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“I asked if you could drive, burrito.”
He huffs out a breath. “I know what you asked and yes. My aunt taught me when I was fifteen.”
“Good. You're going to follow me to the hotel then.”
“Wait. You're not serious. I don't have my license.”
“Do you plan on getting pulled over while driving up the road?”
“No.” He fumbles with his seat belt.
“Then you don't need it.” I toss him the keys. “Stay right behind me at all times. Don't try anything stupid.”
“Trust me, I know already. Don't you think I've seen what happens to people who've tried to run before? The reason I'm still alive is because I enjoy having a fucking pulse.”
I'm not sure him staying put is any safer than him leaving. It does buy him more time though. “Bueno. See you soon then.”
I snatch my phone from his fingers and slip into the man’s car. In only ten minutes, we're in the motel's parking lot. It's as run down as the gas station, with plenty of vacancies and outside rooms. I use the key card in the man's cup holder to find which one he's staying in and wait until Phillip is out of the rental to open the door.
His nose turns up. “This is worse than the last one. Is Zacharias getting cheap on us or something?”
“Zacharias doesn't know we're here yet. He won't until it's necessary. I'll call Fernando later and let him know there's been a delay.”
A rancid smell hits my nose as I enter the room and Phillip brings his hand to his face. “I feel like I'm back in the warehouse already. Piss and vomit everywhere.”
“This man is fucking disgusting. We’ll have to clean up a little if we're going to stay here.”
Phillip's forehead bunches together. “Stay here? For the night?”
“Or two. However long it takes.”
“I thought you were just supposed to kill the guy, not go on a week's vacation with him first.”
Stepping forward, I pull the sheets off the bed. “This is far from a vacation. And they say I need to get out more.”
“Trust me, you do.” He enters the bathroom and comes out with a couple of towels. When we're done cleaning the mess as best as we can, we toss all the dirty linens and towels outside the door. I call the front desk and ask to have clean ones delivered. Gio stays in the trunk until nightfall. When it's dark enough outside for us not to be seen, I drag him out of the trunk and into the room’s closet. “Pleasant dreams,” I say before shutting the door.
“And you're keeping him alive because?” Phillip sits back on the clean linens. At least they're cleaner than the last ones. He obviously doesn't mind. Based on his neutral expression as he lies on his back looking up at the ceiling, I'm going to guess he's slept in worse conditions too.
“Because I need to. For now. He can't go through with his part of the deal if he's dead.”
“Whatever you say. Like I said, I'm not in a hurry to go back so take your time. However, you did promise me snacks.”
“Of course that's what you think about after we discuss a dangerous man being in the closet.”
“He doesn't seem that dangerous to me. Very unorganized and stupid.”
That he is. “He's still a man who tried to… Nevermind. You're right. He's not the problem we have to worry about.” I won't tell him Gio was after him yet. All it'll do is make him anxious to know someone worse is out there trying to find him. It could befor a number of reasons. Maybe they think he has something of theirs, and it's possible he did at one point.
“Tell me what snacks you want and I'll go get them.”
“Nu-uh.” He sits up quickly, scooting to the edge of the bed. “You are not leaving me here with Mister Gross. I'm coming with you.”
I run a hand over my face, heading for the door. “Fine. Let's go. I saw another gas station down the street. We'll go there. Get everything you need, including a sandwich or two.”
“It won't be bacon, egg, and cheese but I guess it'll do.”
Our drive to the store doesn't take long but I can't say the same for Phillip's shopping. Three beef jerky sticks, three sandwiches, five bags of chips, four different flavors of Gatorades, and a large bag of lollipops later, he's finally got everything he needs. I add toothbrushes, toothpaste, Tylenol, wet wipes, and two protein shakes to the pile.
