“I bet when you first met me, you never thought you’d be staying in a fancy hotel with me.” said Ben.

“No, when I first met you, I thought it would be a seedy motel.” said Kara as she teased Ben. She still loved him for the way he defended Therese.

“The cops watch all those. One rule, stay somewhere nice, and make sure they have a free breakfast.” said Ben, while opening his weapon bag and placing a thick cloth on the bag. He began pulling out several pistols and magazines. Kara reached for a magazine, but Ben stopped her. “I can change ID’s I can’t change fingerprints. Don’t touch the rounds, and when we load them, we wear gloves.” said Ben.

“Why do you like these?” asked Kara.

“Colt 1911’s have a bullet nose cut in the slide, they make ejecting unfired cartridges easier, and they run as good as any other.” Ben told her. He’d killed his first man and he’d killed his first men with a Colt 1911, so nothing else felt right in his hand.

“Don’t you want something that holds more bullets?” asked Kara.

“I have that, it’s at home, but it isn’t going to be that thick, and I’m that good.” said Ben.

“I wish the others were here.” said Kara, because she the group, and she especially missed Therese. Kara and Therese had already spent too much of life apart.

“I do too, but they all got shot.” said Ben. Kara’s face was still bruised, but she was glad she wasn’t shot. “Remember the house with the basement. If anything ever happens, go there, I won’t give you up, and it’s not in my name.” Kara nodded, she remembered Ben taking her there to make new ID’s.

“Can’t we get some hand grenades? In the movies, everyone has hand grenades.” asked Kara.

“Hard to explain to the cops, if we get stopped with these, I shoot competition and am going to a match.” said Ben, pulling out a list of matches and shooting clubs near their destination. “Cops don’t ask about why a guy has a few 1911’s and a bag of ammo.”

“Hit-Woman, and Hit-Man.” said Kara, picking up a 1911 and holding it safely as Ben had taught her.

“I was never a hitman. I was mostly a forger and a hacker, who shot competition for fun. I never killed anyone a lot before you all got attacked.” Ben told her. He was trying to be modest more than he was lying, and most of all Ben was more proud of who Therese made him feel like than who he ever was.

“But the people you know? The people who came and saved our lives?” asked Kara. She a vague memory of men in black suits coming with the ambulance crews. One had a thick beard, and the other she would swear was Nicholas Cage.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“When you’re in, you’re in, and now we’re back in.” said Ben.

“How did you get out before?” asked Kara.

“I got caught hacking a fried chicken company stealing the twelve secret herbs and spices recipe for Lou. She wanted better fried chicken.” said Ben

“I thought it was eleven herbs and spices?” said Kara.

So does everyone else, that’s why they can’t duplicate it.” said Ben.

“You’re shitting me, right?” asked Kara. She did not believe Ben at all.

“People get caught, it happens. I took my hit, and faced the charges. Both sides were letting me walk from the life, if I faced those charges. No one thought I would have found such a great attorney.” said Ben.

“Vivo?” asked Kara.

“Bingo. We were friends before the trial, and it stuck afterwards, but both of us were miserable, and we opened up the convenience store. Life was simple, and we had good times.” said Ben.

“So why did those guys come after us?” asked Kara.

“Ana’s mom was my sister, Jessica. Peter may, or may not, have been running dope, she stole heroin and ran off. We don’t know what happened but she was found dead in an alley. My guess is that these guys were the ones who owned the stuff she OD’d on.” said Ben.

“You have a lot of revenge built up.” said Kara.

“They have killed or hurt everyone I care about. Let’s get some sleep, we have another long drive tomorrow.” said Ben, placing his pistol on the nightstand, and setting his gear bag on the floor. He climbed into bed and turned on the TV. Seeing Space-Girl Michelle was on, Ben said “Oh not this shit.”

“Sorry Benny-boy, once it’s on, it’s on.” said Kara taking the remote control from him, to which Ben rolled over and fell asleep. Kara stayed up another hour watching the show. Kara wished Therese was there with her, and already missed her. Ben was snoring already.

The next morning Kara kicked Ben to wake him up. She was staying in a nice hotel and so far he had neglected her. “What the fuck Vivo, you go work the counter.” said Ben, stirring in his sleep.

“Oh fuck no, did you just call me Vivo?” asked Kara.

Ben sat up, and re-orientated himself. “Oh shit, we’re in a hotel.” said Ben as he blinked his eyes several times. The TV was on, and Kara was staring at him, pretending to be angry. “All right, all right, I’m up.” said Ben, climbing out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom. Ben braced himself with the forward hand on the wall, the hotel mattress was nice and he slept very good. Ben had not been on the road in awhile.

“I want that free breakfast you told me about.” shouted Kara.

“Okay, Okay, let me get ready.” said Ben as he came out, pulled his pants on and slid his 1911 pistol in his holster. Ben then put his shoes on. He grabbed a shirt and put it on. “OK, let’s go get breakfast.” Ben said to Kara who was already dressed. Ben kicked his doorstop block from behind the door and then stood opposite to the hinge as he opened it, his hand near his pistol. He waited, then stepped back and swooped around to clear the other side.

“You sure are cautious.” said Kara.

“Old habits.” Ben told her.

“I’m not complaining.” Kara said in a charming way. She liked that Ben was careful and dangerous.

“Do you always pack around the store?” asked Kara as they left the room.

“Yes. And don’ talk about it outside the room.” said Ben politely, shutting the door behind him and hanging the do not disturb sign. They walked down the hall, Kara noticed Ben was different now, very alert, almost like he was on the prowl.

They made it to the breakfast area, there was a cook making omelets, and several pans were laid out filled with food. “This is way better than a muffin and OJ.” said Kara, reflecting the last hotel she had stayed in. Ben sat with his back against the wall.