"No one expects you to be perfect all the time."
She leans into me more fully, and I feel the moment she lets herself completely relax.
After a few more minutes, we arrive at the rest stop, where our resident mechanic—and the guy who gets rid of vehicles for us on occasion—is already waiting. He's parked by the motel, and I pull up in the vacant spot beside him.
He's out of the car he came in before we've even parked, pulling his jacket tight to himself against the harsh chill of the evening.
"Hey, Seven," he says, keeping his distance as I step out. I'll never get why he's so fucking scared of me. The guy sees me covered in bloodone time,and he thinks I'm the devil. Unless he has sins that need confessing or intends to betray us, we're cool.
"Jack," I say. "Thanks for doing this."
He nods several times. "Of course, of course. You know, Atticus calls, and I answer. Whatever you guys need, I'm your guy."
I'm sure the exorbitant payments help, but I don't say as much.
"Hi," Ro says, shivering as she comes around the car to stand next to me.
"This the girl? Wow, she's real pretty."
"Careful, Jack."
He pales, and Ro elbows me.
"Thank you," Aurora tells Jack with a smile, and I think we're done here.
"Okay. That's enough of that. Ro, give me your phone."
That little knot forms between her brows again, but she reaches into her pocket and hands me her cell phone, which I then hand to Jack. "You have the address?"
He nods. "Yep, yep. All set."
"And Atticus already gave you instructions?"
"Yep. Got it. The phone is to stay at the address for the week, aside from taking it on a few outings around town. He gave me a whole schedule."
Of course he did.
Jack's eyes flit back to Ro, lingering for a second too long.
I clap a hand on his shoulder and steer him back to his vehicle. "Better get going, Jack."
He clears his throat. "Got it. Yep. I'm gone."
Ro watches him go with a mix of emotions on her face, and I wonder what she's thinking.
"Don't worry," I offer. "Atty already got you another phone."
She sighs, and her breath clouds the air in front of her face.
"Let's get you home."
37
INTERRUPTIONS & ALMOSTS
AURORA
It should be relief I feel when Seven turns onto their private road, and the gate swings closed behind us, but when the house comes into view, a sickening sense of dread floods my stomach instead.
