With some of the cash from my coffee can in my back pocket, I climb into the Mercedes SUV and we head down the driveway. Orange trees fragrance the air and as we make our way towards Tampa it starts to smell salty from the ocean. Before the wind has a chance to tangle my hair, I twist it up into a bun on my head.

"Do you like Motley Crue?" Rod asks, noticing my shirt.

"Sure," I shrug. Really, I liked that it was a trendy shirt I could buy with his money. But yeah, their songs aren't bad I guess.

I look down at my outfit- jean shorts, a band T-Shirt, and flip flops. Before leaving the house today, I did my makeup with the expensive shit I got from the mall. Nothing crazy, just mascara, a little bit of bronzer and lipstick. The color is Velvet Teddy, whatever that means.

Thankfully, we don't go to the store I used to work at. No, this Wal-Mart is in the nice section of town. They actually have palm trees and flowers planted outside.

"Why are we here?" Rod looks around like we're in the wrong place. I get his confusion, but the little boys section is exactly what I need.

"My nephew," I smile. "He'll need new clothes for school this year," I say, throwing collared shirts and khakis in the cart.

"Hmmm," he nods and leans on the handle.

Stopping near the deli on the way out, I pick up a rotisserie chicken and pre-made coleslaw. "Oh wait," I say, dashing back for potato salad.

"Hungry?" he raises a brow and we go to the self-checkout.

"It's for later," I smile, pulling out my wad of cash. He tries to pay with Wulf's card, but I hold up my hand. "Please, let me do this," I say.

Back in the car, he drives us toward the compound. "So you were close with your nephew?"

"Yeah," I smile. Dakon is probably one of my favorite things to talk about. He's smart. A good boy who tries hard. He loves football and watches anime on YouTube.

"Sounds like a good kid. I'm close with my nephew too," he says after I tell him about my life before... all of this happened.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a nephew."

"Yeah, Vito's son," he nods. "Vito was in prison pretty much his whole life, so I've tried to be there for him. Al is his name."

"Al?" I laugh.

"Short for Allister," he laughs too.

I really didn't want Rod to take me today. I wanted it to be Brick. It would be easier to ask Brick.

"I have somewhere else I need to go," I say before we get too close to the interstate. "I need to drop these clothes off. I need to go home."

Rod shoots me a look as if I'm insane.

"I know how it sounds. I know I can't stay. And I'm not asking to. But I want to see them. I want to see Dakon. Wulf said I'm not a prisoner. I can go where I want as long as someone is with me."

Rod sighs. "Fine. But only because of the kid." He turns onto the highway heading the opposite direction of the compound.

"I've tried to call them," I say quietly. "My phone's been turned off though I think."

Rod doesn't respond. Instead, he turns up the radio. Motley Crue, Shout At The Devil.