Couldn’t look in her depthless eyes.
Because I was thinking about Cyndra. Holding her, feeling the softness of her and the long taper of her ribs as she pressed into me. Her arms tight across my shoulders, squeezing with all her strength, like she’s trying to tell me something. The shadows in her eyes and the tiny flecks of gold you only see when you are a breath away.
Janie’s hands closed. “We have enough to last until your birthday. That’s what I’m saying. We could go now, and get the assistance later.”
“When the money runs out.”
“Maybe.”
She waited for me to look at her.
I did, and it felt like something was being pulled from me. From my wrists and my chest, drawing it out in one long tug. Would Cyndra even care? I pictured her fingers lacing with Michael’s and somehow knew the answer.
“Jason,” Janie’s voice cracked. “I’m sorry. It was just an idea.”
“Yeah. But you’re right. Why not go? There’s no good reason.”
“We don’t have to choose now. It’s enough just to think about it.”
“Sure. We’ll give it a few more days.”
“Okay.”
So it was decided then. And we both knew it.
We walked another block in silence and stood on the corner. Janie would have to walk a few more blocks by herself. I’d head back to school.
“Be careful,” Janie said.
“Hey, I’m off to a good start. He’s not picking me up at home.”
“Stop playing.” Her dark eyes grabbed me, wouldn’t let my gaze slide away. “Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t let him get to you. If it’s that bad, walk away. Don’t come home and—”
The pain in her voice ripped at me.
“Janie, I promise.”
She sniffed and swiped her eyes. “Good.” She hugged me quick, like she was stealing it. “We’re so close.”
? ? ?
I walked to school and waited in the parking lot.
I didn’t have to wait long. The vintage Mustang prowled into the lot. Michael was the only one in the car. He put the window down.
“Time to make yourself useful.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
We drove to a long stretch of empty road. Michael pulled to one side of the two-lane, and turned the engine off. The feeble twilight made colors hard to see, even the cherry red of the Mustang’s hood.
“Wanna make out?” Michael asked, the same old joke.
“You’re not my type.”
Michael laughed. “What, you think your girlfriend would object?”
I shrugged, unsure as always how to act when he mentioned Cyndra.
Michael turned on some music—heavy, screaming stuff. We waited on the darkening road. Finally he spoke.
“There’ll be others here soon. I just wanted to be early. To talk to you about it. You know where we are?”
I knew the road by reputation, but not experience.
“Drag Race Road.”
“Right. And everyone will be here soon. People come from different schools, not just Mercer, and there’s always a bunch of races. You may even want to try your luck.”
“What would I drive?”
He smiled. “There’s plenty of cars to be had.” He squinted out the window. I rubbed a fist on my leg, remembering Janie.
“Nah,” I said.
“You wouldn’t get caught.”
“Sorry. Sure hope that wasn’t the job.”
“We’re here to meet Trent.”
Headlights glinted in the distance of the straightaway. Michael gave me a glacial smile. “Trent is a security guard at a swank development full of doctors’ offices. I’m paying him to be somewhere else so we can break in, steal some drugs, and trash it.”
“The drugs’ll square you with Cesare?”
Not a bad idea. You had to hand it to him.
“That, and one other job he has for me after. Two little jobs, and I’m in the clear. But that’s not the only reason I’m doing the doctors’ offices.” He pumped a fist in the air, like an overenthused coach. “For the team, son.”
I thought about Michael’s cold, empty house. How Clay called him a puppet master. Michael called himself a user. He wasn’t interested in teams.
“What’s the second job?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Who knows? One thing at a time.”
Headlights threw our shadows across the windshield as a car pulled in behind us. Michael opened his door, so I followed. We walked to the back of the car and stood in the glare.
The lights went out as the car door groaned open. Trent strutted up, wearing a navy blue security uniform. He held out his hand. “Michael. Jason.”
We shook and stood in the dark, blinking away the afterimages that floated on our retinas.
“It looks like tomorrow will work.”
“It’s definitely on, then?” Michael’s voice was cool, but his hands fisted in his pockets.
Trent nodded. “My partner is out on leave. His wife just had a baby. And we’re already spread thin because Earl was busted on the drug screen. So, yeah, Thursday it’s just me and one other guy on the whole shift, and we won’t be patrolling together.”
“Tomorrow.” Michael’s voice was firm.
“You got my money?”
I tried to pretend I didn’t sound just like that when I said it.
Michael handed over a fat envelope. “Half now, half after.”
Trent didn’t count it, just slipped the envelope into his pocket. He nodded at me. “You looking forward to losing your cherry like him?”
I stared him down.
Trent laughed like he was my chummy uncle. “Who am I kidding? Won’t be your first time at the dance.”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the trunk. Two cars appeared down the road.
“It’s set, then,” Michael said. Dismissing him.
Another pair of headlights appeared.
“Tomorrow.” Trent shook Michael’s hand and walked back to his car. The door protested as he closed it. He turned the car around and drove away.
The second car pulled in behind us where Trent’s car had been.
I turned to Michael. “I’m not coming along on your little adventure.”
Michael waved his hand, like he was shooing a fly. “Later. We’ll talk about it later. Along with my idea for your problem.”