She drops the bag down and sends me a hot glare."What was that about?"
I eye her and reach for the remote, turning the weather report down."Are we doing this?Been a long day, Tiger.I'm going to shower then?—"
"You were trying to look."
I sigh."I’m a man, Adena.Of course I was trying to look."
She crosses her arms."Boundaries.Remember?"
"Boundaries.Right."I stand up."Then why’d you get one room?"
"What?"
"You checked us in.Single room.That was your call."
Her eyes flash."Our cover is a couple."
I shake my head."Our cartel cover is two delivery drivers."
Her shoulders tighten, and she crosses her arms—a defensive posture I haven't seen from her before."Not so easy, is it?Keeping the lies separate?"
When she doesn't answer, I take a step closer—invading her space deliberately, close enough to make this dangerous."The cops show up, they'll want to know why we're sharing.That would mean more lies."
When she starts to speak, I hold up my hand."But if Marquez finds out we got two rooms on his dime,he'llwonder why.So what’s the right lie to tell, Tiger?"
Her jaw tightens.She's held steady through everything so far, but the thought of sharing a room when we don't have to?That's what finally gets to her.
Something primal in me wants to push her until she gives in and admits that my way is theonlyway.
"The best you can do is make a call about who to lie to and hope no one gets hurt."
Her eyes drift from me to her feet.She’s quiet for a moment, breathes in, out, and instantly her face relaxes, then shifts into an alarmingly sweet smile."You're right.I do need to make a call, but I don't need to lie."
I brace myself, half-expecting her to throw a punch.Instead, she calmly picks up my jacket and throws it at me, hard enough that I have to catch it or take it in the face.
"Not every situation requires more lies.If Marquez asks, tell him I kicked you out because you were being a jerk."
I stand there, jacket in hand, completely blindsided.Somehow, she’s found a way to solve the problem without lying—just by telling a version of the truth that works for both covers.
I should be annoyed.
Instead, I'm wildly impressed I’ve just been outmaneuvered.
Adena
To keep myself from spiraling—and from thinking about the man in the room next door—I find a Christian station playing hymns.
I breathe in each one, then pull my cleaning kit from my bag and set it on the bed beside me.The ritual isn't about toughness.It's about calm.Order.Familiar motions in a world that hasn't felt familiar since the moment I walked into Marquez's orbit.
Mercy comes apart easily beneath my hands.
Magazine.
Slide.
Barrel.
Spring.
