“You’re sure?” Claire asks me, a hint of fear lingering in her tone.
I nod. “Yes.” Although, I hate the uncertainty that threatens to wreck me.
Claire grips my face in her hands. “You’ll let me know the second you’re done?”
“Yes, not a moment later.” That is, if I’m not dead.
“I could come with you.”
“No, not this time. I have to do this alone.” It’s not my persistent fear of letting someone in that enforces this, it’s the fact that this is entirely too dangerous to involve anyone who isn’t already tangled up with Franklin. Claire has already put herself in harm’s way by exposing herself to Jared, but I have to bank on the fact that he hasn’t come clean with Franklin about what happened just yet. If what Claire tells me is true about how badly she scared him, Jared might not tell him at all. Apparently, her performance was pretty convincing.
“Okay.”
I place my hand on her waist and pull her closer despite the package tucked into my waistband preventing us from touching our bodies completely together. I breathe her in and bask in this moment because it will be gone before I know it. I stare into her eyes and memorize every swirl of blue and fleck of gold.
“Don’t you dare say goodbye,” she tells me.
I press my lips to her forehead. “Nope, just a see ya later.”
Claire stands taller, bringing her mouth to mine. Her kiss is soft and desperate and makes me wish I could stay here with her forever.
But I can’t. Not with the way things are.
I walk out my front door, leaving a piece of me behind. I want to glance over my shoulder, to look at her beautiful face one last time, butthatwould only make me feel like it really was goodbye. And I refuse to believe this is the end of our story. There has to be more.
Her gaze burns a hole through me as I make my way down the stairs and across the courtyard. It lingers even when I exit the complex and disappear out of her line of sight.
I continue on my journey, crossing the street and taking my normal path to where Franklin is most Sundays. I haven’t fully decided what I’m going to say, but one thing is certain: I have to get him the package.
Each step closer to him is one further away from Claire. I fight the desire to turn around, to run back to her and pack what we need and run far, far away from here. To use what money I have saved and seek refuge in another place. That’s not an option, though. Not when so much is still on the line. If I quit now, all the progress I made with Billy will have been for nothing. I can’t stop until everything falls into place. I just hope we can make it that long.
I round the corner to the dim and damp alley. Despite the sun still being out, the buildings cast a dark shadow, creating an ominous atmosphere that could be straight out of a mob movie. It’s fitting, considering the circumstances.
“What’s up, J?” Josey greets me from his usual spot near the back entrance.
I haven’t seen much of him since our meeting in the bar. He’s managed to keep his distance from me, and I don’t blame him. If Franklin found out he gave me insider info on how to locate the package, I can only imagine what he would do to both of us.
“Boss in?” I ask him.
He stares at me like he’s trying to read my mind and then finally says, “Yeah, give me a second.” Josey opens the door, disappears inside, and then comes back out. “Go ahead, he’s waiting for you.”
I grip the handle of the metal door and pause to take a steadying breath.
Josey pats me on the shoulder. “Good luck, kid.”
I step into the smoky area, making my way further until I'm standing in the same room I've been in countless times before. Each meeting was stressful, but nothing like what I'm feeling right now. The outcome of this visit could go any number of ways, and the majority end up with Franklin having someone put a bullet between my eyes. The rumors of Franklin's wrath are enough to worry anyone doing business with him.
Today though, I hope to take back a little of that power.
“This better be good.” Franklin sets his crystal glass of brown liquid onto the table. He folds his arms across his wide chest and leans back in his chair.
I move my hands to reach into my waistband.
All four of the men posted up in each corner draw their weapons and aim them at me.
I stop completely, not wanting to die just yet. I’d at least like to see the reaction on Franklin’s face when I show him that I was capable of pulling off the impossible. Well, Claire was, but I’ll leave that part out of it.
Franklin nods at the goon to his left, somehow communicating with him to step forward and finish the task that I started out to do.