Текст книги "Kian"

Автор книги: Tijan

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

One second.

Two.

There is no way.

Three.

I couldn’t think.

Four.

Did he really say that?

And five—

I jerked forward. “How?”

He looked around and hushed me. “Settle down. You need the least amount of attention as possible right now.” He stopped talking and leaned even closer. “Good. You have colored contacts?”

“What?” My mind was racing. “Yes. Why?”

“Does your school know your real eye color?”

“No. I used the fake birth certificate you gave me. I have brown eyes on there.”

“Good. Good.” He nodded in approval. “You’re doing all the right things. What are your eating habits?”

“My eating habits?”

“They can track you like that. You have to be a completely new person.”

“Who’s tracking me?”

“Who do you think?” His eyes narrowed.

A waitress came at that moment with food and coffee. Two glasses of water were poured next, and she waited a second to ask, “Anything else?”

Snark looked around, poking at his toast. “Jelly?”

She gestured to the window. A whole tray of jelly and jam was there, pushed up against the window frame beside us.

“Ah, gotcha.” Snark grinned at her. “Thank you. I think we’re good.”

She glanced to me, but he said for me, “She’s not a breakfast eater. She’s good to go.”

I glared at him as she left. “I am too a breakfast eater.”

His eyebrow went up as he reached for the creamer for his coffee. “That’s new, too?”

“No. That just happened like normal. I have early classes.”

“Oh.” He sounded disappointed and then shrugged. “I thought maybe you were really selling all the new changes. Really dedicated, ya know?” He winked at me as he stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth. Eating around it, he said, “I was coming to warn you. Kian has definitely made it known that he wants to see you. He wants to talk to you.”

My mouth went back to being dry. It was the damn Sahara Desert in there now. “And if he finds me?”

He took a big bite of his toast, ripping it off, and he pointed the end at me. “Don’t tell him anything. You remember what I’ve always told you. Don’t trust anyone. Got it?”

“Even you?”

He grunted. “That’s probably a good idea, too.”

I sighed. Right before I went into hiding, I asked Snark for advice. That was Snark’s last words to me. Don’t trust anyone. It wasn’t hard to follow his advice, but it wasn’t funny when he said I couldn’t trust him. I had to trust someone. Right? An old emotion was starting to settle on my shoulders again. I didn’t want it there, but I knew once it got there, it wasn’t going away.

Hopelessness.

“If he shows up…” He swallowed his food, jerking his head up and down. He took a sip of his water next before clearing his throat. “And we have to face the fact that he’ll probably find you.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said, but his family are some rich bastards. Powerful, too. They’ve got the means to find you. Hell, they might’ve even tracked me here. I could’ve led them right to you, for all I know, but I’m telling you…” He stuffed the rest of his toast into his mouth and went right back to pointing at me. “If that happens, if he shows up, you don’t say a word to him. I don’t want you to incriminate yourself. You got that?”

“Incriminate myself?” I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even remember what day it was. “How could I do that? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know that, they know that, but you don’t know what his lawyers are thinking. Trust me, Jo—”

He was going to say my name.

I pounded on the table in my rush. “Joslyn.”

“What?”

“Joslyn. That’s my name.”

“I know.” He frowned at me, swallowing the rest of his food. “You go by Jo, right?”

“Oh.”

His eyebrow lifted. “You’re strung tight.” A look of approval flashed in his eyes. “That’s good. You might get through this without too much damage then.”

The way he’d said that was like I was preparing for battle.

“What?”

I lifted my head. “Huh?”

“You made some sound. What’s wrong with you?”

“Just…this.” I waved at the table, gesturing to my eyes and then to the coffee in front of me. “I got free of Edmund, but I’m still hiding. I’m starting to think I’ll always be hiding.”

“Probably.”

I was scared. Right then, I was really and truly scared. I didn’t want to hide for the rest of my life. I didn’t mind my life as Joslyn, but hiding and always looking over my shoulder? I didn’t want to do that. And for what? Why? Was Kian really that much of a threat?

“Yes.” Snark’s hand fell to the table.

I had said that last thought out loud, but I didn’t take it back. I couldn’t. I was really thinking that. What danger was I really in?

“Listen to me, Jo.” He had his hand back up, pointing right at me, as he spoke with urgency, “Whether the kid helps them or not, he’s got an entire team behind him. His father wants him back in the family and back to being groomed to take over that entire empire they run. They don’t have another son for that global enterprise. If they could blame all of this on you, his old man will die a happy man. Maston’s team wants your head. They have another chance at a future for Kian, and they’re going to do everything to make that happen. You got it? They don’t give a shit about you. Who are you?” He almost spit at me from across the table.

