“Hey,” I say. “Where do I talk to someone about a job?” It’s going to take a miracle for this to work.
The guy looks me up and down and I know what he’s thinking. I’m dirty. My face is bruised and I probably stink.
“How old are you?” he asks.
“Eighteen,” I say with a fake confidence I hope he believes.
The bouncer rolls his eyes and crooks his finger for me to follow him. “Come on, boss man is over here. You look like you been in a helluva mess. Hope you hit his ass right back.”
I let out a nervous laugh and pray I find Will before boss man finds me.
I almost pass out the second we enter the smoky, blues-filled room. Not only is Will sitting at a back table but so is Catherine.
I push past the bouncer and throw myself at her.
“Oh my God! Anna! It’s you. You’re here!” Catherine screams over the music.
Will throws his arms around both of us and I can barely take it all in. The bouncer pulls me away from them and starts dragging me toward the stairs. “Girl, don’t think I’m gonna let you stay up in here after you tried to play me.”
Will tries to push him away but I say, “Stop. It’s fine. We need to get out of here. Ethan and Teeny are outside.”
Will throws some money on the table and they follow me down the stairs. The bouncer all but tosses me out of the front door.
Ethan and Teeny, hearing all the noise, pop out from around the corner. Before he can brace himself, Will slams into him.
“Man, you had me scared out of my mind!”
Ethan falls back, holding his arm. I rush to him, catching him before he hits the ground. The concussion already has him a bit unsteady and I’m sure the staggering pain doesn’t help.
“What’s wrong?” Will says to him then turns to me. “What’s wrong with him?”
We’re causing a huge scene, which is not good. I scan the crowd, terrified I’ll see that string of cross tattoos.
“We need to get off the street.” I point to a walk-in pizza place on the next block. Will steps in front of us and Catherine gets behind. We get inside and I help Ethan into one of the few booths in the back.
His face is pale and he’s got a faint sheen of sweat over his top lip.
“Will, can you get him some water?” I ask.
I sit next to him and Catherine and Teeny slide into the booth across. Will heads to the counter for water.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
He nods but doesn’t speak.
“What happened to him?” Will asks when he returns with a full glass.
“He got shot yesterday. In the arm. Also got kicked in the head and we think he has a concussion.”
He’s woozy. As much as I want him to get better, it will help if he’s a little out of it right now.
Catherine’s jaw drops and her eyes fill with water. Will takes a step away and kicks the booth in front of us. “That son of a bitch,” he yells out and the guy behind the pizza counter hollers for him to shut up.
“Shouldn’t he be in a hospital?” Catherine asks.
“Probably.” I answer.
Ethan finally seems to catch his breath and asks Will, “Did you talk to Fred? Tell him about my family and Anna’s dad?”
