Page 54 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
George had a big mouth.Hadbeing an important word that slapped me upside the head.“Sixteen-plus years, Romeo.”
His smile cocked sideways.“You looking for a new sugar daddy?”
It took everything I had to not scream or lash out.“I never was looking for one.I won’t start now.”
His face softened.“Had to try.George took a shine on you, you know that?”
Apparently, I’d missed that.“We were just friends.”
Romeo frowned.He bent over, pulled up his pant leg, and pointed at a puckered scar that twisted his calf muscle into a knotted depression.“I took a bullet for you.Least you could do is say thank you.”
“Thank you.”I meant it sincerely and as a punctuation point to this whole conversation.
“Your food’s ready.”The girl at the counter held the bag I’d ordered.I took it, left a cash tip in the jar by the register, and collected Zoe under one arm before addressing Romeo.
“You and George saved my life.I do appreciate that.Thank you again.I won’t burden you any further.”
“We could work out a deal.”Again, his eyes raked down my body and back again.His eyes drifted to Zoe.
I didn’t answer him.I tugged on Zoe and walked away.Something I should have done a long ass time ago.Like before Dad saddled me with Shock.
Every eye in the place followed our departure, and I’m certain more than one person noted the plates attached to my little Honda.But that detail didn’t matter.They were stolen.I’d parked in a busy Walmart and taken them in broad daylight.Sure, there were security cameras and customers walking toand from the store.But no one questioned a woman and her teenage daughter as I swapped out the plate holder I’d purchased cheap.
Jackson taught me that trick.One of many I’d used to get away this time.But now, I was out of ideas.
I pulled off the highway in Wilmington, knowing it was the last opportunity to turn back.The car ticked as Zoe and I sat in silence.
“We should go to a library,” Zoe suggested.
“What?”
“Free internet.I think they ask for an ID, but I can show them mine.”
What was she up to?I turned to figure out what she was plotting.“And what would we use the internet for?”
She ticked off her list on her fingers.“First leave a message for John, if he’s alive.Second, try the store’s email to contact Crystal and let her know we’re okay, but not leave a trace.Third, download some maps and figure out where to go.”
Great ideas.I mulled them over.Contacting Crystal was not a good idea.John likely had ways to avoid his email being hijacked, but Crystal didn’t.
“Or, we could find out if my dad is still alive and go to him.”She side-eyed me as she spoke.
“I regret ever telling you about him.”
“I don’t.I want to at least know if he’s alive.Everyone else seems todiearound you.”
Her tone was bitter.I didn’t blame her.Two days ago, I tried to contact John through his district office.They informed me he’d been shot and was in critical condition.Unfortunately, I’d had the cheap prepaid phone on speaker, so Zoe heard.“John isn’t dead.”
“That you know of.We could find that out, too.”
The sigh that leaked out of me was angry.“Fine.”
“And you could let me do some of the driving so you’re not so tired all the time.”
“No.”
The glare she shot me clearly had that tone.The one that screamed, “Maaawmn.”
“Not until we’re away from the congestion.”I indicated the miles of paved streets and highways and people.Too many strangers everywhere I looked.
