Page 32 of Arseni
He chuckles and rolls his head toward me with his brow furrowed.“What, did she adopt you?”
Jesus, that would be awkward.
I shake my head.“I saw her out about a year ago.”
“Did she remember you?”
I think back to the other night, her face sinking with recognition.
“Yup.We didn’t talk much, though.”
When static comes over his radio, he shuts it off.
I look around my living room at the mess but feel oddly satisfied by his reply.Part of me thought he was going to try to talk me into filing a report.As if I’d ever be okay with the police making my place a crime scene.Hell, I’d get whacked just for thinking of working with the pigs.
Hudson is … different, though.I actually think he might be a good fit for our payroll.
“So where have you been all this time?”he asks.“I haven’t heard from you since you were with the cougar.”
My ears start to heat, but I keep my face neutral.Hudson knows about shitty foster homes as much as I do.We grew up together, crossing through the same group homes with such rapidity we made a game of who could ‘make it to x place’ faster.He wasn’t wanted.I wasn’t wanted.It kept us tight.Bonded.
I smile bitterly.It feels disgustingly ironic that I have more in common with the cop sitting next to me than I do with my own best friend.
Enemy.Luka is an enemy now.
“They stuck me with a real tyrant after Margot.I didn’t have access to any form of communication until I got emancipated.”
“Ah.”He nods like he understands.Because hedoesunderstand.I sigh, but it isn’t from some shitty memory.It’s from the pure relief of speaking to someone from my world.It’s been so long, I didn’t realize I missed it.
I’ve been inLuka’sworld.With his people.Speaking his language.Doing his bidding.I never thought I’d want out of the Bratva, and I don’t.But it does feel nice existing outside of it for a minute.
“Then I just lived on the streets for a bit.Got involved with some shady people.You know how it goes.”
“Yep.”He nods.“Happens to all of us, man.None of our hands are clean.”He bumps my shoulder.“Good for you for climbing out of it.”
I look around and laugh.“This is what you callout of it?”
He shrugs but grins.“I mean, it’s got a roof, right?”
I drink my beer.Nikita’s words from yesterday enter my mind, the derision he felt from where I’m living evident.In truth, I could get a nice place.I don’t need roommates or secondhand furniture.But I don’t know how I could ever be comfortable with any other lifestyle.Nikita’s mansion isn’t my thing.
“What about you, Suds?”
He groans.“Nobody has called me that shit in years.Don’t start now.”
My chest rumbles with a chuckle.I can relate to hating a nickname, but Hudson’s is almost as pathetic as mine.He got his mouth washed out with soap after Mr.Carlton caught him kissing his dog’s ass on a dare.
“I was at the group home until emancipation, and after that, I couch surfed for a couple of years.Got lucky and only spent a few nights sleeping on Broadway.You know the old theatre that?—”
“Yup.”
I remember it well.It’s an alley where many newbies sleep.The lady who owns the theatre next to it hands out bowls of soup a couple nights a week.
“Yeah, well, anyway, I was kidding about the chasing tail thing.Mostly.I had a… I guess you could say amentorwho helped me join the force.You don’t have to go to college to become a cop, you know?”
I nod.“I get it.”
He huffs a laugh.“No, you don’t.”
