Page 21 of The Bratva’s Curvy Girl

I hold down the button and turn it all the way off. I sit there and stare at the black screen with my heart going crazy.

Okay. Okay. Let’s see you find me now.

* * *

I don’t go to the library. I walk the other way, to the bus stop on Gayley, looking over my shoulder the whole time like I stole something.

Every black car makes me flinch. Every big white man. But it’s just college kids and Uber Eats drivers and one old Chinese lady with a cart full of groceries who looks at me like what’s wrong with you. The 2 comes. I get on, sit in the back next to a dude eating sunflower seeds and spitting the shells in a cup, and don’t breathe right till the doors close.

I’m not going home. That’s the first place he’d look. I’m going to work. I’ma clock in, do my shift, make my tips, be around normal people who don’t have keys to my life, and figure this out.

I take two buses to Sunset and walk into Gilt through the staff door at five-fifty with my uniform in my bag.

Ray’s standing by the time clock. He sees me and his whole face drops.

“Dylan. Hey, sweetie. What are you doing here?”

“Working? I’m on at six.”

“No. No, you’re not.”

“Ray, don’t play with me. I’m on the schedule.”

“You were.” He steps in front of the time clock like he’s guarding it. “You’re off it.”

“Off it how?”

“Mr. Maksimov…”

“Oh my God.”

“…said you’re done. He said to give you this.” He pulls an envelope out of his jacket. His hand’s shaking. “You got paid through the end of the year. It’s a real good check, Dylan.”

“He can’t fire me! He don’t even work here!”

“Sweetie.” Ray finally looks me in the eye, and he’s scared. Scared for real. “The Morettis said to give Mr. Maksimov whatever he wants. So that’s what I’m doing. You understand me?”

I snatch the envelope. I don’t open it. I walk back out the staff door into the alley and stand next to the dumpster with my hand pressed over my mouth.