“You’re no one. Literally. You’ve got no father, no mother, no siblings. You’ve got no one. You took a new name and a new life. They’re going to use that and say, Why is she hiding? They don’t care that your life was turned upside down or that you’re hiding because you’d like to live normally, like they do every day.

“Their son was worshiped and declared a hero. People want to say he didn’t know what he was doing. They want someone to blame as the villain, and you—a girl who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in poverty—are the perfect scapegoat. If they can find you, they will do everything in their power to serve you up on a silver platter.”

“Well…” I had nothing to say to him. My God. I was already strung tight, and now, hearing that, I was close to losing it. A shrill laugh started to bubble up my throat. “A week ago, my biggest problems were my final exams.”

“Yeah.” He grew quiet.

Hiding from a media storm was one thing, but being blamed for what Kian had done for me was a whole other thing. “Could they convict me somehow?”

He shook his head, but his eyes were sad. Those dead eyes—I had only seen one other emotion in them, and that was a flicker of approval—just now looked depleted as he said to me, “I don’t think a DA would charge you, but I won’t lie to you. If Maston’s legal team is successful with spinning everything on you, however they might do that, your life could be utter hell.” He waited for one second and then added, “And that’s the best-case scenario if they do what they want to do.”

I was screwed. That was what he was saying. “I should’ve gone to college in Panama.”

He looked around. “I don’t know why you picked this school. This was where he wanted to go, right?”

Because I wanted to go here. It wasn’t just because Kian wanted to go here or because the media wouldn’t think to look in the most obvious place, but now, I realized how stupid it was for me to come here.

I didn’t say any of that to Snark. All I did was ask, “Will you give me a ride back to my place? I took the bus here.”

And he answered with, “I can’t, kid. The less we talk, the better it is for you.”

There was that then.

I nodded, hearing myself thank him for half a cup of coffee, before I walked out of that diner.

Kian was going to find me and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt it in my gut.

“Being optimistic is the worst attitude in the world to have.”

Escape was an exclusive restaurant that I’d been working at every summer since becoming Joslyn Keen. This morning was the first time I was being trained at the same job I always had as a hostess. The trainer, who looked two years younger, decided to bestow his infinite wisdom onto me.

I scratched behind my ear and leaned in, making a show of reading his nametag. “Really, Henry?”

He clipped his head in a nod. “Yes. Be realistic. Don’t be optimistic. That way, you’ll always exceed everyone’s expectations.”

That made no sense to me, but I wasn’t going to argue. Henry looked ready to bite my head off if I dared to smile. With a fierce expression, he towered over me at six feet two. His hair was brushed to the side, and he was a gangly guy.

He was also new to Escape.

Even though I’d picked up hours during college breaks, today was the first day I started back full-time again, and I didn’t recognize any of the staff. I called Paul last week to double check that I could still work for the summer, and my manager assured me that it was fine.

When I came in and found that I would be training for my usual job, I couldn’t find anyone who remembered me to make sure it was correct. Paul was out for a few days, and the assistant manager was new. When I dared to broach the topic, thinking maybe I should be training the new guy instead, the assistant manager braced herself for a battle. Recognizing the signs, I held up my hands and backed away from that fight. I would train. That was fine. So, here I was, being told where the menus went, the layout for the tables, and how to roll silverware during downtime.

Not that we would get a lot of downtime.

Escape was a popular high-end restaurant. If people dropped in to get a seat, they usually couldn’t. It was one of those restaurants where a customer needed to make a reservation a day ahead, and that was one of the reasons I was surprised by all the new employees. Escape was good to their employees. There wasn’t a big turnover rate. As Henry snapped his fingers to get my attention, I didn’t think I could ask him about that question.

Oh well. Time to go with the flow and learn my old job again.

“Okay.” My host trainer touched the Bluetooth in his ear, nodding, and then said, “On it. It’s ready in the back?” A pause. “Got it. Thank you, Tamara.” He said to me, “I know we’re slammed right now.”

There was one couple waiting for a table.

He continued, “But Tamara is coming up to help host for us. A special order came in, so we need to deliver some food to the newspaper.”

My eyebrows went up at that. “We do delivery now?”

