Nick woke up, stretching his legs from his chair. It was barely daylight, and the light that slipped through the narrow windows was tinged with light green.
Troy was asleep on his cot, turned on his side and snoring lightly. Nick lit a morning cigarette and reached into one of the drawers, pulling out an off-white, slighty worn tee shirt.
He slipped the shirt he wore off, shrugging it into the corner by the dresser.
In one fluid motion, he put the new shirt over his head and, stretching the collar past the tip of his cigarette he slid the shirt on.
He retrieved his cigarette from his mouth, exhaling a long breath before looking back at Troy and unlocking the door.
He made his way through the hallways, turning into the arched doorway behind the bar.
El Matarife nodded at his entrance. "So you're leaving?" He asked, accent peeking through.
Nick nodded, "Just for a few days. We'll be back after I see my sister."
"So, you trust her? After what she did to your boy?" The older man asked, eyeing Nick.
"No," he answered automatically. "I don't. Troy was the one who agreed to go."
El Matarife smiled thoughtfully, "For you, no doubt."
Nick ignored this. "Is there anything you need before we leave. They'll probably be heading out in an hour or so." Nick feigned checking a watch.
"No, just pay attention while you're gone. Figure out what you seek."
Nick wasn't sure what he meant by that, but he nodded a goodbye and set off back to the room to wake Troy.
When he arrived, Troy was already up, lacing up his boots.
"We're leaving soon?" Nick voiced.
Troy only nodded, walking to the dresser and lifting one of the two duffel bags. He jerked his neck for Nick to get the second.
"You need anything else in here?" Troy asked him, eyeing the Anubis lock that he would secure the door with on their departure.
Nick scanned the room, subconsciously fingering the sack of pills in his pocket. He shook his head and led Troy from the room. "Nope."
They headed out of the front gate, towards the large parking lot. Madison and Strand were there already, standing beside a late nineties model suburban.
"You're with me," Strand welcomed at Nick, nodding towards their car parked a few rows over.
Nick threw a confused look at Troy. He followed the older boy to their car and tossed the bag he was carrying into the back seat.
"Why am I riding with Strand? Are you riding with my mom?" Nick asked incredulously.
"So you don't have to. It's okay, Nicky. You'll be fine following us with Victor," Troy stated matter-of-factly.
"I trust Strand, it's not him I'm worried about," Nick retorted, cutting his eyes up at Troy.
Troy just shook his head and scrunched his nose. "I'll be fine. Your mother is in a place where she knows any bad move she makes could jeopardize her mending fences with you. I'll watch her. You don't have to worry about me," he said, putting a hand on Nick's shoulder and squeezing gently. Nick leaned inwards toward Troy's hand.
Strand approached them, "So, are we ready?" He looked in between the boys.
Troy dropped his hand and they nodded in unsion. He chanced a last look, watching Nick duck into the passenger seat as he made his way to Madison's SUV.
"So, why'd you really choose to ride with me?" Madison asked as he climbed into the vehicle.
"So Nick didn't have to," he left it at that, as they pulled away from the parking lines, north on the highway. And to the boys, destination unknown.