I don’t even bother sighing when I see the hotel Cassandra’s company has her staying in.
The bus pulls through the open gate leading onto the property, and I follow.
I saw my Butterfly through one of the side windows of the bus, so I know she’s in the middle and not in the rear seat, which would be the only place she could realistically see me from.
Her company didn’t even spring for a coach bus. They’re in a fucking rented-out school bus. No tinted windows. Just clear glass and a front and rear entrance begging someone to hijack them.
The gate guard nods to me, and I nod back as I drive through, but what I really want to do is pull one of my knives out of my bag and throw it through his eye socket. Or at the very least roll down my window and shout ¡Haz tu trabajo, maldito idiota! But I don’t do any of that. Because he obviously is a fucking idiot. But also, his not doing his job makes this easier for me.
I back my rented car into a spot in the middle of the little parking lot.
There aren’t a lot of vehicles here, so hopefully that means they have a vacancy. And if they don’t, well, I have enough cash to create one.
I watch through my windshield as Cassandra’s coworkers drag their luggage off the bus.
Cassandra is next. I can see her red suitcase before I can see her.
A man reaches up to take the heavy bag from her, and I shove my door open.
She smiles at him, and I put a foot outside.
He grins back at her, and I’m reaching for my laptop.
I stop myself and take a deep breath through my nose.
My girl isn’t going to let him touch her. And I don’t want her to have to struggle with her bag. And I can’t just walk up there and join their fucking week of meetings.
My foot stays planted on the blacktop outside my car, but I stay where I am. Memorizing the face of the man helping my girl.
I won’t kill him just for that, but that’s his strike one. And if he reaches three, his punishment will be much different from Cassandra’s.
I rip open one of the bags of Skittles and shove a handful into my mouth.
I chew slowly and wait until everyone is inside.
I wait until the bus parks in a corner of the lot.
I wait for the bus driver to finish his cigarette and enter the hotel.
Then I get out, walk over to the bus, slap a magnetic tracker in the rear wheel well, and finally enter the hotel, requesting a room with a view of the parking lot.
