Page 14 of Nico

When we arrived in Manhattan, she said, “You know it was going to take you forever to get to Manhattan. It’s a good thing I came along. Do you want to come with me?”

I had no time for fun. I hadn’t had a night of pleasure if you didn’t count being fucked by Dante, and that was marred by the thought he could be ready to kill me at any time to cover up our love. Well, I didn’t exactly know what we had together.

No one kills you to hide a sexual misstep, I thought, staring ahead as Zoey talked.

“I’m going to have so much fun tonight. I’m going to drink and get high and crash at my friend’s pad for days because I know I’m going to be grounded forever.”

I drifted back to my thoughts when Zoey became quiet and concentrated on the traffic. Maybe in Nico’s and Dante’s world they did get rid of unfulfilled relationships. I had completely forgotten that it was Nico who ordered a hit on me for just being there.

I don’t know when, but I had to get out of New York, therefore, I asked Zoey to drop me at the bus station. “I’ve changed my mind, Zoey. Take me to the Greyhound bus terminal.” I didn’t think they would look for me there. They probably thought I couldn’t make it out of New Jersey, but I wasn’t a city boy. I knew how to survive, and especially since I found those gold bars and coins.

I offered Zoey money for trusting me enough to drive me here, but she didn’t want any. She said her family had plenty, and she could give me some if I needed it.

Before I stepped out of her car, I asked her. “How do you cash in a gold bar?”

“You really don’t need anything. First you have to take it to someone who can give you cash. You can find them on the internet. Google it.”

“I don’t have anything but a burner phone.”

“Here take mine. I have another. Just don’t answer the phone and use it unless you have to, and if you don’t recognize the number don’t answer it. Could be my parents trying to track me down.” And Zoey handed over her new iPhone. I gave her a hug and she offered to drive me where I wanted to go.

“I don’t want you involved in my mess. I need to get lost and I don’t want to drag you into this.”

“Something serious?”

“Very.”

“Then, good luck, and if you come back this way, let me know.”

I stepped out of her sports car, feeling good, but as I purchased a ticket, I felt lost. However, when I entered the bus I felt safe for now.

I bought a ticket at the counter and chose a random town. That way no one could track me, and with the burner phone, and Zoey’s iPhone I felt much better. I could make calls and tell my mother I was okay, and as soon as I straightened out my life, I’d come home to visit.

When I woke, the bus was pulling into a hot Texas town. Flies everywhere and the wind blowing as if I was in the Midwest in the middle of winter. But this was summer in the middle of winter for everyone else in this country, and this was me escaping from a small town to a city only to find myself going full circle.

Chapter 10

Romeo

I ambled off the Greyhound bus surprised at the heat devouring every part of my body taking my breath away. Do I want to be here for the rest of my life, I asked myself. I don’t think so. It’s a good place to go if you’re expecting to die, I thought.

Didn’t I expect to die at any moment?

Well yes. Then what the fuck are you crying about? I said to myself. Suck it up and deal with it. You are a man after all and you know men, so what can be hard about living in a place like this without family, someone one to love, and someone to trust with your secrets?

Everything.

I strode away from the bus carrying a backpack, stolen gold, some cash, and little else, thinking no one knew or cared about my shabby little life. I could fade into this scenery of dust, and nothing would happen except that maybe I would live to grow old. Who would be able to track me. I was free. Now I had to figure out how to change over this gold bar, or as Zoey said, “It’s easier to exchange the gold coin when you need money. Try that first.”

I didn’t need a large amount of money now, because I had about five thousand in cash. But how long would that last if I wasn’t working, and looking around this place, if I didn’t work somewhere, I could go crazy living here.

I had no transportation and that was the first thing I needed as I trudged through the streets, past a gas station, and the parking lot of a Walmart store. “I wonder if they will buy my gold coins?” I murmured.

I turned and walked into the store, and sure enough to my right there was a counter devoted to buying and selling of gold coins and gold bars. That was good to know, but today I needed personal items. A toothbrush and my own underwear.

After making a quick purchase, I started my walking scenic tour of the town. I turned off onto the main street and just what I needed, a car lot and a bunch of used cars. I walked into the place and walked out after paying almost four thousand dollars for a late model Toyota.

The salesman saw me coming, and because I didn’t have time to bargain, I was driving instead of walking. I knew where all the motels and hotels were, so there wasn’t any reason to go to the Interstate. Instead I drove looking for a place to eat and then I spotted the sign. WANTED DAY MANAGER.

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