Project Perses: Redemption

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

“So, who’s the chick?”  Warner is asking while peering around my shoulder, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear.  Teddy, Warner and I are sitting in these really squishy sofas in the middle of the Grand Hyatt’s lobby, waiting for Mitchell to return with our room keys.  Vanessa had chosen to sit off to the left, near the Starbucks kiosk with the throngs of devoted coffee drinkers instead of waiting out of the way with us.  I glance up in her direction, only to find she’s sitting there, watching us.  Her behavior is starting to worry me; she seems so distant, like a shell of herself.  This wasn’t the girl I knew. She had said next to nothing on the way here, her eyes roaming from Mitchell in the driver’s seat to me sitting next to her and then back again. 

The Hummer was parked in the underground parking lot under Millennium Park; close enough to get to if we needed it, but far enough away that it couldn’t be tracked to where we are staying if found.  Mitchell had chosen to ensconce us in a big, flashy hotel instead of calling in favors and getting us government paid rooms somewhere.  He was even using credit cards that couldn’t be traced to us, his ‘safety’ card, as he called it.

I think the whole idea of moles in his carefully orchestrated system is getting to him and he just isn’t willing to take any more chances.  I turn to Warner, giving her an annoyed look.  “That’s Vanessa, my…” My voice trails off then, unsure of what to call her.  I wasn’t sure we were together anymore, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to call her my baby’s momma.

Teddy chimes in, saving my ass. “Vanessa is Aiden’s on again, off again.”

Warner snorts to herself.  “Looks very off to me.” 

I can’t help but glare at her.  “Look, she’s had a really bad scare and several of our friends died last night.  It’s not funny.”

Teddy and Warner both recoil a bit, but it’s Teddy who apologizes.  “She didn’t mean anything by it.”

Leaning back into the sofa, my left hand subconsciously squeezing the plush arm, I look from him to her and back.  “Just watch what you say, okay?  She seems really fragile, and whatever it is that’s got her in such a state, I just don’t want to make it any worse.”

 “Okay, I’ve got us three rooms side by side.  Nothing fancy, but they’ll do.”  Mitchell says, appearing next to Teddy and making Warner jump.  I glance up as he hands me a room key.  “Aiden and Teddy, you bunk together.  Warner and Vanessa will share a room too.”  He hands a key to Warner.  “I’ll be in the middle room, keeping the peace.”  For some reason Mitchell’s eyes land on me. 

“What?”  I question, my hands coming up in my defense.

Mitchell just shakes his head.  “Nothing.  Anyway, let’s get going.” He waves at Vanessa for her to follow.  We all start to stand when Mitchell turns back to me suddenly.  “Also, Aiden…I want you and Warner to go to the closest clothing store and pick you up some clothes.  You look ridiculous.”

Two things bother me instantly as we trudge behind him to the escalator.  One, why is Warner accompanying me on a shopping spree, and two, what is wrong with what I am wearing?