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“If you don’t…”
“I know. You’ll hurt Kyle and Kylie, but we had our deal. I kept up my end. I refuse to move drugs around the city for you.”
Zack flinches. With a sigh, I slowly reach over.
“Don’t move, Zack,” I tell him softly.
He lets me take the earpiece from him, his face draining of color. I put the earpiece in, hearing the ranting voice, the guttural tones.
“Tell him I’ll fucking end his fucking—”
“Stop.”
He trails off with a shaky laugh. “I was enjoying our game.”
“We had a deal. If you keep messing with me, it’s off. Everybody will know the truth.”
The man grunts. I know his voice. I wish I didn’t.
“This isn’t over.”
The call ends.
Zack holds his hand out, shaking slightly. “Can I have that back, sir?”
I take out the earpiece, study it, and flick the off switch. Hopefully, that means he isn’t listening anymore.
“You must’ve had a tough life to end up here and be involved in this,” I say. “I know it can’t have been easy, but I meant what I said. There’s a way out of this.”
“Please, sir,” Zack says.
“You don’t have to.”
“He’s mydad!” Zack yells. “I’m not onyourside, okay? I’m on his. So give it to me.”
He grabs my hand and tries to snatch it away. If I hold on, we’ll end up breaking it. Then what will happen to him? I’m so sick of feeling powerless. I need a plan. I need to end this. He takes the earpiece and stands up, holding his skateboard almost defensively.
“You should do what he says,” Zack mutters. “It’ll be easier.”
He talks like he’s so much older than nine, but too much experience will do that to a kid.
“Wait a sec.” I grab a napkin, take a pen from my pocket, and scribble down my number. “Call this number if you ever need me, day or night.”
“Why?” Zack asks.
His tone threatens to break my heart. He genuinely can’t imagine why anybody would ever do something for him without expecting something in return.
“Because you deserve better than this,” I tell him.
He takes the napkin, then skates away, not caring we’re indoors.
I watch him go, a pit in my stomach, and then take out my cell phone. I call Kylie. She isn’t going to like this, but she needs to take a trip. Now.
CHAPTERTEN
Lucy
I don’t understand any of this. Why would Jamie meet a little kid in a diner in the middle of nowhere? And why were things getting so tense?
