Page 115 of With Us

I didn’t trust myself to speak, so just nodded.

The girl inhaled deeply, smiling.It was small and wobbly, almost as if it felt unfamiliar, but it was there. “Thank you.”

Taking off out the door, I watched as one of her friends threw her arm around her, saying something. Then I watched as the girl laughed.

Whatever the real story was, I couldn’t deny I felt better knowing it wasn’t some innocent man lying in the hospital. Whoever that man was, he deserved worse.

I was still mad. I felt betrayed and in the dark, something that didn’t sit well with me.

But I felt a little better.

???

“Any other questions?” Luc asked from the passenger seat of the new Rover.

“Yeah.” I pointed to the ignition. “What’s this thing do again?” He looked panicked for a second until I rolled my eyes. “I’m kidding. I know I’m hopeless, but I’m notthatbad.”

“Do I have to remind you how long it took for you to figure out the folders on your phone?”

“Oh, hush it.”

He had a point, though. Everything on my phone automatically organized into folders by category. All the organization in the world was for nothing if I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

Climbing out of the car, I rounded the hood. It was probably frustrating for a tech genius to explain the most basic features. I didn’t want to add to his frustration, but I needed answers. “Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“Boss’ orders,” he stated simply, knowing exactly what I was referring to.

“WhenwillI know more?”

“Soon.” His answer was as evasive as I’d anticipated. He climbed the porch stairs, but I stayed on the walkway.

“That man,” I said, making him stop, though he didn’t turn around. “The one in the hospital?”

“What about him?”

“He hurt someone. A girl. She didn’t say exactly, but I could tell what she meant.”

That got him to turn around. “How’d you find out?”

“She comes into Java Brew sometimes.”

“He’s worthless human filth who got better than what he deserved.”

“But Theo’s not the one who gave it to him.”

It was subtle. So subtle, in fact, I wasn’t even totally sure I saw it.

A slight shake of his head.

“Luc, I need to know what’s going on. It’s been almost a week. I refuse to wait around in the dark.”

And I hadn’t been.

When asking for answers had gotten me nowhere, I’d switched to demanding them. Since it was the equivalent of Gus going head-to-head with a lion, I’d ended up with only a load of frustration and anger. I’d spent the week at work or locked in the spare room, but when I couldn’t stand the seclusion any longer, I’d begun to plan.

I’d called my landlord to find out my apartment was already rented, which hadn’t surprised me. It was a small and cruddy place, but it was relatively safe and cheap. I’d also applied at a few grocery stores, and had an interview the following week, if I could shake whoever my babysitter was that day.

Even without the job, I had enough money to live on until I found something else.

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