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“What’s happening?” I asked him. “Is everything okay?”
Suddenly, Kai’s small smile dropped. “No.”
My chest tightened. “Then, what’s going on? Is João hurt?”
“A long time ago, João’s mother used to be addicted to drugs. It was all his father’s doing. He hung out with the wrong people and made his wife slowly addicted. She was passed out drunk and high when Ana crawled over those needles.”
Mouth drying, I stared up at him through watery eyes. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because she cleaned herself up,” Kai said. “She hadn’t touched drugs since that night, but she worked tonight at the Williams’s restaurant in North Redwood. He’s known to deal and use drugs regularly and do some other things with sex workers.” Kai stopped and clenched his jaw. “I know João’s mother would never use again willingly, especially not when she has Ana to care for. But we found her behind William’s restaurant tonight.”
A sob escaped my mouth, and I slapped my hand over it, so Ana wouldn’t hear.
No.
It couldn’t be. It … she … Mr. Williams?
Kai wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to his chest, so I could cry against him. I buried my face against his oversize gray sweatshirt and held on to him tightly. “Is she dead?”
“João took her to the hospital.”
“And Williams?” I asked, sniffling. “What’ll happen to him?”
Kai tensed and pressed his lips together. “I don’t think you want to know, Imani.” He scooped me up into his arms and walked toward the couch to lay me down onto it, and then he took a seat beside me and cupped my face. “Why don’t you get some sleep? It’s almost two a.m.”
“What will happen to Williams?” I asked again.
“João will kill him,” Kai said as if it were nothing.
Something inside me snapped, and I nodded. “Good.”
“Good?” Kai asked, eyes widening and brows shooting up. “I thought you hated that.”
I swept my fingers across his cheek. “I’m sorry about the other night. I overreacted and was scared because I had never seen so many weapons in one place. But I don’t blame you for wanting to protect the people you love. And anyone who drugs and dumps a woman deserves to die.”
