“Jesus fuck, you moron,” Renfrew says to him. “And that’s why you aren’t fucking in charge of anything.”
I step in. “I’m Oscar. This is Henri.” No point in fake names. That’ll trip us up somewhere down the line.
“We don’t take minors,” Renfrew says through a vicious grin.
“Not minors,” I reply. “We’re both 14.” I’m a month away from being thirteen and Henri might already be. Saying we’re 14 isn’t a stretch.
Renfrew’s eyes deaden as he looks at Cam. “You search them?”
“Not yet.”
“Jesus Christ. You let them in without checking for weapons. I’m gonna fucking kick your ass.” He waits for Cam to respond, and when he doesn’t, Renfrew narrows his eyes and says, “Do it now, you fuck-up.”
“Arms up,” Cam barks at Henri. Henri starts to obey but I shove her behind me.
“Fuck you!” I snarl at him. “You lay a hand on her and I’ll rip your arms off.”
I’m shorter than him by a mile, but I know I can take him. He looks weak and the weed he was smoking outside will slow him down.
Renfrew throws his head back and laughs. “Soprano, search the girl and be gentle. Don’t want Oscar to take offence.”
Cam turns to me. “Arms up, fucker.”
I do as I’m told and he pats me up and down aggressively. He starts to grab my balls and I kick his feet out from under him. He lands hard, his head bouncing off the cement.
“Touch me like that again, and I’ll put you in the hospital.”
Soprano seems to get the message, patting Henri down quickly. “She’s clean.”
Cam climbs to his feet. “Don’t ever turn your back on me, you prick. You won’t live to see morning.”
“Fuck off.”
Renfrew says in a bored voice, “Is he clean?”
“Yeah,” Cam replies sullenly.
Renfrew stands. He’s tall, clean-shaven, designer clothes. “You good with knives, Oscar?” He’s all but ignoring Henri.
“Better with a gun,” I reply. I give a mental thanks to dad for teaching me how to shoot.
“But you’re not packing,” Renfrew says.
“Because I’m not stupid. Not gonna walk in here with a gun.”
“Hey,” a loud voice echos across the floor. “I know that brat!”
“Oh hell,” Henri whispers.
Sadie stumbles up to us. He’s clearly high or drunk or both. “I seen you before,” he says to Henri as he points an unsteady finger.
Henri turns to him. “Where? Because I’ve never seen anyone as ugly as you before!”
“I’ll figure it out, you little c?—”
I step in front of Henri. “Watch what you’re calling my girl, asshole.” Yep, that sounds exactly like Rocky. Thank god I have good role models.
Sadie staggers backwards. “I seen you, too. Not sure where from, but I’ll figure it out.” Then he weaves away.
