Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen
Zen’s POV
As expected, I woke up at 6:31am. I had gotten even less sleep than the night before. I couldn’t keep living on no sleep like this, but for now I had no choice. Thankfully, Elizabeth had detangled herself from me while we were asleep. I was freezing my ass off, but at least I wouldn’t wake her while getting out of bed.
The old mattress creaked loudly while I scooted off the edge. I winced, watching her carefully to make sure she wouldn’t stir. She didn’t. Her mouth was still slightly agape with a soft purr-like snore escaping her soft lips.
Fuck.
What had I done?
I completely ruined my life, everything that I had worked so hard to achieve in the last eight years, for a fucking woman. Maybe Dan would forgive me if I brought her back? Maybe it could become one of those things that we just laugh about. He can call me a sneaky bastard, and I can call him an asshole, and we can move on with our hits.
Who was I shitting? If I ever saw Dan again, it would be the last time. That guy would have my head on a spike in seconds. Every year of our comradery would be thrown in the fucking garbage along with my entrails. No one crossed Dan. No exceptions.
I can’t believe I just couldn’t stop thinking with my dick.
I glanced back down at the Princess who ruined me. No. It wasn’t my dick doing the thinking. I loved the way her light blonde hair framed her angelic face. It was such a stark contrast to my raven colored hair. We were like dark and light, evil and good. My hands were stained with blood, and it would take a miracle from God Himself for her to ever let a basket case like me touch her again.
Then again, I couldn’t understand why she followed me so easily in the first place. I could blame it on being a good fuck, but she had no previous experience anyway. Besides, her little shelter key idea showed that she trusted me long before I ever got in her bed. There was something not right with this girl.
Was she crazy?
I wished I had brought her file with me so I could review it. Regardless of why she came with me, she was with me now. There was no going back. There was no more ‘Zen the assassin’. All I had was 10k and some rounds on me. That, and a hot blonde who may or may not be out of her damn mind.
I debated waking her up and so that we could leave, but I still had some shit to do before the sun came up in an hour or so. I walked up to the office, my toes kicking up gravel along the way. I was met with the same high asshole from a few hours ago.
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“Hey. Where’s the nearest convenience store?”
“Ah, that would be the truck stop. ‘Bout two miles down the road. Drive away from the interstate, it’ll be the only building around.”
Great, a truck stop. Good because it would have more items, shitty because it would have more cameras. I thanked the man before walking back down to the stolen car. I had already grabbed my silver pistol and locked the handle to the hotel door. I obviously couldn’t lock it all the way, which made me paranoid beyond belief, but I figured that if I were to be tracked it would be by the car, not the motel where they had no cameras or id required.
I checked my wallet after getting into the car. I had about a hundred twenty in twenties and tens before I needed to break into the stash. That would be enough to get some basics.
The bright fluorescent lights of the sign were the only lit thing around. I noticed a dirt drive about a quarter mile out of the store where I pulled in and parked the car. The lot housed a few big rigs, most of which blocked me decently enough. I abandoned the car after doing a quick sweep for loose hairs and wiping anywhere bare hands may have touched. I was clear, since I wore my gloves, but Princess was not. Once out, I walked the remaining distance to the glass doors. I kept my head down, not suspiciously so, but just enough to avoid direct facial contact with the cameras.
I grabbed about two bags worth of items. I didn’t want to grab much more, since I would be walking back to the motel on foot. I hoped Princess wouldn’t mind chimis and Pringles for breakfast, since that’s all I could give her right now.
Feeling optimistic, I even grabbed a pack of condoms by the front register. You know, just in case she didn’t hate me. God knows I would need to get laid after all this stressful shit. Once out the door, I took them out of the small cardboard box and shoved them in my pockets. I didn’t need her seeing them when I got back.
Two miles. It took me about 45 minutes to walk in total, taking into account crossing traffic and uneven terrain.
Please let her still be there when I get back.