I hate feeling this way.
My nervous eyes focus on the road again, hers too. Something unsettling is floating in the air, a barrier is breaking down.
But I can’t do this here. I can’t ask her.
The only thing I can say is, “We're close. We have to get you ready.”
The disappointment in her eyes makes me feel like shit, but I have to remember, I'm not dodging the matter. I just don't want to talk about it here. TheBruno when Sarah is arounddoesn’t usually care who's watching or what the consequences might be. If she tells me something I know I want to hear, I'll probably stop the car and jump onto her.
“As soon as we arrive at the hotel, I'm going to drop you at the staff entrance. Get in from that back door and make sure no one sees you. My room number is 1701. Here is my keycard.” I take the white plastic card out of my pocket and hand it over. “Go straight to the elevator. Don't stop for anything or anyone. We can't be seen together. There are people watching me. It would be suspicious if I’m seen with a man around here, okay?”
“How am I going to open that service door?” She grabs the card and puts it in her pocket.
“I’ve noticed the staff leaves that door unlocked at all times, so that they can go on smoke breaks. It will be open.”
“Copy that.”
I raise a brow. Even her answers are different. Where's Sarah?
She is fixing her wig and hiding her face. Her determination and strength make her a fearless woman.
As soon as I bring the car to a stop in the back alley, Sarah steps out without looking back. Not a damn glance, not a word of goodbye. She walks upright and with masculine boldness then circles the vehicle from behind and goes straight to the door. She pulls open the door, and then it closes behind her.
I speed up the car and drive around the block, giving her time to get to my room, and also trying to figure out if someone is waiting for me to return. As soon as I stop at the entrance, my arrogant, bossy attitude comes back to me. I go straight to the reception.
A man is waiting anxiously for me behind the desk.
“I've lost my keycard; I need a new one, now,” I say while I check my phone thoroughly, showing that reading a random email is much more important and interesting than addressing his face.
“Of course, sir, right away.” The boy walks to the other end of the desk, searches for a new keycard and says, “Here’s your new key, sir.”
I take the card and walk away without saying thank you.
Miles never says thank you.
Chapter Forty-Four
SARAH
I get out of the car and head straight for the service door. I gently tug the door to check it. He is right, it is open. I peek inside. No one is near, so I sneak inside as quick as I can.
This is all too simple and it makes me uneasy. Am I that far gone into being miserable? I can’t experience stuff being simple. Why?
Usually in my world, what seems easy at first ends up being challenging, but then again, if I am able to survive a skirmish with a bunch of pirates while standing in a shitty boat barely held together enough to float, plus an illegal bar-cave raid by angry officers, and being drugged/almost kidnapped on a train, yeah, I can totally deal with this.
Easy-peasy.
I follow an empty corridor, and I’m glad no one is in sight.
I find a door and the signLaundry Roomis written on it. Someone leaves that room in a hurry and passes me by without giving me a single glance. I rush to put my foot between the door and the frame before it can close. A brief peek inside tells me there’s no one in here, and the only thing I can hear is washing machines working. Steam hisses and weird chemical smells waft. I eye the racks where the staff uniforms are hanging. Just what I need right now.
What would Rage say about changing my dirty clothes? Probably order something like, “Do it, kiddo, before I rip off those old rags myself.”I smile to myself and quickly grab a uniform. It’s not a good fit, looks saggy and untidy, but it should work regardless.
I immediately get out of there and do my best to blend in – I walk like one of the staffers, just in case someone seems me. When I reach the staircase door, I can hear voices coming my way – male voices.
Nope, got to find another way to reach his floor.
I turn around and go to the end of the hallway, and as soon as I turn the corner, I see the service elevator. Yes! This is good. I push the call button, and when the door opens, two men carrying a piece of furniture are inside. They haven’t seen me yet. One of them has a keycard hanging from his back pocket. I need that key to operate this elevator. I pretend to be distracted and bump into him, lifting the key in the same motion. One of them yells at me. I'm not sure if he is angry or just loud, so I play dumb by taking small bows and walking backward.