He bent down to stuff some menus into the back of our hosting stand but paused. “When have we not?”

Touché.

I almost saluted him. “Got it.”

After loading the food into his car, he explained, “Every delivery is handled with special care. We don’t deliver to many places, but the newspaper is one of those that we need to wine and dine, so to speak, for obvious reasons.”

Yes, for obvious reasons—that I couldn’t think of at that moment.

“Amazing publicity.” He gave me the reason.

Another item that I didn’t know Escape cared about because they never had. I frowned. “There seems to have been a lot of changes with the restaurant since I worked last.”

“Really?” My trainer didn’t sound too interested as he turned the car into traffic.

I knew we were only a few blocks away, so I didn’t answer.

As he parked, he paused and frowned at me. “Did you say something before?”

“Nope.”

“Oh.” He unclipped his seat belt.

I flashed him a grin. “Where do we go, boss?”

“Uh…” He got out, shut his door, and opened the trunk.

The food was loaded up in our arms, and he led the way to a side door. After his foot tapped the bottom, the door was pushed open from the inside…and I looked up to the smiling face of my roommate’s archenemy.

“Susan…” My voice died.

Her smile vanished, and she straightened back from the doorway. “Jo.”

My trainer looked between the two of us, readjusting the food trays in his arms so that he would have a better grip. “You two know each other?”

Susan’s smile returned, but it was forced. She moved back, holding the door so that we could get through. “I didn’t know you were working at Escape.”

I said as I passed her, “Only every summer.”

But Susan didn’t care. She didn’t respond as she let the door close, and then she went before us, leading the way down a hallway. “We have a meeting tonight, so we wanted to order some food. You guys can bring it this way.”

We were led into a conference room where people were sitting around a bunch of tables. Susan had us unload the food on a back table. I assumed Erica would be somewhere else since Susan was promoted above her so when I heard my name, I was surprised.

Erica came over from one of the tables.

I said, “Hey.”

Erica frowned as she skimmed me up and down. “I forgot you were working at Escape again this summer. You started today?”

I nodded and patted some of the food containers, grinning. “I’ve been promoted to delivery now.”

Susan had been standing by, waiting for us. She let out a sigh when Erica came over, too, but leaned forward and studied all the food. Seemingly appeased, she cleared her throat now. “Excuse me for a minute. I need to grab the money.”

As she disappeared, Erica stepped closer and said to my trainer, “Go away. I want to talk to my friend.”

His pale cheeks reddened, but he smoothed a hand over his hair. He was trying to make it look casual, but he was failing.

I added, “I’d listen to her. She might be short, but she can be a big bully when she wants to be. I’d run, run far, my friend.”

He threw me another frown but moved backward a few steps. When he was far enough so that he couldn’t overhear, he made a point of stopping, leaning against the wall, and folding his arms over his chest.

Erica laughed to me. “I think he’d keel over if he realized I ate boys like him for breakfast.”

I gave him a look. “Yeah. Come to think of it, he does look like a younger version of Wanker, but he’s more cutthroat. I can already tell, but forget him. You’re still working with Susan? I thought you two went your separate ways at work.”

“God,” she muttered under her breath.

Susan came back, digging out money from a black bag. She went to Henry.

Erica lowered her voice. “I wish. No. I can’t escape her just yet. I’m still just part-time, but her full-time promotion has gone to her head. She offered to pay for all this food, and she’s acting like she’s the boss of everyone.” She perused the group waiting by some tables. “But I can’t really fault her. It’s because of her that I was even included on this project. For the next few weeks, we’re all working on an interview.”

“An interview?” I grinned at her, batting my eyelashes.

She laughed, nudging me in the side with her elbow. “Don’t make fun of me.”

I dramatically sucked in my breath and held a hand to my chest. “I would never.”

“Ha-ha.” She didn’t sound amused. “I can’t tell you anything yet, but it’s big, and it’s worth putting up with Susan for now.”

“That’s good then.”

“Uh…” Henry raised his hand, waiting for me at the doorway, while his other hand held our emptied delivery bags to his chest.

I smirked. “Mr. Happy Pants forgot my name.”

Erica barked out a laugh.

He made another impatient gesture to the door.

I waved at him. “Yeah, I’m coming.” Moving toward him, I threw over my shoulder to Erica, “I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

She grinned, heading back for her table. “See you later.”

It was past closing time, and Henry called after me as I was about to walk out the door, “What are you going to be?”

