I won’t waste it.
26
DRAINPIPE ROMEO
SEVEN
Atticus would kill me if he knew where I was going, which is why I took certain precautions.
My bike is parked in front of a bar and motel combo off Route 77. It's a busy overnight rest stop, which means it's easy pickings to boost a car, and as long as I return it before dawn, there's a fair enough chance no one will notice it was ever gone.
And if they do, well then, I guess good ol' Daddicus can ream my ass out while he fixes the mess. It'll be worth the few hours I spend with her.
The older model Honda Civic is a stick shift, and I remember how much I miss driving one as I pull into town and make my way to Ro's apartment. I park in the lot of the neighboring building and am careful to avoid Atty's surveillance cameras and Ambrose’s man parked in front of her building, approaching the apartment from the rear.
I hop the fence of the neighboring unit and scale the drainpipe, using the uneven brick to get a few solid footholds until I'm only a quick jump from her bedroom window to the right.
Reaching far over, I rap on the dark pane of glass with my knuckle, tapping out a quick upbeat tempo so she knows it's me.
There's a bark from inside, and I wince as the light flicks on and the window opens. Her dark hair spills out as she looks down first, then jumps when she sees me right next to her.
"Seven! What are you doing?"
"Could you move for a quick sec? This drainpipe is about to bust."
She lurches out of the way as I jump across to her window ledge and lower myself inside to the sound of Ellie trying to break down the bedroom door.
Ro quickly rushes to open it and chastises Ellie in a harsh whisper to calm down, but when she sees me, she's through Ro's legs and over to me in a split second, attacking me with her kisses.
"I missed you, too."
Aurora shuts the window, flicks off the big overhead light, and pulls the blinds. "Did anyone see you? What happened?"
She hugs her robe to her body, eyes wild.
"Nothing's wrong. I just had to see you."
Her lips part. "What?"
She looks confused, but I know she heard me.
"Does Atticus know you're here?"
I lift a brow, brushing off my jacket. "Do you care?"
She sags and comes to tuck herself into my chest as Ellie waits patiently for more pets next to us. I wrap my arms around her like I wanted to earlier. Like I've wanted to for too many sleepless nights.
"How long do we have?" Her voice is muffled against me.
"A few hours."
Did she always feel this small in my arms?
"You want to tell me how you're really doing?" I ask her softly. I'm not sure if the others clocked it, but my Ro was stillwearing her mask earlier tonight in the laundromat. Maybe not the whole thing, but definitely a part of it.Phantom of the Operastyle.
She shakes her head against me, and the shriveled thing in my chest beats with murder. I don't like that she's upset. It makes me hot all over. Makes my skin itch with murder.
I get that the main goal of this mission is to return Elijah's family legacy to its rightful place with Julian, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the vengeance that comes with it more. Especially when she squeezes me tightly, and I know the reason she needs to is still breathing.
