…
Gl!tch.OS: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about your manhood. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. To be honest, you’re probably the best man I know. And I know that sounds lame (though not as lame as wearing a unicorn onesie) but I AM being serious. You’re real, Keys. In a way that is hard to find. I’ve never felt so open, so honest, with any other man. And that, for me, is manly.
WiseWave620: Oh shit! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging. I had a knock at my door and I had to hide so they didn’t find me in the onesie.
Gl!tch.OS: Oh.
…
WiseWave620: But thanks. For saying that, I mean. It’s hard being around my brothers sometimes because they’re so macho and women just fall all over them. I’m the “little brother”, you know. If anyone pays attention to me, it’s usually because they feel bad for me or they need something from me. Reading your message really made me feel good. So thank you.
Gl!tch.OS: You’re welcome.
WiseWave620: On that note, though, I’m going to go continue hiding just in case someone comes back. I still have 22 more minutes in this thing.
Gl!tch.OS: You can take it off! I release you of your Loserhood!
WiseWave620: No, ma’am. Deal’s a deal. I lost our chess match and I have to survive 24hrs wearing a rainbow unicorn onesie with a butt flap. I will uphold my end of the bargain.
Gl!tch.OS: See? Manly.
* * *
Gl!tch.OS: Cilantro, yay or nay?
* * *
One Month Later
Moving always sucked, but it kept her from getting too comfortable, too relaxed. Rose had three rules that she strictly lived by:
First, she was always ready to leave. She wore sneakers, had multiple escape plans, and was never further than an arm’s reach from Oscar. Even as he got older and could sleep elsewhere, she still kept him in her bed. Supplies were harder to keep at the ready when he’d been an infant, but now that he was a toddler, Rose felt more confident in what she had pre-packed in her go-bag if necessary.
Second, as much as she hated it, all her devices were throwaways. She did not keep any equipment between moves, not even a tablet or keyboard. Everything was repurchased after she found her new location.
And third, if she felt complacent enough to make friends or have a pleasant conversation with a stranger, it was time to move.
Oscar’s father was in prison. She knew this, and she kept tabs on him to ensure he remained there, but that didn’t mean there weren’t others she’d pissed off in her nearly twenty-three years.
Including a United States Congressman, an international drug-smuggling gang, and several major health insurance companies she’d scammed out of a shit-ton of money.
While one specific incident had led her to fake her death and go into the Witness Protection Program when she was barely eighteen years old, there were plenty that could have led her down that exact same path. Pissing off the 3Ts gang was just where the dart landed on the board.
Rose had considered numerous times taking Oscar abroad. With her computer skills, it wouldn’t be hard to still keep tabs on her sister and help out theNon Crasas needed. And the argument could be made that Oscar would be safer overseas, but the world was a dangerous place no matter where they were. There was no such thing as a crime-free country, and if something did happen to Rose, she needed to know that Poison was close enough to get to Oscar.
Even if she didn’t know that her nephew existed.
The hotel room they were in was nice. Rose didn’t mind spending money on high-end places to live, because someone searching for her would assume her to be living in cheaper establishments. Having some place that already had built-in security measures helped her too, as she could piggyback off their cameras and systems without having to build her own so she could sleep soundly at night.
Oscar was conked out after eating the room service dinner she’d had delivered earlier. Rose ran her fingers through his reddish-blonde hair. When he’d been born, it had appeared more ginger, but now it was a trick of the light whether he looked redheaded or blonde. Personally, she was just grateful he didn’t have black hair like his father. She knew that she couldn’t keep allof that fucker’s traits out of her son. As much as she hated it, he had contributed to half of Oscar’s genes. But that didn’t mean her son would grow up to be just like him.
Rose woulddiebefore she allowed that to happen.
They were on their way to a new location. She’d rented a furnished house in the suburbs of a Wisconsin town. Personally, she would have rather headed south—but anyone who knew anything about Rose knew how much she hated cold weather. If they were looking for her, they might aim south this time of year. At least, that was the argument she kept telling herself.
The burner she’d picked up that afternoon pinged with a new message. Rose grabbed it and immediately put the device on silent so it didn’t disturb her son.
WiseWave620: I have been betrayed! By my own club! I will never forgive them for this!
