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“Have you talked to Josie?” When I shake my head, he goes on, “She’s one of his gang. Girl with spiky short hair. I’ll explain to you where she hangs out.”
My brother who’s been silent all this while leans in again.
“Why should I believe you suddenly like him?” he asks, his voice deceptively quiet. “All this time you were so damn angry at him for no good reason, wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t talk to him—”
“I was wrong, okay? I think I just couldn’t understand…” Fuck, why do we need to have this convo now, with everyone listening in? “…why he got under my skin.”
“And now you do?”
Maybe. I think I’m starting to.
I’m also starting to think Jason is hiding a lot more than he lets on, that he’s in danger and that I inadvertently made things worse for him.
I need to find him right the hell now.
Following Jesse’s directions, I park outside a burger joint I never even noticed before and climb out of my truck. It’s late, and there’s a bite to the air. Smells like snow.
At first, I don’t notice her. I guess she’s not looking for a customer. She’s crouched down, doing something on her phone. Texting? The soft glow of the screen lights up her heavily made-up face.
“Josie?” I ask as I approach her, trying my best to look unthreatening as my six-foot-two shadow falls over her. “Jesse Lee said I’d find you here.”
She scrambles up to her feet on crazily high heels and gives me a wide-eyed look. Her mascara or shadow or whatever it is has run in black streaks down her cheeks. Up close, she looks like a kid, badly made up and scared.
“You’re Raine,” she surprises me by saying.
“How do you know my name?”
“Jason said to keep tabs on you. In case anyone tried to mug you.” She shrugs her bony shoulders. “Last week? I’m the one who told him that you were in danger.” She taps her chest. Her nails are painted bright red. “He came running over. Sent me away, said it might be dangerous. Got himself in a world of trouble over you.”
I blink. Her eyes are filling up with tears. “What do you mean? What happened?”
“He won’t tell me. But…” She sniffles and fishes a tissue out of her purse. She blows her nose. “He got me a bus ticket, and gave me an address in Chicago. Said I should go and that he’ll follow me later. To get away from Simon.”
I suck in a sharp breath. “Josie, did Simon hurt him? Does he hurt Jason?”
“He denies it, but it’s plain to see. He always returns beaten up and limping from that place, that Club.” She infuses the word with so much loathing. “Who will look out for him after I’m gone? There’s only Adam left, and he said Jason told him he’s getting him out of here. He’s sending us all away. Mayleen left, and now…”
Another sniffle.
Shit.
“Josie. Listen to me.” I reach for her, but she recoils and I drop my hand. “Is Jason okay? I need to talk to him. I promise I only want to help him.”
She gives me a long look that reminds me of the way Ocean stared at me tonight when I said I like Jason. Mistrust, that’s what it is.
Then she nods. “He has a thing for you, you know. Pretends he doesn’t care, but you’re the only guy he’s ever…” She waves her small hand, and I hold my breath. But she only sighs. “I’ll tell you where to find him.”
The only guy he’s ever… what? I obsess over this as I drive away and park in another part of town, closer to Jason’s usual haunts.
But then my focus shifts to finding him. I can’t see him when I park my truck. Can’t see anyone, in fact. I wonder if I misunderstood her directions, or if she lied to get rid of me. Still, I climb out of my truck and take another look around.
It’s a quiet street with a couple shuttered stores, a Brazilian Grill and a Lebanese restaurant with a Closed sign on the door. A rat scampers along the sidewalk, and I give a shiver. I’ve always hated rats. My greatest fear as a kid was that they’d eat my face as I slept in our trailer.
With my eyes, I follow the rat’s progress past the restaurant and one of the shops, when I finally spot him.
He’s curled up behind one of the massive pots the restaurant has placed on either side of the entrance, hidden from the street.
“Jason!” I call his name as I start toward him, but he doesn’t move. Maybe he’s asleep? I reach his side and squat down beside him. “Jason.”
