After I stuffed my cut into my bag, I turned back to Chulo. “Anything else I need to know about getting across the border?”
“I think everything should be fine. Once you’re through the checkpoint, I would advise burning daylight and not stopping until you get halfway across Texas.”
He grimaced. “Course you got a senorita with you who’ll probably start bitchin’ to stop and take a leak or something.”
I chuckled. “I think we’ll make it fine. Annabel doesn’t impress me as the high maintenance type.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re right,” Chulo replied.
Ghost threw out his hand. “We gotta be going, brother.”
I smacked his palm and then drew him to me for a hug. “Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for all your help.”
“Sticking it to the Diablos was good fucking fun,” he replied.
With a laugh, I pulled away. “We still owe you. Even though we’re going legit, we’re here for you guys when you need us.”
“Glad to hear it. Don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything.”
“I appreciate it.”
After exchanging handshakes and hugs with Chulo and Sidewinder, the El Paso Raiders headed out the house. It was only a few moments later that Annabel emerged from the bathroom. I couldn’t stop myself from doing a double take. It wasn’t so much the baggy pair of jeans or over-sized, almost florescent, orange and lime green shirt. It was more about the fact she looked completely different as a brunette.
At what must have been my lengthy stare, she brought her hand self-consciously to her hair. “Does it look okay?”
“Yeah. It looks great. No way would anyone recognize you now.”
She appeared relieved a slight alteration would help disguise her identity. “I’m just glad it’s the kind that will wash out in a few days.”
As she gazed down at herself, she said, “I know it’s probably a lot to ask, but when we get ready to stop for the night, I wouldreallylike to find some new clothes.”
I smiled. “I think I can handle that.”
“Thank you.”
“Ready?”
She nodded. “I think I’m all packed,” she mused.
I laughed at the forced good humor in her statement. “I do like a woman who can travel light,” I replied, as I slung my bag over my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Even though we were in the relative safety of the hospital, I kept Annabel tucked close to my side. I wasn’t taking any chances. When we got outside, we both had to shield our eyes from the glaring sun. We had spent too many days under the florescent, hospital lights.
After craning her neck around the parking lot, Annabel asked, “Where’s the car?”
“Bishop and Breakneck are bringing it here.”
“It gets its own escort?”
I laughed. “I guess you could say that. The Texas Raiders wanted to make sure it was kept safe until we needed it.”
“Safe from what exactly?” she asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Something along the lines of being rigged with explosives.”
Annabel frowned as she lamented, “So many precautions just for me.”
“It’s not just for you. It’s for me as well.”
