Page 7 of Stryker's Ruin

“I was young, about ten then. I’ve never been allowed to go out on my own. When Vince found out we were walking to the shops in town we were relocated to the country. Our supplies were always brought to us after that. My job was to study so I could be useful to the family.”

Yeah, useful. Like selling her body to make allegiances.

“Do you want to get married?” I can tell she’s hesitant to answer me. “We’re friends, remember. I’ll always have your back.”

“Have my back?”

“It’s an idiom. It means, I’ll look after you. I’m loyal to you. I’ll protect you. Another one that means the same thing is ‘I’ve got your six’.”

“Oh, I like these. They’re like code.”

“Yeah, except these are common ones that most people know.”

“Will you teach me ones that just we will know?”

“Let me think on it. Or maybe we’ll come up with our own.”

“I would like that.” She looks out the window when I slow for traffic. “Is this Chicago?”

“It’s Rosemont, a suburb. This is where the apartment is for now.”

“Oh.”

“Disappointed?”

She pastes a smile on her face. “Oh, this is wonderful. The buildings and neighborhoods seem very nice.”

“Ruin, truth between us.”

“I wanted to see the old big buildings and the unique architecture. Things like the zoo, the Navy pier, the park with the fountains. Did you know there’s a river that runs through the city that they paint green. And an aquarium. The tribune tower and museums, all kinds of museums. I want to see things. I want to go places. I—” She glances at her folded hands in her lap. “I should not ask for so much.”

“Yes, you should ask for everything you want. Was one of your books about Chicago?”

She studies her hands for a moment before raising her head and squaring her shoulders. Aha, she has more spunk than she knows. Damn I want to see her when she comes into her full glory. “While we waited for our luggage, I went to the bathroom. When I came out, I saw Tourist Flyers about Chicago. They said free. I took some and slipped them in my bag.”

“Good for you. Once we get settled, we’ll go through them together and make a plan. Your gran—Vince asked me to take you shopping so you could get some new clothes. We’ll visit some of the places you want to see when we go out.”

“He did?” Her voice lights up, but her expression quickly dulls. She fingers the hem of her oversized shirt. “I probably don’t look nice enough for him to introduce me to the other family.”

“You look fine.”

She turns to look out the window. I don’t miss that she never answered my question about getting married.

When we arrive at the apartments, I text the super. I’m fuming. It’s not a dump, but Vince could have done a hell of a lot better for her. The super meets us in the parking lot.

“You want me to help with your bags?”

“No. Not until I see the inside. How many units?”

“Six, two on each floor. You’re on the top, the one next to you is empty. But I got someone coming to see it today.”

“They can look, but it’s not available for a month, maybe six weeks.”

“But the boss…”

“The boss is Vince. I’ll talk to him. Key or code entrance?”

“Key.”