Even though Ari thought the building only had two levels, they walked up a third. At the top, Davis stopped and entered a series of numbers into a touch pad next to a heavy wood door. He glanced back. “I have the best hopes for those kids,” he said. “But I don’t trust them near my stuff. Or anyone else, really.”
He held open the door and Ari walked through. She didn’t know what to expect, but what she saw wasn’t it. Dark hardwood covered the floor, stretching to all four corners of what looked like a studio apartment. The ceiling slanted upwards, peaking over a huge wall of windows. The space was meticulous. Gleaming stainless steel shone from the kitchen. Cool slate lined the fireplace. Ari eyed the rich, blood-red rug in the living area and wondered if it was an antique. The place reeked of money, something she never assumed Davis had.
From the door, she could see the twinkling lights of Glory City. The opposite wall held another long row of curtains. Davis said, “There are windows behind the curtains that look over the gym. I can keep an eye on things from here.”
“This is pretty amazing, Davis.”
“It took me a long time to get it like this but, yeah, it’s nearly how I want it.”
She surveyed the room again and noticed a half-wall obscured what Ari assumed was Davis’ bed, offering a little privacy. The idea sparked warring butterflies in her stomach. Davis walked over to the leather couch near the fireplace and said, “So this is where things get complicated, right?”
Ari sat down and he followed. “Yeah, I think so. I saw your guys down at the park tonight.”
“The boys go down there when they can and try to keep the park safe.”
“Safe?”
“Yeah, everyone in town knows them. Or of them. They’re under instruction to keep things pretty calm or call the police if necessary. Their presence is enough to keep a lot of the troublemakers away.”
“Like scaring off drug dealers?” she asked.
He nodded. “Those bastards are like cockroaches. Turn on the light and they scatter, but they’re never really gone. They’re also not nearly as brave as you would think. They’re scared of trouble. They can’t make money from prison.”
His explanation made sense. Sort of. “While we were down there, I noticed they left with a couple of young girls.”
“Oh.” His eyes lit up in recognition. “The brothel comment. I’m not running a brothel.”
“I never thought you were,” she lied.
“They gave those girls a safe escort home.” He noticed her skepticism. “I’m serious. Boyd had supervisor duty tonight. They go in the van and, if necessary, give any of the kids a ride home that need one.”
“Is that what happened that night I was here? When Peter and the others came back with the hurt boy? He didn’t really fall, did he?”
“No. He got into it with a couple of thugs.”
Ari stared at Davis, long and hard. His eyes looked so dark in the shadowy room. Finally she whispered, “And Oscar? Were you guys out keeping everyone safe that night, too?”
“Oscar was lured out and murdered by my brother. I already told you that.” His reply came out stiff and guarded.
She reached for his hand. “Since the first time I came here, I’ve known that something was off. That this was more than just a sports-centered residential program for troubled youth. What’s really going on here?”
“There’s nothing going on here, Ari. I’m teaching these boys to be careful and protective of their city. My father taught me the same thing. It was the foundation of our lessons here. Still is.”
“You’re using them to fight your battles. Like little soldiers.”
He pulled his hand away from hers and laughed. “They aren’t my soldiers. I’m not running an army here.”
“Davis, you train a group of specifically picked boys to fight. Masterfully. You teach them to take care of the city, defending the helpless girls down at the park and pushing drug dealers out of public places. Even fighting against the Vigilante—or his copycat. Don’t tell me they aren’t some kind of army. And that you’re not in charge.”
He didn’t respond. Ari couldn’t tell if that meant she was right, or if he was too angry to react. She didn’t plan to wait around to find out. Standing, she turned to leave, but Davis grabbed her by the shoulder, pulling her back to face him. They were face-to-face and the anguish Davis felt rolled off his body in waves.
“Don’t hurt me,” Ari said quietly.
He shook his head and cupped her face in his hand. “I’d never hurt you. Ever.”
The sincerity of his words cut through her heart. He reached down and pulled up the sleeve of his shirt revealing his forearm.
“I’ve spent the last several months protecting you.” Lifting his hand, he unlaced the leather band he wore around his wrist. “It’s not an easy job.” Ari took his hand in her own and stared at the tattoo on his wrist, remembering the first time she’d seen it uncovered. The feeling of panic engulfed her—like it had that day in the hardware store.
Before she could react, Davis said, “I told you my mother died when I was 13. I didn’t explain how. Everything about her death changed my life.”