Page 66 of Secret Love

Chapter 21

Dani

Botsford Plaza Hotels are the gaudiest-looking places I’ve ever stayed at — gold fucking everywhere — but the staff is always pleasant no matter the location, so it’s a fair trade. This location is known for its dual tower design. There must be a local festival happening in Denver tonight. I look up into the sky and see long wires connecting the towers with large, colorful lanterns hanging between them.

Fox pops the trunk and sifts through the black duffel bag of weapons and ammo. He grabs the Model 60 revolver and slips it into his belt. I hold out my hand and he exhales hard before finally handing me my Glock.

“Keep it out of sight,” he says.

Five words. It’s the longest sentence he’s said to me all day long.

Seven hours on the road and the most we could manage was brief nudges and monosyllabic mumbles. I suppose it’s better than the awkward alternative of actually talking to each other.

He didn’t return to the room for at least three hours last night. I pretended to be asleep and listened to him stealthily maneuver around the room and into the other bed. I even lost track of him a few times. He must have been very good at his job.

You know, the one where he killed people.

Maybe he was right before. Everything really has changed.

I hide the gun under my shirt as we make our way across the parking lot toward the hotel.

Fox’s wide shoulders go tense as we look around the lobby. The entire lobby is packed to the brim with people in cocktail dresses and tuxedos. It’s not even nine o’clock yet and their cheeks are already pink with caviar and alcohol.

I follow Fox, lingering a few feet behind him with my sunglasses on, as he wanders over to the front desk in the corner.

“We’d like a room, please,” he tells the girl behind the desk.

She smiles wide and her eyes shift between us. “One bed?” she assumes.

“Two,”I mutter. “For the love of god, two.”

Fox forces a grin. “Two beds, please.”

She returns the smile and taps away at her computer. I feel his eyes on me, but I keep my head down like he asked me to. This isn’t a lonely diner on the highway. It’s a luxury hotel in the middle of a city. Excellent chance for me to get recognized.

“Room 2617, sir.” She slides two keycards across the counter and Fox takes them. “Do you have any bags?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Have a good night.”

“Thank you.” He nudges my elbow. “Come on.”

“Holy shit.”

His grip latches around my arm out of instinct but it loosens just as quickly. We turn around to see a short man in a deep blue suit with thick-rimmed, black glasses slowly walking toward us.

Fox releases my arm and smiles. “Hey, Box.”

The man steps forward with a furrowed brow, his eyes constantly searching Fox’s face. “Jesus Christ, it is you,” he finally says, his expression shifting between relief and confusion.

“Yeah.” Fox nods. “It’s me.”

He swallows hard. “How?”

“It’s a long story,” Fox says, looking at me. “Dani, this is my friend, Boxcar.”

Boxcar bows his head, his eyes twinkling with recognition behind his frames. “It’s nice to meet you,” he says.

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