Turning around, I pushed open the door with my back and thrust my fist in the air. “Not optimistic!”

“I’ll see you tomorrow or whenever you work next.” He gave me an approving grin and wave.

I was tempted to give him a double thumbs-up sign with a cheesy smile, but refrained. I wouldn’t have meant it, and God forbid, I would be fake. Though Henry would’ve lapped it up. He was all about fake and circumstance. It could’ve been his graduation song.

“Jordan.”

I had opened the second set of doors, and it was swinging shut behind me when I heard my name. I stopped mid-step. My foot was literally in the air, and it came down roughly as I twisted around. I thought I would be ready, but nothing could’ve prepared me. This was fitting in some way. He’d been out a week, and I had been waiting every day. I lifted my head, but the sight of him in front of me didn’t seem real.

But he was there.

He was staring at me, looking at me like he knew the only me that mattered, the real me.

“Kian.”

He was wearing a black leather jacket.

That was the first thought that stuck out to me, but I couldn’t get past it. I didn’t know why, and I started laughing in my head. Yes, I was nervous. Yes, I was a little scared, and yes, a part of me had been waiting for this meeting to happen for too long. Now, here he was. In a black leather jacket. Really?

I grinned. “Could you get more typical bad boy than that?”

He moved his head to the side, narrowing his eyes.

I didn’t want to drink in the rest of him—how his dark eyes seemed even more alluring in person than on the television, how there was an air to him that pulled at me, which was weird and wrong, especially in how it also pushed me away. I wanted to run, but at the same time, I couldn’t do a thing while he was looking at me like he had during the trial.

Kian hadn’t been allowed to speak to me, not after he’d killed Edmund. Before the trial, during the trial, and afterward, there’d been no exchange between us. In some ways, Kian was as much of a stranger to me as he was to everyone else. And in other ways, I felt like I couldn’t be more exposed to him if I turned my insides out. He knew me. That was how I’d felt all this time even if it wasn’t validated, and I was feeling that again.

“Jo!”

Footsteps sounded from behind me, and I twisted around. Jake was across the street. He lifted an arm up and stepped out, turning to check the road. He was coming over to me.

No…

He couldn’t.

I didn’t want him here.

What was he even doing here?

I looked back with an apology ready for Kian, but it died on my lips. He was gone.

Jake hurried past the cars beside me and stepped onto the sidewalk. “Hey. Glad I caught you.”

“No.”

“What?”

No.

He couldn’t be gone, but he was.

“Jo,” Jake softly prompted. He moved close, so he was standing right behind my shoulder.

If I swung around to look at him, I would’ve touched his chest. I sucked in my breath. Kian had been here. He’d actually found me.

I had to call Snark. He’d tell me what to do now.

But Jake was still here. Jake was familiar. Jake didn’t have a team that wanted to blame me for my foster father’s death.

I let out some air, deflating my lungs, and hoped to calm my nerves before I moved back a step and turned around until I was facing him.

He was frowning at me, and he cocked his head to the side. A small strand of his hair fell over his forehead, and he raised a hand to push it back, his eyes warming as he did that absentminded gesture. The corners of his mouth lifted in another grin, transforming his face from concern to caring.

“Sorry. I’m just…I thought I saw someone I used to know.”

The truth felt lame as it stumbled from my lips, but I followed one of Snark’s guidelines. “Stick to the truth, but be vague. It’s the best form of lying there is.”

Jake nodded, his grin curving higher. He glanced up and down the street. “I hate when that happens. Used to happen to me all the time after our thing ended.”

I shoved Kian to the back of my mind and made myself shake all the lingering tension away. “Yeah?”

His eyes darkened. “All the time. It was…annoying.”

“I’m sure Tara loved that.”

He smirked, but a smidgen of pain appeared in his depths. “She wasn’t too happy about it. I think she knew. I kept thinking I saw you, and then sometimes, I actually would—you know, if you were walking to class or something. Messed with my head. I kept wanting to talk to you, but…”

His gaze fell to my lips, and he moved closer. I could feel the heat from his body, and he was looking down at me, looming over me.

This was how we’d been before. I would close my eyes and rest my forehead to his chest. I’d rest my hands there or tug on his shirt, pulling him the rest of the way to me, and then we would be touching. Jake would hold back, his hands in his pockets. He’d let me dictate if we would touch, and there was something heady about that feeling. He made me feel powerful.

But the old want to touch him…wasn’t there anymore.

