“We’ll get you there.” She turned to leave. “Get some rest, it will be a while before we can leave. I’ll come get you when it’s time to go.”
“Thank you,” I called out right before she shut the door.
With a smile, she closed me up in the room alone.
I wasn’t going to argue on the rest thing. I needed a nice long nap. Hell, I needed to sleep for a whole damn week
Sooner than I was ready, and also not soon enough, Grace was gently shaking me awake.
“It’s time to go,” she told me. “You have five minutes to dress and make yourself look a little less…”
“Like I had a cuddle party with a bunch of cheetahs?” I filled in for her.
“Yes,” she said with a small chuckle. “Oh, it has been a pleasure. You’ve made an old woman’s day with all these shenanigans.”
“I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for everything,” I told her as I struggled to get to my feet.
“Just take care of Jessica.”
“I promise,” I told her right before she left out of the room.
I dressed, having a hard time getting my shirt on with my stupid shoulder. Being shot sucked. I could go the rest of my life and never have that happen again.
After I found the bathroom, I washed my face as best as I could. Then I wet my hair and combed it back with my fingers.
Yeah, I still looked like shit.
Damn, had I always been this pale?
Maybe if I kept my head down no one would notice.
I found Grace and who I assumed was Dustin in the living room when I was done.
She handed me a bag and told me she’d made me a few sandwiches for my journey.
I thanked her with my words, though I kind of had this big urge to hug the old woman. After all, she’d pretty much saved my ass here.
She introduced me to Dustin and he did not look too happy about this whole thing.
We took the elevator down, neither of us said a word.
Then we walked right by the guard station, Dustin waving as if there was nothing going on. I kept my head ducked just enough to not seem suspicious. And with my hands in my pockets, I hoped I looked like a nervous new employee instead of a killer trying to get free.
My body screamed at me with every move but I did my best to keep upright and put one foot in front of the other.
By the time we found my car, I was dripping with sweat.
“This is where I leave you,” Dustin told me. His voice was a lot deeper than I expected it would be. It was a little frightening. “I expect I’ll never see you again.”
There was a strong warning there and no, I did not miss it.
“You got it, buddy,” I told him as I dropped down into the driver’s seat of my car.
I took off without a single look back.
-18-
Jessica
