ones anyhow. He needed a set of wheels, disposable phones, and unmarked guns.
