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With all the shit that went down and helping Eden to adjust to her new life, I didn’t even think about her mother.
“Has it happened before?” I ask. “Dealers coming to Eden for money?”
“Yeah, and every time Eden ends up beaten. The shit has to stop.”
He’s right.
“I’ll take care of the problem,” I say so he won’t worry.
He shifts in the chair. “I can’t live here forever. When can I go back to my place?”
“About that…” I suck in a deep breath of air, then say, “If you move back to Brownsville, you’ll have to travel up and down at all hours to drive Eden around.”
His eyes narrow slightly. “What you getting at?”
“I own another apartment in this building. It’s on the same floor as Esmerelda’s place. Move in there so you’re close to Eden.”
Shock tightens his features, and he just stares at me.
I give him a few seconds to recover, then add, “The place is furnished, but you’re welcome to bring your own furniture as well.”
“How much will the rent be?” he asks.
Fuck.
“Well, I’m going to pay you twenty thousand a month. You don’t have to pay rent, but if you insist, we can make it an even two thousand.”
“Dafuq,” he mutters, looking at me as if I’ve grown two heads. “You’re gonna pay me twenty thousand? Dollars? A month? Just to drive Eden’s ass around town?”
“Yes.”
“Man, oh man.”
He shoots up from his chair and starts to pace up and down my office as if he’s a boxer getting ready to fight.
“Man, bro.” He stops to look at me with so much emotion I feel the punch in my heart. “Come here, son.”
I’m hauled out of the chair and almost get a rib broken from the tight hug he’s giving me.
I pat him on the back. “Tyrone…ribs.”
“Sorry.” He lets go of me then slaps me on the shoulder. “You sure you wanna do all that for me?”
“Yeah, but I’d prefer if you didn’t pay rent. The place is empty anyway.”
“No, I gotta pay my way in life. It will feel like I’m doing something to earn my spot in this classy building.” He shakes his head again, a look of disbelief still on his face.
“In that case, the rent is due on the last day of the month. You can leave the cash with Esmerelda so she can use it for groceries.”
Opening one of the drawers at my desk, I pull a set of keys out and toss them at Tyrone.
He catches them, the smile on his face so wide all I see is a row of white teeth.
Giving me the sincerest expression I’ve ever seen, he says, “You have a good heart, Dario. Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
He gives me a hopeful look. “Can I go look at the apartment?”
