He doesn’t hang around. Dashing down the corridor, he ignores the lift and slams through the fire door to the staircase.
I stare at Dax’s back. He’s swapped his suit for a shirt and sweater combo with jeans. He looks good. Fresh. When he turns to me, I notice his stubble is gone, making him seem years younger. Or at least it would, if not for the severe expression he wears.
“Are you okay?” he asks, a bite of annoyance sharpening his tone.
“Fine,” I throw back just as tersely.
He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then tries again; softer, steadier.
“Do you sleep out here often?” He delivers the words without a note of concern or sympathy, and it’s only for that reason that I bother to answer. If I thought for a second, he pitied me, I’d tell him and Aiden to fuck right off. Call it pride or stupidity.
“Whenever I’ve pissed off my dad or came home after curfew.”
“When is curfew?” he fires back quickly.
I answer before I can think. “Fifteen minutes after the bar closes on work nights.”
“Carlito’sis a twenty-minute walk from here,” Aiden states.
Yeah, I’m used to doing the impossible. I learned a long time ago that the only way to make it toCarlito’son time—or almost on time—was to run like a knife-wielding maniac was behind me. Not too far-fetched for the Vale.
“Ten if I run,” I explain, seeing Aiden’s confusion and Dax’s burgeoning doubt.
“I see.” Dax nods.
The longer we sit here, the more likely we are to get caughtby Dad. He’ll check on the voices…he’ll check to be sure I’m not causing him trouble. I give the only excuse I’m good at…the only one that might be believable.
“I need to get to work.”
“Your shift atCarlito’sisn’t for a couple of hours yet,” Aiden reminds us both. I could kick him in the shin. Can’t he see this is making me uncomfortable?
“Why are you even here? I mean, thank you for…uh…Gresh, but I’m not sure what else you need from me.”
Dax huffs. “I’ve tried calling you twice, Jules. You’ve not answered or messaged back. I went to your college and found out you didn’t attend today. I spoke to Carlo, but he hasn’t heard from you either. Nor Charlie. Nor Koko…you see where I’m going with this?”
It almost sounds like he…no way…“You were worried?”
“Ding ding ding!” I’m blessed with rolling eyes and a shake of his head. He only saw me this morning. I gave and told him everything I knew. Why was he looking for me at all?
“Why?” I ask concisely.
“Because the people who came for my brother are serious. They didn’t get what they wanted, and they’ll be looking for whoever has it,” he explains.
“The envelope.”
“The envelope,” he confirms. “Now, are you going to invite me inside?”
“I…can’t.”
“Then I’ll invite myself inside.” He takes a step toward the door.
I hold out my hand to stop him. I grab at his leg but the second my skin makes contact with his trousers, I flinch back with a squeak.
“My mum’s not home.”
“So?”
“The kids are resting.”Shit, I’m just throwing statements at him.How do I make him go away?I pull myself onto my knees, but I can’t move any further. It all hurts.
