“If there’s a hooker with me, yeah.”
She nods and her eyes glisten with knowledge. Rinaldo has told her about my nightlife.
“Having someone in your bed helps you sleep.”
“Most of the time.”
“Do you think it helps to bring you out of the dream, back into reality, when you realize you aren’t alone?”
I have never thought about it that way, but something about her words sounds right.
“I suppose so.” I glance over at her, expecting some kind of self-satisfied look on her face, but there isn’t one. She’s not making any judgments about me, and she’s not feeling all justified in her questions. Her hand twitches as if she wants to reach out and touch my arm, but she doesn’t move. Her eyes are soft—caring.
There’s a hint of pity, though. It’s enough to bring me out of the trance the memories have induced. I pull off the main road and onto a smaller one.
“I don’t think I’ve been out here,” Felisa says. “Where are we?”
“A little nature preserve west of the city. It’s a nice relaxing place.”
We drive a little farther before I turn right onto a dirt road. There’s no one around, and the trees hang low all around us. Some of them brush against the car, and I hope they don’t leave scratches on the bumpers.
I still need to get that damn sticker off.
“This really is the middle of nowhere,” she remarks.
“It’s a good place to get away from it all.” I look over and give her a half-smile. “It’s usually pretty damp and humid around here, too. No sand.”
“Do you still feel like you are trying to escape, Evan?”
She’s still putting forth her best effort. I have to give her props for that.
“Maybe. Sometimes I just like to deal with other things that upset me. Like today.”
“What’s upsetting you now?” Her tone is slightly different. The confidence has dropped a little. She looks away from me and glances at the woods on the other side of the window.
I slow the Camaro to a stop at the edge of the woods and reach around the back for my duffel bag.
“There have been a lot of changes since I left,” I tell her. “New people around, and I’m not sure who I can trust. Trust is a big thing with me. Some people think they can just walk in and have someone else vouch for them, but I know opinions can be swayed by a smooth-talking politician. It’s easy to get wrapped up in other concerns and forget who you’re talking to. I’m rather protective of Rinaldo and his family, and not knowing the people close to him…well, that bothers me.”
“I noticed you and Paulie don’t seem to get along.”
“Paulie is careless and not all that bright,” I say, “but he’s loyal. Stupid, but loyal.”
“It’s good to know Rinaldo has you on his side.”
“I will always protect Rinaldo,” I state with a grin. “A lot of the time, he doesn’t realize what I’ve saved him from, but it still happens.”
Yanking the duffel into my lap, I climb out of the car and open the passenger side door. Reaching in, I take Felisa’s hand and start to pull her out as I swing the duffel’s strap around my shoulder.
; “Evan?” Felisa pauses and pulls back on my hand. “Where are we going?”
“To a favorite spot of mine.”
She hesitates, and I can see the hint of fear in her eyes. She seems to have realized she can’t trust me, and she’s right. It’s way too late now, but she’s definitely right.
“I think maybe I’d like to go back.”