“To people who need it. It kills him that some people don’t have food and other people have a bunch of vacation homes and fucking helicopters and shit they don’t even need.”
“He gives it away.” It’s not a question this time, and a tear slides down my cheek as it sinks in.
Coco nods. “He was reading the news online one day, and some rich suit was saying inner-city kids will always be behind private school kids. And the next week, several big public school districts got anonymous gifts to buy computers and supplies for every single kid in their schools. All of ’em.”
“And that was…?”
She shrugs and looks at the wall. “This place is probably bugged, so I’ll let you connect the dots.”
“Shit,” I say softly.
“Yeah. He’s a gray hat. Maybe some of the stuff he does isn’t right, but…I’m proud of him.”
“I can understand why.” I lock eyes with her. “Listen, I promise you I’ll do right by him. As much as I possibly can. I hate what’s happening.”
I can’t hold back the tears anymore, and I furiously wipe them away from my cheeks as they fall.
“I never liked you,” Coco says.
“I never liked you either.”
“And even now…I still don’t like you.”
I sniffle. “Same.”
“But I liked how happy he was with you. I’ve never seen him like that.”
I close my eyes. “I was happy, too.”
“He’s probably done with both of us.” She draws her knees up to her chest and rests her chin on them.
“Not you,” I say softly. “Just me. You mean more to him than anyone.”
“He probably just saved me ’cause I’m a screw-up and saving me is what he does.”
“No. Let me take you over to his place. I know he wants to see you.”
Her expression brightens. “You think so?”
I nod. “Yeah. You’re gonna be okay, Coco.”
“Is he?”
“I think so. He doesn’t have to go to jail or anything.”
She lets out a deep breath and gets up from the bed.
“The only one who won’t be okay is me,” I say softly.
“Maybe you’ll get a medal or some shit like that,” she says snidely.
I glare at her and put a hand on the handgun holstered on my waist. “Let’s go. And if you could not talk during the ride there, that would be great.”
24
Phoenix
“Nix!”
