08-13-2018, 01:39 AM
Jensen waited in the back seat while Jay was inside. Alone with Natalie, he worked with his wallet for a few moments, but every time he began to send the note to Jessika, he deleted it and started over. Finally, he returned the thing to a pocket completely dark.
Another minute, he sighed and excused himself. "Pardon me, Miss Natalie. I'll be right here," and he left the car.
He dialed Jessika's number before he was three steps away. It would be early morning in Austin, although she could just as easily be in Dallas as in the governor's mansion. He smiled when her voice answered.
It was a long held breath he finally exhaled when returning to the car. He was inside only seconds before Jay slipped into the front seat. The power billowed from him like a dark cloud.
He shared a concerned look with Natalie, but just as before, he didn't ask.
The drive to John Doulou's loft was quiet, and he spent it fielding messages with Jessika and imagining what to pack and how quickly do to so. The building doorman glanced him over oddly given his attire when Jensen stepped from the car.
Inside, he hurried to change, leaving the tuxedo laid out across the bed. If John ever returned to Moscow, he'd find Jensen had taken to the loft quite well. His things were flung everywhere.
He opted to wear a purple button-down shirt, one he liked and was recently laundered. He never realized how much he missed freshly pressed dress-shirts until re-adopting the habit. Years driving forklifts and night shifts at the docks did poor things to his closet. Slacks and a sports jacket were slipped on. A nice belt and loafers finished the look. Similar clothes went into a shoulder-bag, though he cringed at how wrinkled they'd be come tomorrow.
Before leaving, he paused in the kitchen, eyes landing upon Doulou's antique Bible. The book was more meaningful than Jensen could describe and he hated to leave it behind, but this was a short trip, he promised himself. He laid a hand on the cover a moment, closed his eyes and vowed to return to Moscow - even if it was for this book.
When he returned to the car, he added his luggage to that of Jay's in the trunk and nodded that he was ready to go.
Another minute, he sighed and excused himself. "Pardon me, Miss Natalie. I'll be right here," and he left the car.
He dialed Jessika's number before he was three steps away. It would be early morning in Austin, although she could just as easily be in Dallas as in the governor's mansion. He smiled when her voice answered.
It was a long held breath he finally exhaled when returning to the car. He was inside only seconds before Jay slipped into the front seat. The power billowed from him like a dark cloud.
He shared a concerned look with Natalie, but just as before, he didn't ask.
The drive to John Doulou's loft was quiet, and he spent it fielding messages with Jessika and imagining what to pack and how quickly do to so. The building doorman glanced him over oddly given his attire when Jensen stepped from the car.
Inside, he hurried to change, leaving the tuxedo laid out across the bed. If John ever returned to Moscow, he'd find Jensen had taken to the loft quite well. His things were flung everywhere.
He opted to wear a purple button-down shirt, one he liked and was recently laundered. He never realized how much he missed freshly pressed dress-shirts until re-adopting the habit. Years driving forklifts and night shifts at the docks did poor things to his closet. Slacks and a sports jacket were slipped on. A nice belt and loafers finished the look. Similar clothes went into a shoulder-bag, though he cringed at how wrinkled they'd be come tomorrow.
Before leaving, he paused in the kitchen, eyes landing upon Doulou's antique Bible. The book was more meaningful than Jensen could describe and he hated to leave it behind, but this was a short trip, he promised himself. He laid a hand on the cover a moment, closed his eyes and vowed to return to Moscow - even if it was for this book.
When he returned to the car, he added his luggage to that of Jay's in the trunk and nodded that he was ready to go.