Blood on Blood

TWENTY-SEVEN

Jerzy

On the elevator up to the room, I still can’t believe what I’ve got wrapped in this handkerchief. I’m thinking Florida might be the ticket as a place for us to go. For a whole shitload of reasons. Just one of them being I know a few guys down in South Beach.

The money is all over the place down there. Some young and stupid, but some smart money, too. Needs to be a quiet deal. These things will go for some big dollars to the right guy. A serious collector or a reseller who will turn them around again.

The elevator dings on the third floor and I head for our room. I shouldn’t, but I just gotta show her these babies. Maybe even let her hold them up in the mirror like she’s wearing them. I want to see her eyes when she’s doing that.

I slide the room card in and open the door. She should have bolted it. There is a small entryway with the bathroom on the left and the main area further in. Shades are all drawn but every light is on. The bathroom door is shut and I can hear water running in there. Not the sink but the tub. It’s fuckin’ gushing.

“Hey, babe!” Sounds like a waterfall in there.

No answer.

“Ania?” I put my ear to the door and try to listen over the water. “ANIA?” I say it loud, right next to the closed door and then try the knob. It’s locked. I glance down at the strip of light under the door. At least there’s no water on the floor. I jiggle the door handle again.

“Jerzy?” Her voice sounds frazzled and I hear the water shut off. I also realize I can breathe again. I was actually scared something had happened to her. What the fuck is up with that? Why can’t I control that with her?

You know why, dumb ass.

Most of the time I like that inner voice. Sometimes, though, not so much.

“Yeah, babe. Me.”

I shake my head back and forth slowly, knowing I’m totally hooked on her. It’s like I’ve said all along, that ain’t a good thing. Then again, I can’t stop grinning.

“Everything all right in there?”

“Oh my God. You scared the shit out of me.”

“Hey, I’m a sneaky bastard. Now let me in.” I’m still grinning like a chimp.

“I just got in the tub, baby. Trying to soak out the tension. I’m so nervous I’m about to jump out of my skin.”

“Let me in and we’ll soak together.”

“This isn’t the Hilton Suite yet, hon. I can barely squeeze into this thing by myself.” There was a little splashing around. “Give me twenty minutes or so?”

“Fifteen, tops. Then I’m coming in whether you open it up or I bust the door down.” I put my forehead on the door and slowly bump it twice.

“Sooo…is everything all right? I mean, even though it didn’t turn out like you wanted today?” She says and then there’s more splashing. ”Are you okay? That’s what I mean.”

“Oh yeah. I’m okay, we’re both okay.”

“That kinda sounds better than just okay.” She giggled and I heard more water being run now. “This hot water feels so good but I won’t be long. Promise.”

“I have a little surprise here waiting for you. I want you to see something, babe.” As I’m talking, I look down and unfold the cloth. They looked even bigger now. “You got twelve minutes before I come in there like it’s a damn DEA bust.”

“So we’re checking out of here, right?”

“You bet. We’ll head over to the Hilton, get Patrik’s present, have dinner, hit the road tomorrow morning. Driving too. Travel light. Early. We’ll buy whatever we need, and then some, when we get there.”

“I can’t wait, baby. Where we going?”

“Florida. Hey, I’ll throw my shit together in the bag while I’m waiting for your highness here.”

A little more splashing.

“Already done. I needed to stay busy, so we’re both packed and ready to go. I don’t really have much of anything with me, anyway.”

I pace into the area where the bed is, see my bag, her big ass purse and some other shit piled on a chair in the corner. I come back to the bathroom door.

“Done yet?”

“Jerzy…c’mon! Just relax for a minute. Why don’t you turn on the television or something?”

“The television?” I laugh at the door. “Right. I haven’t watched any TV since I was in a cell and I won’t be starting now.”

The water comes on again.

“Jesus, you got a sauna going on in there or what? The steam is rolling out from under the door here.”

“Patience.” She laughs again. “Almost finished.”

“Yeah, yeah. Ten minutes and counting. Prepare to be surprised…and assaulted.”