16
JOHNNY
Bram's lucky he's old, otherwise, I would have punched him for forcing me and Claire together the way he did.
Sure, it was totally harmless in his eyes, but it couldn’t have been any more awkward.
A year ago, I would have been grateful for the introduction. But considering I need to steer clear of Claire and do everything I can to make her see me as the bad guy, his meet-cute wasn’t exactly ideal.
I lean against the brick building and study the place where I got my ass kicked a few nights ago. If I’m going to find this package, I have to focus on finding any kind of lead to help me figure out who robbed me.
My dried blood still coats the ground near the dumpster, and random trash is haphazardly strewn about. I close my eyes and try to remember anything I can.
I wince at the memory of a shoe slamming into my side. A fist striking my face and splitting my brow. A delicate voice saying my name.
I shake my head to rid the thought.
I can’t let Claire saving me from my own stupidity be the one thing I focus on.
My phone dings, reminding me that the thieves didn’t take it. They left my wallet and everything in it, too. The only thing they stole was Franklin’s package.
Which means they knew I had it. They targeted me specifically because of it. They waited for me to come down this dark alley and used the opportunity to steal it from me. These people not only knew I was running a package, but they knew the route I was going to take.
I’ve been made.
All these months, I thought I was being careful, flying under the radar and blending in so no one knew what I was up to. My efforts have been for nothing if someone figured me out this easily.
I run my hand through my hair, tugging it out of my face. “Shit.” I kick off from the wall and leave this piss-soaked alley behind. I need to think, and if I’m going to do it anywhere, it’s not going to be here.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the complex. The gate clangs shut behind me and a familiar smile greets me from the courtyard.
“Johnny!” Billy rushes over from his spot and wraps his arms around me.
I grit my teeth at the impact on my still sore ribs. “Hey, kid.”
Billy tilts his head up at me. “You look like crap.”
I nudge his shoulder. “Thanks, that’s so sweet of you.”
“You know what I mean.” He rolls his eyes and lowers his voice. “What happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about, little man.” I ruffle his hair and point toward his stack of books. “What’re you working on?”
“Math,” he groans.
I follow him over and sit across from where he had been sitting. “Let me see.”
Billy slides his scribbled-out homework over to me.
“Right here.” I point at the paper. “You have to carry the one.”
Billy's brown eyes light up. "Ohh. Duh.”
The gate jangles shut, and when I glance over my shoulder, Claire appears.
She instantly averts her gaze and focuses on making her way through the courtyard and to her place. She does a better job than I do at looking away.
“You’re the best, Johnny,” Billy says with a happy smile. He finishes the problem and turns it for me to check.