I was cold, dejected somehow, but I moved away to hide it. “What are you doing here, Jake?”

His eyes were fixed on my lips. “What do you mean?”

“You, me, standing outside my job at night. Just the two of us.”

He chuckled, and his hand lifted to graze against my cheek before he moved another step backward, his hand falling away. “Okay. I’m sorry. You got me. I came to find you on purpose. I knew this was when you used to get done with work, and I took a chance, figuring it would be the same tonight.” He held his hands in the air, surrendering, with a half smirk on his face. His hands dropped, and so did the smirk. He grew somber. “We didn’t talk about it at the bar the other night, but I wanted to explain what happened. Tara and I broke up. She and I—we don’t work. We’re toxic, and something had to change. I don’t know if it was because of you, but I can’t stand here and say that I don’t still have feelings for you.”

Nope. I shook my head and held a hand to his chest, pushing him back a step. “Jake.”

He had a twinkle in his eye. “But I promise you, as an oath from Jake Alexander Monroe to you, Jo…slyn…”

“Really?”

“Joslyn Jo.” He winked at me. “Why don’t you ever use your full name?” He put one hand over his chest. “I solemnly swear, that I am here, in the attendance of your company, not as a future fling, one-night stand, or one-year stand”—a second wink—“but as a person with the sole agenda of becoming friends.” His hand lowered, as did his voice, and he moved back to me. “I just want to be your friend again, Jo. For real, I miss that most of all.”

“Just friendship?”

“Really.” He touched his finger to his mouth, and then he made the shape of a cross in the air. “My promise, before God and all.”

I groaned, but I couldn’t hold back the grin that was fighting to be let out. “I have a feeling that your promises aren’t going to hold up.”

“Yeah, well…” He shrugged. “Everyone sins, right? That’s what confession is for.”

I shook my head. “Just friends, right?”

“I promise.”

It wasn’t going to last.

Jake stepped close, lifting his arms in the air before circling them around my body. He waited before I nodded, then hugged me tight to him. I breathed him in. Pine and vanilla—his old scent. A month ago, my alarms would’ve been going off but not anymore now.

Something had changed.

Still holding me, he rocked me back and forth and asked close to my ear, “You okay?”

I clasped on to him and whispered back, “I think so.”

“Good.” One more tight squeeze, and then he let me go. He tapped on my chin. “You’re back at your old job, huh?”

Laughing, I hit his arm. “I am. Want to walk me home?”

He made a tsking sound and shook his head. “You’re a little slow on this friendship thing. Walking home with you is a requirement of being the best bud.” He cocked his head to wink down at me. “Especially if there’s wine at the end of the walk.” He held his elbow out, and after a slight hesitation, I linked mine with his. My apartment was a few blocks away, and after a really long time, I was glad that Jake was with me. As we headed down the sidewalk, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder.

Was Kian still out there? Was he watching?

More importantly, what did he want with me?

The liquor store was on the way home, so we stopped to get wine in case there wasn’t any at home. I couldn’t remember, and when we got to my apartment, Erica squealed over the wine. She didn’t seem excited to see Jake, but didn’t say anything. As soon as there was an opening, I excused myself and slipped away to my bedroom. Grabbing my phone, I perched on my window frame. There was enough room, so I could completely sit there. I pulled my knees to my chest, and then I opened my phone.

I needed to call Snark and report Kian’s arrival, but when I opened my phone, instead of seeing the blank screen that I usually did, there was a text message.

I didn’t recognize the number.

I’d like to talk.

That was it, nothing more, but I knew whom it was from. A little flutter started in my chest.

“They’re going to blame everything on you.”

Hearing Snark’s reminder, I ignored Kian’s text and sent Snark a text instead.

Need to talk. He texted me.

I held the phone, waiting, and it buzzed seconds later.

Same booth. Now.

I knew if I made up an excuse to leave the apartment, Jake would go with me. He’d even go to hold tampons if I used the feminine hygiene route, so I went a different way.

I ninja-ed my way from my bedroom. Literally.

I faked being sick, even pretending that I had to vomit suddenly from the doorway. My performance was Oscar-worthy. I grabbed my stomach, held my breath long enough to start seeing some stars, and made a mad dash to the bathroom. After that, Erica did all the work. If there was one thing my roommate hated, it was puking. She was the one to ban me to my room for the night, and once that was done, I was good to go.

