Page 29 of Bully for Sale

Too late to do any good, and far too late to prevent loss of life.

Ezer shook, staring at the destroyed carcass of his da’s reduced state.

Where would they go now?

Both of them had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Chapter Ten

Ned ran aroundthe back, his heart in his throat, and skidded to a stop when he saw Amos and Ezer clinging to each other a good distance from the still burning apartment building. He breathed heavily, his stomach heaving as the smell of chemicals and burning meat reached his nose. Rats scurried across the scorched grass, racing out in hordes, and cats, too, sped from the basement.

Glancing up toward the windows of the Bright’s powder dealers, Ned had no doubt the explosion had come from there. He also didn’t think any living thing in that flat had made it out alive. He was shocked anyone had survived given the size of the fireball and the way the ground had shaken around him.

The people all around cried and stared, rocking on their heels in shock. Ned picked through them, drawing closer to Ezer and Amos, relief coursing through him. “Ezer! Mr. Elson!”

Ezer and Amos turned to him, astonishment on both their faces, and confusion, too.

“You’re okay?” Ned asked, putting his hands on Ezer and pulling him into a hug. Ezer struggled against him until Ned released his squirming frame. “You’re okay,” he muttered in relief. “You’re both okay.”

“What are you doing here?” Ezer asked, blinking, sweat slipping down his temples from the heat of the flames. An unspokenWhy are you touching me?hung in the air, too.

“I was just…” Words fled. Ned had no reason to be here. He had no reason to care.

“Buying Bright’s powder?” Ezer suggested. “From the idiots who exploded themselves? And not just them, but half the people in this building?”

“No,” Ned said. It was true. “I was just passing by and, um, I…” He shook his head, meeting Amos’s eyes. “You’re okay, Mr. Elson?”

Amos nodded, staring at him with a stunned but measuring air. “We’re fine.” Then he glanced toward the charred remains of his home and let out a bitter laugh. “Though where we’ll go or what we’ll do now, I don’t know.”

“Won’t Mr. Fersee let you stay with him, or on one of his properties, until something is sorted out?” Ned asked.

Amos shook his head. “No.”

“Oh.” Ned thought quickly. “I can take Ezer home to his father’s house, and you can stay with me and my father until we can figure something out. We have plenty of room, and—”

“My father kicked me out, too,” Ezer said, glaring at Ned. “And why are you being nice?Whyare youhere?”

“I’m just—”

“He tried to assault me,” Ezer said to Amos. “He tried to rape me.”

“No. It wasn’t like that, Ezer. I promise. I’ve been wanting to apologize to you for all that, but—”

The fire sirens began again, another truck screaming in to help. Police and ambulance sirens also cut their discussion short, and Ned didn’t know what to do to assist Amos and Ezer. He stood beside them, watching as the fire razed the entire building despite the fire department’s efforts, until, finally, Amos took control.

“Ned, Ezer and I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a car to take us to a hotel. It doesn’t have to be a nice one. Somewhere we can feel safe for the night. If you would be so kind as to pay for that for us, I’ll find a way to compensate you for the kindness.”

Ned insisted, “But there’s room at my house. You’ll both be plenty safe there, and you can rest for as long as you need.” His eyes strayed to Ezer, and he said, “I’ll take care of you both. I want to.”

Ezer’s eyes narrowed.

Amos shook his head. “That offer is kind, but far too much right now. The hotel, please.”

Ned looked between Ezer’s doubtful expression and Amos’s exhausted, pained one before pulling his cell phone from his pocket to order a car. He also found a hotel nearby, just over the line from the slums, in a part of town where Ezer and Amos should be safe to walk the streets at night if need be.

When the car came, Ned held open the door for them to climb inside, and it was all he could do not to climb in after them. But Ezer’s continued clear distrust of him, as well as Amos’s firm hand on his chest, pushing him back before he could get into the backseat too, kept Ned from insinuating himself into their difficult night further.

Ned had already made a mess of things by hugging and touching Ezer, by even being here at all. Though he couldn’t help but be glad that hehadbeen here.