Reckoning

Naked, sweaty, and exhausted, the three of us cuddled in bed together with Kurt in the middle and fell asleep.

The delicious sex had been so utterly orgasmic and physically exhausting that it allowed Nicky and I to forget that we were wanted fugitives facing six years of slavery and just enjoy the hedonistic pleasures of each other's naked bodies and then fall asleep with the three of us holding each other as if we were lovers on a wild beach vacation instead of escapees hiding out to avoid capture.

Although slavers could burst into the room at any moment, drag us naked from our bed kicking and screaming, slap Nicky and I in chains, and haul us off to slavery, it was the best sleep I'd had in weeks. It was as if the three of us, embraced naked together in the bridal suite's king sized bed, were in our own little world, safe from the dangers that had imperiled us earlier that morning.

We were awaken hours later by Nicky's phone vibrating – it was Lori.

"Tell me good news," Nicky begged.

"I've got it," Lori said.

"We've got the loan?"

"Attila Capital Investments has agreed to stake you the $650,000.00 you asked for. They just emailed me the loan package."

"Thank God," I said, greatly relieved.

Still looking concerned, Nicky asked, "What's the terms?"

"They want two more points in interest per annum guaranteed by seven years servitude."

"Shit," Nicky cursed, "that's even worse than I expected."

"Do you want me to keep looking?"

"Oh no, hell no, It's way too late for that. Tell them we'll take the deal and print the loan package."

"Can you come to the office to sign?"

"No, they'll have the office under surveillance. Can you drop it off at the branch library on Washington Street?"

"Sure."

"There's a section of old books in the very back of the library. On the bottom shelf, they store the oversized books. Leave it in a book entitled, "Fashions of the Middle Ages Illustrated" and then go.

"Will do."

"Thanks, I owe you, I really, really owe you for this. One more thing, you know that if this goes wrong, you'll go down with us."

"I understand."

"For God sake, be careful. Don't tell anyone where you're going. Leave your phone in the office. Start with the subway and change lines. The drones can't follow you down there. Change cabs at least once, and keep a sharp lookout just to make sure you're not being followed. Pay for everything in cash. I'll reimburse you. If you have any doubt, go back to the office and we'll figure something else out."

"Don't worry," Lori said, "if there's anything I know how to do better than getting a man, it's losing one. I'll be careful. Give me an hour and I'll be there."

"Thanks. I owe you. I really, really, owe you for this."

"That's highway robbery!" I protested as Nicky hung up.

Nicky shrugged, "Have you got anywhere else we can come up with $650,000.00?"