Still. To be safe, I locked the door and shoved a chair underneath the doorknob. Heading for the window, I climbed onto the fire escape and left a quarter between my window so it looked closed, but wasn’t. It would shut, but it wouldn’t lock me out.

Hurrying down till the last step in the stairs, it wasn’t close enough to jump, so I climbed the rest of the way. My building was old, so there were grooves in the brick wall, big enough where I could put my hands and feet. Once my feet touched ground, I grabbed a cab, and when I got to Mel’s Diner, Snark was already there. Again.

Sliding into my side of the booth, I didn’t ask. I grabbed his cup of coffee and put some creamer in there.

“Hey.” He dropped a newspaper he’d been reading. “That’s mine.”

“Not this time.” I placed my phone onto the table.

Snark’s gaze fell to it, and the issue about the coffee was dropped. He pointed to it. “That’s how he contacted you?”

“He texted me.” I slid the phone to him.

He picked it up and read the text before writing down the phone number and giving it back. “That was it?”

I opened my mouth, ready to tell him about the visit, but I couldn’t. The words died in my throat, and I lifted the coffee to take a sip instead. What was I doing? Even though the liquid was likely burning my throat, I didn’t feel it. I was withholding information from him, information that I knew he would freak out about if he knew. Gripping the mug tighter, I forced myself to lower it back to the table. I couldn’t tell him. But why? Why couldn’t I do it?

“Jo?” His eyebrows lifted. He folded his hands in front of him on the table and pinned me down with his gaze. “Was that it?”

“Yes.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “You sure?”

My throat felt pinched, and I swallowed painfully. “Isn’t that enough? You said he’d get in touch with me. Wh-what should I do if he gets in contact with me again?”

“Like if he tries to see you?”

I glanced away. “Yeah. What then?” My fingers curled tighter around the mug.

“Well then, we’d have a different situation on our hands.”

I swung my gaze back. “What do you mean?”

“That boy sliced and diced your foster father. He’s a whole different creature than what the media has said he is, and his team knows it. He knows it. And you and I both know it. If he does find you, do not talk to him.”

I jerked my head up and down. “Okay.”

“You’ll let me know if that happens?”

My eyes fell down to my lap. It was like he already knew. I could hear the suspicion in his voice…but, no, there was no way he could know.

I put my phone into my pocket. “I will.”

He pointed at where I had put the phone. “Do not text him back.”

“I won’t.”

Reaching over, he took my coffee back. “This is mine.”

“Okay.” I let out a soft laugh.

A waitress came over with her pad and pen ready. As she asked for my order, I looked to Snark, and he nodded. He said, “Go ahead. Get something to eat, and I’ll give you a ride back home.”

“Really?”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s too damn late for you to be traveling alone anyways.”

“Thanks.” My lips twitched, a grin forming, as I gave my order.

When the waitress left, Snark didn’t bring up the text message. He didn’t push to see if there was anything I was holding back, and I was thankful. Leaning back in the booth, I relaxed for the first time all day.

It wasn’t until he pulled into my alley when he brought Kian up again. His hand was resting on the steering wheel, and I’d just unbuckled my seat belt when he asked, “You sure there’s nothing else?”

“What?” I had started to reach for the door, but dropped my hand back to my lap.

His eyes were pinned on me, and he sat there, mulling over something in his head, before his eyes narrowed. “You can’t lie to me.”

“I’m not.”

“He’s going back to prison. He’s going to try anything possible to make that not happen. This is your future we’re talking about.”

“I thought you said his team wanted to do that.”

“Jo, if you think he’s separate from his team, you’re crazy. That boy is the one who will be sitting in a cell again. Not his lawyers or his folks. Him. I just hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

My lungs stopped working for a moment. “Stupid?”

He shook his head. “He’s been evaluated. Do you want to know the logistics of what they found?”

My mouth went dry. “What?”

“Just don’t let the image on-screen fool you, and don’t romanticize what he did. He killed for you, but he’s had two years to think over what he did. He threw away his future while you got a new one. That would sting even Mother Teresa.” He gestured to the door. “Now, go on, and do the ninja thing you told me about. Crawl up the wall.”

“What am I supposed to do now? Just live life normally?”

“You do that. Me? I’m going to pay his folks a visit tomorrow. I think all contact will be cut off after then.”

That was good. That was a relief.

After I said good-bye, I climbed up the fire escape and then slunk through my bedroom window. I should’ve been happy after hearing that from Snark. Kian would stay away, for sure, after Snark saw his parents.

Yes.

That was a good thing…