Page 20

“So, what’s happened?” Brawler asks, keeping his voice low. “Is it safe to come back?”
Oscar nods. “According to K, they got all the top dogs under Roza, so they won’t be retaliating. We’re clear until the next shit happens.”
“Next shit?”
Oscar’s lips thin. “There’s always something, Princess.”
I sigh, and he grins at me. He fucking knows I hate that name. He just loves to get under my skin.
Brawler pulls his bag onto the table. “I forgot to give this to you this morning.” He pulls out my sweatshirt and hands me my cell phone. “I had it in my hand when shit went down, and somehow, the phone stayed in the pocket. I tried texting you and your pocket went off. That’s how I knew I was stuck unless you came back to school.”
“You could’ve showed up at the tower.”
“I figured it would be suspicious.”
Oscar looks away, but I want to hug Brawler. I can’t believe he has my phone. Now I won’t be so isolated when I’m at Johnny’s place. “Thank you,” I tell him. My mind automatically flicks to my other phone. If anything, that’s more of a priority. “Do you know if anyone has gone through my apartment? Johnny mentioned whoever was left of Roza’s people would’ve gone there.”
Brawler picks up his fork. “Haven’t seen anything, but I didn’t actually look either. Are you coming back?”
Oscar’s laugh cuts through the air. “Seriously? You think Johnny’s going to let her out of his sight? Not after what happened with Glo he’s not.”
Brawler frowns, looking to me for an explanation.
I kick Oscar under the table, but I’m not going to get out of it that easy. Brawler locks his blue eyes onto mine and doesn’t let up. I sigh. Brawler’s not going to like this. “Glo, the girl who works for Lynette? She tried to kill me.”
“What?” Brawler seethes, his voice like a buoy untethered in a storm.
“Yep,” Oscar says, gloating a bit. “Johnny asked Lynette to bring some clothes by. Glo showed up instead. Her brother was a part of the Crew. He died during the shootout, and she was there to get her revenge.”
Brawler’s gaze flicks to me.
I sink back into my seat and don’t say anything. I cast Oscar a dirty look.
“The gun misfired,” Oscar throws in for good measure.
“Hey, I didn’t tell you that part,” I protest.
“You think Johnny didn’t read me the riot act when he ordered me to watch you? You’re not to leave my sight. If you have to pee, I’m pretty sure I have to pee with you.”
“Well, that’ll be a sight.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t mind seeing you with your pants down.” He wags his eyebrows. “The bathroom’s not my number one choice, but...”
He winks at me, and I give him a look, but a smile creeps across my face at the same time. Brawler doesn’t find any of this funny though. “I can’t believe she went after you.”
“I don’t think she technically went after me. I was just the easy target, and she wanted to make them suffer like she was suffering.”
“Don’t give her excuses,” Oscar says, his tone finally giving the gravity of the situation away. “You’re not a part of this. She shouldn’t have gone after you.”
I press my lips together. I disagree. I’ve gotten myself a part of this. “I’m just saying I understand why she would want to do what she did.”
I go back to eating, but Brawler watches me with a frown. I try to avoid his eyes, but it’s impossible seeing as how I’m sitting across from him and I haven’t seen him in four whole worrisome days.
“I’ll check in with the Crew to see if they need my help watching you again.”
I shake my head. “Johnny says I’m going to be in the fights now…at your warehouse. I’m going to tell him I want to train with you.”
“Like he’s going to let that happen.” Oscar pushes his tray away with disinterest.