Page 224 of King of Pain

Ant snickers, and I laugh, shaking my head.

She’s already turning away, but she pauses, pointing her glass at me.

“Chance, give your man the tour of our new offices. I already took first dibs.”

Then she disappears into the crowd, unapologetically seeking out her prey.

Ant blows out a big breath. “I hope I can pull this off, Chance.”

“You gotta have faith,” I tell him with a wink and hold out my hands. “Ready to see what your future looks like?”

He grabs both my hands and looks me squarely in the eyes. “I'm looking at it right now, baby.”

TRACK SIXTY•SEVEN

Sign Your Name

Anthony

Leaning back in my chair, my gaze drifts out the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office. The sun’s starting to dip, casting a soft, warm glow over the city. It’s late October—finally cooling off after what felt like a never-ending summer. More people are out downtown and the energy’s a little brighter, a little lighter.

Across the street, a small group of teens in colorful clothes are taking turns practicing breakdance moves on the sidewalk. They do their best handstands, windmills, footwork that’s got potential but still a little rough. I huff a quiet laugh and wonder if Chance has ever seenBreakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.If he hasn’t, he’s in for a treat.I make a mental note to check if it’s available on any of our streaming services. I’ll surprise him with it tonight. Pizza, Pepsi, and a cheesy movie. It’s the quintessential ‘80s Friday night.

Fitting, really,I think with a soft smile. Sgt. Memo Arrabola, one of the Phoenix PD sergeants running outreach programs, started consulting for Thrive not long after the agency and non-profit launched. He’s been sending us any queer kids he thinks we can help. He’s a character… and an all-around good human being. He was a dancer onBreakin’ 2and choreographed several music videos before joining the NYPD right before 9/11. He spent over one hundred days at ground zero. Then, when he joined the PD here, he started multiple youth programs.

Now he teaches life skills using dance, graffiti, music and other talents these kids have. He helps them apply thoseabilities to set themselves up for careers in choreography, music production, art and computer programming.

Chance works with the graffiti taggers on a weekly basis. The smile he’s wearing when he comes home from spending time with them will always make my heart swell.

“Anything interesting?”

“Jesus!” I jerk so hard I nearly launch out of my chair, hand flying to my chest as I spin around. “You scared me.”

Jen stands there in the doorway, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “That was fun. Did you pee a little?”

I scowl. “You know, I liked it better when your office wasn’t down the hall. Back when you worked for another company and had to check in at reception.”

She snorts. “Let’s be real. Ineverchecked in.”

“True.” I point at her. “I’m getting you a bell to wear around your ankle, so I know when you’re coming.”

Her eyes flash with mischief, and immediately I know my mistake—

“First of all,” she says, stepping inside, “putting it on my ankle won’t work. I’d just chew it off. If I can get my ankles behind my head, I can reach—”

“Okay!” I hold up a hand, groaning. “I get it.”

“Secondly... everyone knows when I’m coming.”

I drop my forehead to the desk with a thud. “Why am I friends with you?”

“Because she has great taste in music and she’d cut a bitch for either of us,” a smooth male voice cuts in.

I lift my head, already smiling. “Hey, Spence.”

Spencer strolls in, dressed sharp as ever, dark slacks, an open-collared shirt, not a hair out of place. He slides his hands into his pockets and leans against the edge of my desk.

I glance between the two of them, eyebrows raised. “Should I be concerned that both my legal counsel for the agency and for the non-profit are in my office after five o’clock on a Friday?”