Reese

Sugar laughs. “Dulce is nuts. Could you even imagine her with a sweet nine-to-five guy? She’d die of boredom. Or worse.”

“What’s worse than that?”

“She’d aim for world domination just for shits and giggles.”

I laugh because that’s Dulce all over, psychotic wrapped up in a sweet as sunshine package.

“Alright, I get what you’re saying. I’ll keep you posted. At the moment, I’m hoping to just get the news of my return spread around. It will draw people to the gym, and then I can do a little bit of digging.”

“Call me if you need anything. Are you staying there tonight? Need me to feed Charlie?” She grumbles.

“Nah, I got it. I need to come back and pack some things up. It will be easier to stay local, but I’ll still come back now and then and take care of Charlie. It’s only a couple of hours away.”

“Well, the offer is there if you change your mind. Stay safe, Reese.”

“Always, Sugar.”

I hang up and toss the cell on the desk. I hadn’t decided I was going to stay until just then, the two-hour ride not bothering me since I don’t get to ride nearly enough anymore. But if I want to keep my two lives somewhat separate, I need to leave less of a trail.

I’ll grab a motel temporarily, but I’m not big on temporary things. I think it comes from my childhood, when everything had an expiration date, including me. I was never supposed to make it out of the gutter alive, and yet here I am. And what better fuck you to send out into the universe than to thrive in it instead of succumbing?

My chest constricts, knowing I can buy a house here now when before I couldn’t even afford a room. I rub at the weird tightness as a knock sounds at the door.

I walk over and unlock it, pulling it open to reveal Hank.

“Okay, Mal. Time for you to tell me what the fuck is going on.”