“A small homeless camp. We’re safe here,” I tell her. I walk over and shake hands with an old friend before he passes me a tent.
River and I set it up and wait on Jeremy. We talked about this beforehand, how staying that close isn’t a good idea because the police will search, and it’s smarter if we weren’t there.
Once the tent is up, I toss our things in and grab River, pulling her into my arms.
“You okay?”
“I should ask you that.”
“I’m fine. It’s all handled.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s over,” she sighs.
“Me too. We just need to figure a few things out now.”
“Like what?”
“Where am I going to get money?” I tell her.
“You know I have a little.”
“Don’t want your money,” I remind her.
“Royal, stop. You’ve been paying my way. It’s not going to hurt me to return the favor.”
“You know I don’t like that.”
“You don’t have to. It’s what we’re going to do.”
“Just for the things we need until I can figure things out,” I tell her.
“Fine. That’s settled,” she says before burying her face in my shirt.
“Are you smelling me?” I laugh.
“I’ve missed how you smell.”
“You’re wild.”
Chapter 30
River
He only lets me pay for the things we need. Food, water. Those types of things. It took some convincing, but I talked them into staying at a hotel with a small pool at least for a few days. I said everyone needed a good rest and to regain some strength.
We’ve been doing okay for the most part, but Royal has been going in every direction. There’s an investigation as to what happened to Brent and Jim, but they aren’t looking at us. Royal has done everything from steal to selling drugs to keep money coming in. It’s not what he made fighting, but he refuses to take up any fights with the mafia. He said there was no way in hell that he would ever get out of that alive.
Jeremy has taken on a few odd and end jobs here and there, but nothing permanent yet. I started working at the front desk of the hotel we stayed at for a few days. I worked it out with my boss that I got a room to stay in while I work here, but I’m always on call in case someone doesn’t show up for work. It’s a job and a place to stay, so that doesn’t really bother me.
Right now, though? We’re relaxing in the pool. Royal looks uncomfortable, as always. He doesn’t think we should be in a hotel that’s this nice. It’s not nice, but nicer than the one with the rats. Plus, this shithole even has free breakfast, so that’s a plus for us.
“Could you at least look like you’re having a little fun?” I ask Royal. He glances over at me and smiles the fakest smile I’ve ever seen.
“That better?”
“Seriously, Royal. Have fun with me,” I tell him. He sighs and then moves toward me, wrapping me in his arms.
“What do you want to do?”
