10

Pulling down the tent the following morning was far easier than setting the bitch up. Elle and I didn't talk much during but she approached me as I closed the door to the camper and locked it.

"I need to find Max."

"This train wreck is leaving in an hour, Elle."

She nods, "I know. I know. But we do have to hit the motel for the rest of my stuff if that's ok."

"Oh, the room you used once? Sure."

My passive-aggressive response causes her to bite her lip in silence. All she does is nod and turn away from me to search for Max. Alone, I look over to Mac's camper again but he's not there. Then I realized that I hadn't seen Janelle in a long while. How much fun could she be having if she doesn't check in on her man or items for sale? They also never took the items inside at night. Everything was pretty much a free-for-all for every degenerate to take as their own. Her reaction to the rain damaging her things is completely different from her nonexistent reaction to people stealing her shit. It's odd behavior in my opinion. Then again, it's not my problem either.

My nerves are on edge. After an hour my truck keys feel heavy in my hand. I climb into the cab and turn on the A/C. Watching random people pass by only irritates me more as I wait. The digital time on the dash proves Elle has been gone longer than expected. I text her. "I'm leaving in ten."

"Headed that way." A few moments later, I spot her jogging across the street toward me alone. She climbs in. Once settled in her seat, she sighs. "Maybe he's back at the motel."

"Leave it to Max to inconvenience us yet again."

"Can we just not start this day off shitty?"

"Whatever, man." I slowly pull out of the space, careful not the jostle the camper too much. We make our way toward the motel. It was hell getting into the parking lot as everyone seemed to be departing the event early. I'm dreading the long drive back to Texas.

I was forced to park across the street and accompany Elle inside. We're stopped by the woman at the front desk. "Which room?" I find it odd but we humor her. Elle gives her the room number and without even looking at her computer screen the woman places a call. "Sir, the customer for 204 is here."

"Is there a problem?" Elle questions and looks back at me with a confused expression.

"Yes, sir," the woman replies and ends the call. She slaps on a fake smile before speaking to us. "My manager is on his way. If you would like to have a seat, he'll be with you momentarily."

"What's going on?" Elle asks, confused.

"Ma'am, my manager will answer all the questions you have. Please, have a seat."

Elle turns to me, completely lost, and releases a deep sigh. We don't sit but we do step back from the desk and wait. A man dressed in a polo shirt and slacks comes around the corner two minutes later. I'm not sure if it's his mouth full of large white teeth or his fake customer service voice but I'm in no mood for him or what he has to say. He extends his hand in greeting. "My name is Louis and I'm the manager of this establishment. How are you two doing today?"

"I'm sorry, Louis but can we cut to the chase? What's going on?" I question.

"If you wouldn't mind, follow me to my office so we can have a chat."

"Actually, I do mind."

Elle chimes in, "We're trying to get on the road to beat the rush. What's the problem?"

"Well, let me start by saying that here at Windsor Hills, we hold the utmost standard of customer satisfaction, along with safety. We like to think we can provide a secure and comfortable stay for everyone."

"Ok. What's the point?" I ask.

"Look, we're here to get my things and check out. Can we get a move on?"

His expression falls and his brow pinches, "Please follow me."

We accompany him to the room and he uses a master key card to open the door. I'm shocked to see the condition of the space. Next, I'm hit with the putrid smell of vomit. I gag and cover my nose and mouth with my hand.

"Hold shit," Elle expresses as we step inside. "What the hell happened?"

"We received several calls of noise complaints in this room last night. Were you not here?"

"No, we've been attending the rally," Elle explains.

"Did you happen to give your key to anyone not listed on the rental?"

"Absolutely not," I reply, feeling annoyed as I take in the scene. The bed is overturned, and the TV is on the floor with a smashed screen. The curtains are hanging on by a thread and the window is broken. Along with the damages, there are beer cans everywhere and multiple piles of vomit on the carpet. In the bathroom, there's, what I assume to be period blood on the toilet seat. The toilet had overflowed onto the floor. Clumps of used toilet paper and used tampons sit soggy on the tile. The mirror has lipstick kisses all over it and there are several used condoms in the sink. At least, someone was safe during the party.

