Free Brick (Double Dippin') by Allison Hobbs Page B

two separate journeys.
    Back in the car, Anya gave Brick directions to the shelter. The women’s shelter was on a nice street in a residential neighborhood. Brick popped open the trunk so that Anya could get her bag.
    She grabbed her red bag and hurried to the front door. She gave Brick a quick wave when someone opened the door. Brick let out a breath of relief once Anya was inside. Instead of pullingoff, he sat in front of the shelter with his motor running, wondering what his next move should be.
    He needed money. Couldn’t accomplish much without it. He could get a loan from the credit union at work. After he got his hands on some paper, he’d put in for a two-week vacation—or better yet, he’d ask for a leave of absence.
    Infiltrating Smash Hitz’ camp would probably take longer than two weeks. Finding a way to abduct both Smash Hitz and the tranny broad was going to take patience and cunning.
    Now that he’d figured out a way to finance a trip to Miami, he decided to splurge on a clean room in a decent hotel. Still sitting in his car with the motor running, Brick searched the Internet on his cell, and located a hotel near the airport that offered a full kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom. The price wasn’t bad, either.
    Satisfied with his plan, he pulled out of the parking space and drove a few feet, tapping on the brakes when he reached a stop sign at the corner.
    Glancing in his rearview mirror, he spotted Anya. She was leaving the shelter, head hung low. Red bag tossed over her shoulder.
    Brick immediately put the car in reverse and cruised backwards until he reached Anya. “What happened?”
    “No room. They’re only taking women with children. The administrator called a shelter on Thirteenth and Arch. They have two beds open. But it’s first come, first serve,” Anya said, sounding dejected. “I hate to ask you, but can you give me a ride downtown?”
    “Yeah, I can do that.” Brick unlocked the passenger door. He felt somewhat responsible for her predicament. If he hadn’t shown up at the flophouse, Anya would have continued her daily routine with Cash Money. As pitiful as her life with Cash Money must’ve been, at least she’d had a place to stay. Now she was outon the streets. Brick noticed the sky was darkening. It looked like it was going to rain.
    Suddenly affected by the gloomy sky, Brick thought about his family. Thomasina had always shown him nothing but love; she’d given him the utmost respect throughout their short marriage, and now she hated him. His son was going to be distraught when he woke up in the morning and couldn’t find his daddy.
    And Misty… Oh, God. Misty! His anguish over Misty was all consuming. I fuck up everything I touch.
    “Is something wrong?” Anya asked, picking up on Brick’s sudden mood swing. “I can take a bus and the subway if you don’t feel like—”
    “You don’t have to go to a shelter; you can stay with me,” Brick announced, making a sudden decision to take care of Anya for a few days. He’d have a guilty conscience if he left her stranded with nowhere to rest her head.
    “You know the deal,” he told her. “I got shit to take care of. I’m only getting this room for a few days…a week at the most. After that, you’re on your own.”
    Anya nodded.
     

    Brick swiped the key card. He and Anya entered the cool and nicely decorated hotel room. Carrying a shopping bag filled with milk, cereal, and munchies, he strode to the small kitchen and set the bag on the counter.
    Anya lingered in the living room area for a moment, checking out the widescreen TV and the modern furnishings. “Wow. This is nice,” she said as she joined him in the kitchen. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
    “It’s not a big deal.”
    “It’s a big deal to me. It’s been a minute since I’ve been in clean place with all the comforts of home.” She ran her hands along the surface of the countertops, and then swung open the door to the fridge. “Ooo,