“Fuck. And we don’t have enough time to get you to a shooting range to practice.” He sighs. “Well, you’ll learn quickly. Point and shoot, pretty simple. But I can only loan it to you on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Only use it if your life is in immediate danger. If there’s no other choice.”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
My heart thrums. I’m not getting cold feet, but I’m starting to get anxious. This is getting real. Harrison’s talking about me actually shooting someone, ending another human life. Likely the life of one of Rouge’s Kings.
But possibly the life of my sister herself.
She’s evil incarnate, don’t get me wrong. But she’s still my sister.
My sister who knows where I live. Who knows everything about me.
“Harrison…”
“Yeah, babe?”
“If something goes wrong, I probably shouldn’t go back to my own apartment. Rouge knows that’s where I live. She’s never visited me there, of course, but it’s where my checks are addressed to.”
“You’re welcome to crash at my place.”
“I’d love that, don’t get me wrong, but I think it might be best if we got a hotel for the next couple of nights. It’ll be harder to track us that way.”
“Won’t you be booking the hotel under your name?”
“No.” I walk over to my purse, grab my wallet, and reach into a hidden pocket behind my driver’s license window. “I never told you about my pickpocket ex-boyfriend, did I?”
“Your what ex-what?” His voice is tense.
“Calm down. It’s ancient history, and we parted on decent terms. But he knew a guy who knew a guy who could make great fake ID’s. They’re practically indistinguishable from the real thing.” I pull out the fake from the secret pocket in my wallet. “We’ll book it under my pseudonym. Whitney Royale.”
He lets out a short, humorless laugh. “Sounds like a cocktail.”
“My ex said it sounded like a stripper name.”
“That, too.”
“Does Rouge know about your alter ego?”
“No. And she’d have no way of finding it out.”
A pause. “Okay. You can book the hotel. Get somewhere near Aces.”
“I will. I’ll stop at my place and pack a few days’ worth of clothes. You should do the same once you finish up with your shift at the hospital. Once I make the arrangements, I’ll text you the details.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few hours.”
I smile. “I’ll count the moments.”
I decided on the Gilded Rose, a historic hotel off Michigan Avenue that’s within walking distance to Aces. I booked the room online and am now on my way there, lugging a small carry-on bag behind me.
Harrison is waiting in the ornate lobby when I get there with a small suitcase of his own at his side.
I widen my eyes. “I thought you were going to be working for a few more hours.”
