Page 38 of Liars

“Thanks. I have no money,” I admitted, realizing I had no idea how I would have eaten lunch. Money hadn’t been something I thought about before. My parents always provided everything I needed and then some. I took that for granted before. Not that I had much of an appetite these days, which probably also factored into my carelessness.

What would I have done if I hadn’t met Poppy?

The idea of having to ask Kreed, Maddox, or Mason for money made me want to hurl.

I’d rather starve.

Poppy pulled me through a side exit of school into the student parking lot. Crisp air kissed my flushed cheeks, and I lifted my face to the murky white winter sky. The sun hardly peeked through at this time of year. January brought endless days of sorrowful cold weather, which perfectly matched my mood.

“We get to leave campus?” I asked, reveling in the fresh air. I inhaled deeply.

“Juniors and seniors do if you have an approved pass from your parents,” Poppy explained.

“I don’t have one.”

She grinned. “Neither do I.”

I hated to admit how good it felt to break a minor rule like leaving school grounds without permission.

After going through the school gates, we went to a small diner down the street. A faint hum of passing cars and chatter of students loitering nearby filled the air, but I was too focused on memorizing my surroundings. I had a feeling I’d be doing a lot of walking to and from school. I needed to get my bearings and learn the area sooner rather than later.

“So, this place has the best burgers,” Poppy said, glancing at me as she pulled a cigarette and lighter out of her bag. “You’re not a vegetarian or anything, are you?” She offered the pack to me.

I shook my head, grateful for her chill energy. “No, burgers are fine as long as they have fries.” I could live on potatoes alone.

She lit up, taking a long drag, holding it in her lungs before expelling a cloud of smoke from between her lips. “Good. You’re going to need one after your morning. Hell, I need one for you.”

The smell of smoke never bothered me. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it. My father often puffed on cigars in his office late at night when he thought my mother was asleep. In a way, the white smoke dissipating in the air reminded me of him. I didn’twant the wave of sadness, but it assaulted me all the same, and despite my best efforts to school my features, I was sure Poppy noticed.

She continued to puff on her cigarette, taking the last few drags before putting it out against the brick building and dropping it into the trash. “Welcome to Stacks.” She opened the door for me, a bell chiming over our heads.

We slid into a booth near the window, ordering quickly before Poppy leaned forward, her expression shifting to one of intrigue. “All right, new girl,” she began, tearing open her paper straw. “I know we literally just met, and it’s probably none of my business, but how did you end up at the Corvos’? If you’re not comfortable talking about it, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

Tucking my hair behind my ears, I took a moment before answering. I should probably be careful who I talked to, but I really needed a friend, and something about Poppy made me believe I could trust her. “Their father is my godfather.”

“So, your parents were what, like friends?” she asked as the server came to get our drinks.

I waited until she left to respond. “That’s what’s so strange. I didn’t even know I had a godfather. My parents never mentioned Donovan. Not once, but apparently, he was college friends with my dad.” It felt good opening up to someone. I just hoped my instincts were right about Poppy and she was someone I could rely on.

“Was your father in the mafia or something?”

I found the question strange. How did she make the leap from my dad knowing Donovan to the mafia? “No, why would you think that?” I asked.

Genuine surprise had her brows raising. “You haven’t heard about the Corvos?”

“Heard what?” I prodded.

The server returned, setting two Cokes in front of us. We quickly ordered food. Poppy pressed her elbows onto the table, leaning closer. “Supposedly, he’s some big-deal mafia head. It’s rumored he runs a local branch here in Elmwood. I say rumored because it’s just speculation. No one at school knows for sure especially because Kreed, Maddox, and Mason laugh off the rumors.”

I choked on my soda. “My godfather isthegodfather?”

Poppy’s lips curved at the corners. “Yeah, pretty much.”

I blinked. “You’re kidding, right?”

Poppy shook her head, her voice dropping slightly. “I wish I was. All those fancy businesses he owns, word is, they’re fronts for illegal stuff—money laundering, smuggling, maybe worse.”

My stomach churned, but could I really see him as a mob boss? The problem was I could.

---