“Not at all.”No, because if Ravi gets himself into the kind of shit that requires my entire team, I’ll murder him myself.
He’s lucky.I didn’t know about him tagging along to Brennan Doyle’s little “Set Fire to the Competition” warehouse party until it was too late.I was on my way back from a job in Europe at the time.If I’d been here, I would have stopped him.
Part of this is on me.I should have paid better attention.We’d been clashing for the last year and a half or so, and I’d thought it better to give him his space.I gave him too much.
When he first came to live with me, I hated how Ravi constantly followed me.The responsibility weighed heavier than a chock-full tactical pack.Now, I’d take back those days in a heartbeat.
The days before Ravi climbed into bed with me and made it clear he didn’t see me as anything resembling a parent.Because after?Well, I keep pushing away the questions that night created.
Sal continues.“Uh, okay, so I wanted to make sure you were up to speed on the three of us heading out tonight to Mexico, and then Bev’s got some sort of…”
While my employee gives me a rundown on everything I missed while I was out of the office today, I climb the stairs to Ravi’s bedroom.
There’s more swearing on my part while I hunt down the spare key to his lock and bust in to find what I already know.The room is empty; Ravi’s gone.The window, which leads onto the roof of the covered back porch, is cracked open.
The part I didn’t expect?His phone is on the bed.
Did he leave it accidentally, or does he think that’s how I keep tabs on him?It would be a reasonable assumption.
“Boss?”
Fuck.
“Didn’t catch that, Salvatore.Say it again.”
“Since some of us are going to be out of office for the rest of the week, are there any priority items that need to be addressed before wheels-up?”
As I scan the room, looking past anime posters and one for a band called Young the Giant, in the hopes of finding some clue as to where my missing ward might have gone.While I’m flipping through some spicy looking romance novels on the bedside table, his phone starts pinging like a cash register.
Brennan: Got the date nailed down.Two weeks from tomorrow.
Brennan: Hope you’re ready.Gonna be a big night.
Brennan: Any questions or concerns you talk to me immediately, okay?
Brennan: We’re laying out a lot of money for this, so I don’t want any cold feet.Play your cards right, and you could walk away a millionaire.
A million dollars.What the actual fuck for?I’m already spinning up ideas, and each one makes my gut tighten.
Brennan’s texts are vague enough that it could be anything, but anything Brennan Doyle’s asking Ravi to do for that kind of money… I don’t even want to think about it.
“Boss?”
“One second, Sal.”
Taking a chance, I pick up Ravi’s phone and unlock it with my face.I set myself up as an alternate facial ID ages ago.I’m glad I did.
Then I reply to the message, in the hopes of drawing out more information.
Ravi: I can’t remember if you already told me where.
It’s a risky question.It could be the thing that tips Brennan off to me not being Ravi if Ravi already knows the answer.But the kid’s got ADHD, and his brain seems to prioritize random facts about penguins and peanut butter sandwiches over things like appointments or when he last ate.
Brennan: Still TBD, but I’m working on Shadow for the venue.
My stomach turns at the thought.Shadow.A very private, very exclusive kink club.For damn sure it’s not a place where a kid like Ravi should go.Ever.He’s too innocent for whatever Brennan Doyle’s trying to mix him up in.
I’ve killed men for less.
