38
JOHNNY
Ipractically skip home, the insane invigoration of winning coursing through me. I wasn’t sure if it would happen, but it fucking did, and for once, I feel like everything I’ve done was finally worth something. The sleepless nights. The beatings. The risky illegal errands and the pushing everyone away.
Isabella was granted full custody of Billy, starting immediately. They didn't even bother going to his uncle's place to grab his few belongings. She wanted to get him as far away from that psycho as possible. And I don't blame her.
Billy had hugged me tight, tears streaming down his innocent face when the outcome was declared. “Thank you,” he had said.
It was only two words, but it meant so much to know that I had helped him—I had saved him from a life he might never escape from if he got in too deep.
“Will you tell Claire bye for me?” Billy wiped his cheeks and sniffled. “I really like her.”
I gripped his shoulders and smiled. “Me too, buddy, me too.” I ruffled the hair on his head. “I’ll let her know.”
That memory will be engraved in my mind for all time.
Not much is better than putting your blood, sweat, and tears into something and it finally paying off. It just goes to show that hard work and determination can sometimes overcome insane obstacles.
I push away the recollection of Billy's uncle's hard stare as I walked out of that courtroom.
He was pissed, but at that point, there was not a damn thing he could do about it.
I’m working for Franklin, still being their bitch boy, so the fate of Billy’s homelife shouldn’t matter to them anymore. They got what they wanted—someone young and corruptible—me.
I punch my keycode into the gate and rush through the courtyard and up the steps. Excitement bubbles out of me and all I can think about is sharing it with the one person who means the most to me.
Claire jumps when I burst through the front door. She clutches her chest and laughs. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Sorry.” I yank my tie down on my way over to her, a massive grin spread across my face. “We freaking did it.”
Claire’s mouth drops open and her eyes go wide. “Really?” She hops up and wraps her arms around me. “I’m so proud of you.”
I spin her around in a circle and kiss all over her head. “Yes. It's done. He's already gone. Izzy took him straight from the courthouse.” I carefully set her down and stare into her eyes. “He's safe.”
She presses her lips to mine, and for once, everything feels right in the world.
Well, except I haven’t fully come up with my exit plan.
Plus, there’s a strong possibility that Claire has made the decision to leave me and return to her life back east.
But other than that, I'm fucking bubbling with happiness at the way things are falling into place. And I refuse to allow anything to ruin this day.
“Let me get changed.” I sweep her hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear.
There’s something different about her, a sort of glint in her eye I hadn’t noticed until now. Maybe it’s because she’s feeling the same way I am about the overcoming of obstacles in our way.
“You hungry?” I glance at her on my way to the bedroom.
Claire smiles and nods. “I’ll put this stuff away while you get ready.” She shuffles through papers and stacks them onto the dining room table where she was sitting doing her schoolwork.
It doesn’t take either of us long to get everything in order to leave.
I’m relieved when we step outside that the sun is already setting, paving the path for my cheesy evening.
She makes for the stairs, but I grip her hand firmly in mine and tug her down the hall.
“Pit-stop first,” I tell her. I had wanted this to be the last thing we did tonight, but I can’t wait any longer. The anticipation is killing me.