34 Kimmy #2
"Mom," I protested. "It's…it's too soon.
We are still getting to know each other.
" I felt bad because there was no man. There was only Seven.
An enigma, whose face I'd never seen. And he'd be gone once the job was done.
But if that's what it took for me to get Margaret to leave town for a couple of weeks, then I had no choice.
"What's his name?" she asked.
I almost said it. Almost. "I don't want to jinx it, Mom. Can you just go on vacation and while I see how it goes with this guy?"
"Alright, dear." She patted my hand. "You'll tell me when you're ready."
"I will." I took another sip of tea, then stood up and said, "I'll help you pack."
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now, Mom. I might not have time later."
A few seconds ticked by before she finally nodded in agreement.
Seven was still in the car and the engine was still idling when I returned.
"How did it go?" he asked as I slipped into the passenger seat.
"Fine." I shut the door.
As always, his eyes flicked to the rearview for a moment. His profile was all angles and shadow and I wondered how he looked under that bandana, but I respected his need for privacy.
I stared at my hands. They were shaking from all the lying. "I'm sorry it took me so long. I had to help her pack."
"You did well," he said, and I realized it was the first real compliment he'd ever given me. Unless, of course, those dry one-word praises he'd said during our park self-defense training counted.
I allowed myself to watch him watch the street before saying, "I think Mom guessed something is off and I'm sending her away."
"Elaborate."
"It's just the way she looked at me and the questions she suddenly asked."
"As long as she's going."
"She is." I paused, then asked, "Should we come back later, so I could take her to airport?"
"Too risky. I already arranged a ride. Just text her and tell her you might not be able to come and that you booked her a car just in case.
" He gave me the time and the car company name and phone number, and I did exactly as he said, sent Margaret a message that she didn't need to worry about getting to the airport if I couldn't make it on time.
She replied almost instantly, asking me why I wasn't the one taking her.
I had to lie again, stating I had an urgent task at work and the deadline was tonight.
"You alright?" Seven checked.
"Yes."
"We better go." He shifted the gear and pulled away from the curb.
In silence I watched the world go by in blurs. "Where are we going?"
"Safe house," was all he said.
We drove past the diners and half-built condos, past the river and the skyscrapers.
I counted the stoplights, read the signs on the buildings, surveyed the sidewalks.
I tried to understand how my life had turned into this—an action movie.
How it went from quiet semi-comfort to noisy adventure I hadn't asked for, but maybe secretly needed.
"Are you hungry?" Seven asked.
"Not really."
"You sure?"
"With everything going on, food is the last thing on my mind."
"I understand…" Pause. "We're almost there."
I glanced ahead and saw a set of gray buildings coming into view. After a few minutes, Seven turned into an underground parking lot and we circled down and parked at the lowest level.
The safe house was in what appeared to be a converted industrial building—one of those loft-type places that looked glamorous in a magazine.
The lobby was empty, and I suspected there were no tenants here but us.
We took the freight elevator upstairs. It groaned under our weight and rattled with every floor.
When we got to the top, Seven pulled the scissor gates apart and we entered a windowless corridor. I looked both ways and saw a single door at the end. It had a keypad instead of the key slot.
"No one else on this floor?" I asked.
He shook his head and walked over to the door, my duffel slung over his broad shoulder. He punched in the code and then repeated it for me. I pulled out my phone to make a note, but he touched my wrist gently and said, "Don't leave a digital trace. Just memorize it."
I repeated the code after him several times before it finally clicked.
Inside, the space was huge, all exposed brick and concrete, with large windows.
Metal bars covered the glass on the outside.
There were no curtains. The furniture was minimal—a couch, a table, a couple of chairs.
Kitchen, however, was nice with modern stainless steel appliances.
There was another door in the corner and it was closed shut.
Seven set my duffel on the floor and stood in the center of the loft, spinning once to take it all in.
It felt less like a home and more like a movie set.
But the view from the windows was breathtaking when I approached.
The city below spread out until I couldn't see.
A mixture of buildings. Tall and short. Monotone and colorful.
Palm trees stuck out here and there. And for the first time in weeks, I couldn't see any of the places that had broken my heart.
Seven hovered nearby. "You'll be safe here," he said. "Nobody knows about this place except a couple of people who work with me. Not even other operatives."
I swiveled to face him.
He pointed at the fridge. "There's a bit of food. Not much, but enough for today and tomorrow. I'll make sure to get you some more."
"Thanks."
He pointed at the door. "That's the bedroom."
"Where are you sleeping?"
"I have things to do, but I'll check in from time to time."
I felt disappointment. "Do the windows not close?"
He walked over to the table and grabbed what looked like a remote, then pressed a button. Black shades rolled down a few inches. He pressed the button again and they stopped moving.
"Oh, okay." I shifted, slightly uncomfortable. Or maybe just scared to be left alone at this unfamiliar place. But I think what really terrified me is the helplessness and being a burden.
"If you need anything, you have my number," he said. "Don't go out unless it's an emergency. Don't use your computer or phone just yet. I'll have someone install a program to hide your IP. It'll be done within an hour. I'll text you when it's safe."
"When are you coming back?" I bit my bottom lip, worrying it a little with my teeth. It felt like biting into my wishful thinking to keep it—him—with me.
Seven looked at me for a long time before responding, and I wasn't quite sure if he was looking at my eyes or my mouth. "I don't know yet," he supplied.
My heart dropped to my stomach. "Be careful…please."
"I'll do my best." Then he turned to go. He hesitated at the door, like he wanted to say something, but instead he just nodded once and left.
I was alone again. Really alone.
I walked to the window and pressed my forehead to the glass, contemplating whether it was all worth it if someone—who didn't deserve it—ended up getting hurt.