It was duct taped and the screen had a spiderweb of cracks, though it still worked. Although, I rarely charge it. I should have replaced it years ago, but then I would have lost the old voice messages from Krew and Regina.
No sooner had I plugged in the old phone into the charger, my burner cell vibrated in my pocket with a text. I pulled it out and stared down at the message, smiling.
Unknown: Money deposited.
It was followed by an email notification from one of my accounts alerted me that two hundred and fifty grand had been deposited. Elation raced through me at seeing those numbers. I loved payday, especially when I rid the earth of scumbags like Kane Maxwell.
This payday had come at a steep cost, though. The price had been putting fear on Krew’s face.
I never imagined I’d point a gun at my best friend—along with all the bullshit lies—I hated myself for it. Every word was probably festering in my boy’s brain. He would, no doubt, be replaying everything I had said over and over until he couldn’t ponder on it any more. But it was necessary, even if it created distrust between us.
However, I couldn’t worry about what Krew thought of me. Our friendship had been dust from the second my old man used his connections to have me thrown into the military.
Franklin Moss had promised me that one day I’d serve our country, and I’d given him his wish the moment I slid into the back seat of that goddamn car Teke had stolen.
Still feeling on edge, I decided to shower. I needed to rid my body of the filth of the job.
I stepped inside the stall and let the hot water wash away all the present bullshit and the past memories that were clogging my brain. Some refused to leave, and I got lost in those memories, my mind replaying those last perfect days before everything in my life went to hell.
“So how does it feel to be an adult?” Regina’s beautiful smile lit up the entire lunch room.
“No different from yesterday,” I admitted, shoving fries into my mouth.
“But you can stay out late?—”
“I could do that even before I turned eighteen.” I winked at her, then took a bite of my burger.
“I know.” She scrunched up her nose, then chuckled. “But now you won’t get in trouble with the cops or with your father.”
“What are you two talking about?” Krew sat down next to her and scooched close. For the briefest of seconds, my jealousy bubbled up, until I truly looked at my two best friends, and all the possessiveness evaporated.
“I asked Deck how he felt about turning eighteen today.”
Krew smiled as he practically echoed my answer. “No different than yesterday.”
“Yup, that’s what he said,” Regina laughed, as she covered her beautiful full lips with her hand. Her tinkling laughter did something to my insides, but I quickly tamped down my yearning, because I needed to be good for her. For all of us.
“It’s true,” I added with a shrug.
Without a thought as to who was around us, Krew used his thumb to wipe ketchup from the corner of my lips before popping his finger into his mouth. He then leaned in; his face close to Regina’s and whispered, “Are we still on for tonight?”
“All set,” she whispered back with a mischievous grin.
“What are you two up to?” I swung a glare from Regina to Krew. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
Regina lifted her stubborn chin and pointed a finger at me. “Decker Joseph Moss, you will and are going to like it. Do you hear me?” Determination was fixed in her light brown eyes.
I quickly raised my hands in surrender. “Fine. I’ll like it. Now tell me what am I going to like?” I had a feeling what Regina had planned. I hoped it was like the intimate party she organized for Krew’s birthday last year. But I wasn’t going to spoil her fun by demanding answers.
“Nope,” Krew and Regina said in unison.
“You’ve done too much already. Three days in a row?”
Regina reached out her hand and clasped mine. “Because you are worth it.”
“You are,” Krew echoed as he placed a hand on top of ours.
“Whatever,” I mumbled and refocused on my food. “You know I hate surprises.”