"Fucking Max," I whisper in a groan.

"My god," Elle states in shock.

I look to Louis, "We're the police called?"

"Yes, ma'am. They came and broke up the party, making several arrests in the process."

Annoyed, I look at Elle, "And this is why I never want your brother involved in anything."

"I know," she says shamefully.

"My name and contact information are on the booking for this room," I say to Louis as I march around the room, gently kicking cans out of my way. I'm beyond pissed off and embarrassed. "Why wasn't I called?"

"Ma'am, unfortunately, I didn't know who booked the room until this morning."

"So that's an incompetence issue. I should've been contacted the moment a disturbance was noticed. It takes nothing to pull up the reservation. I mean," I scoff. "I wasn't even called this morning."

"We'll pay for all the damages and cleaning costs," Elle states.

I snap, "There is no we in this situation. I didn't even want Max coming with us in the first place," I state and walk out of the room, allowing her to handle this situation herself. I stop and return to question Louis once more. "You did say there were arrests made, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am. Everyone involved."

His words bring a smile to my face. Elle's is a different story. She's devastated. That's exactly where he belongs.

"Good." I speed walk down the hall to the elevator and press the down button. Once in the lobby, I sit and begin chewing on my thumbnail in anger. At this point of the day, multiple people are checking out of their rooms. I'm beyond done being here in this environment and around these people. Growing up, the biker club scene was the norm. As an adult, I want nothing to do with it. It's not my scene and I have zero desire to have anything to do with anyone associated with an MC.

Elle and the manager finally make their way down to the front desk. I don't bother to join them as they settle the costs. I watch as she reluctantly passes him her credit card. The exact one she should've used to book the damn room in the first place. Before this week began, I would've been the first to help but not this time. I will not suffer for the sake of Max any longer.

Elle reluctantly joins me after a few moments. She sighs as if she's about to speak but I stand from my chair and exit the building. Once inside the truck, I turn over the engine and patiently wait for her to buckle her belt.

"Ready?"

"I guess so," she replies softly, shamefully. "Can we?" She pauses.

"What?"

"Well, I know you're angry with him but I need to try to bail him out."

I scoff a laugh, "Are you serious?"

"I can't just leave him in South Dakota with no way to get home."

"Send him a fuckin' bus ticket then. Assuming he'll be released any time soon." I state and put my truck into gear and drive away from the motel. Elle grows frustrated and tosses her purse into the floorboard. "I'm going home but would be more than happy to drop you off at the station if you like."

She looks over at me angrily, "You ready to ditch me too now?"

I shrug, "I don't want to but I'm finished with your useless brother. He is nothing but a source of chaos for you…and me. I'm just done." I stop for a second while she sniffles.

"He's not a bad person."

I can't help but laugh, "OK, fair. Being a drug addict idiot doesn't make him a bad person. Fucking everyone over, not forgetting to mention you, his only sister, does." I'm ranting. "Let's not forget the little girl he was with."

"No. He didn't."

I cut her off, "Ok, if he didn't hurt her, he still fucked her, making him a pedo in my book." I shake my head in disbelief at my own words. I'm grossed out. "Man, fuck that. There's no way he didn't know or in the least, suspect her age. Fuck, we did when she was hitting on the bar-b-q guy."

After placing a call to the station, they confirm him being there. Elle ends the call.

"They said with it being the weekend, he won't see a judge until Monday morning. Tuesday at the latest." She is visibly shaken by the turn of events and snatches my cigarettes from the center console. Something she very rarely does and her hands tremble as she attempts to light one. "I think I should stay here until then."

"Elle, I'm not staying the weekend."

"Look, all I ask is that you help me find a cheap place to stay and haul my stuff back home." She takes a drag and blows out the smoke.

"And if he isn't released?"

"I'll find us a way back."

"All right." It took a good chunk of an hour to find her a suitable space to stay while she waited out the weekend. After a long hug, we said our goodbyes and I began the long drive home. I do love Elle with all my heart, I just can't be a part of the chaos any longer. I plan on making much-needed positive changes for my future.