Yusef didn’t flinch. Just looked at Deon with those flat, empty eyes that had been scaring me since this whole nightmare started.
“Yeah,” Yusef said. “It’s crazy.”
“You was probably the last person to see him alive, huh?” Tyler chimed in. “Since y’all was always together and everything.”
My heart stopped.
Was that an accusation? Did they know something?
“Nah,” Yusef said, his voice steady. “I was home that day. Didn’t see him.”
Tyler and Deon exchanged a look. That little smirk again.
“Right,” Tyler said. “Home. Doing what, playing piano?”
The other boys snickered.
Something shifted in Yusef’s expression. Just for a second. A flicker of something dark and satisfied that made my blood run cold.
“Something like that,” Yusef said.
Then he turned and walked away from them, leaving those boys standing there with their stupid smirks, not knowing how close they’d just come to… what? I didn’t even want to think about it.
I hurried after him, my mind spinning.
Had I just imagined that look on his face? That flash of… satisfaction? Like he was enjoying this somehow? Like knowinghe’d gotten away with it—knowing those boys would never touch him again—gave him some kind of dark pleasure?
What was happening to my nephew?
What had we done?
We were almostto the door when Zoo appeared.
He materialized out of nowhere, stepping into our path like he’d been waiting for us. Up close, he was bigger than I remembered. Taller. His eyes were red-rimmed but hard, his jaw set in a way that said he wasn’t here to make small talk.
“Yusef.” His voice was low, rough. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Every cell in my body screamed danger.
“About what?” I asked, stepping slightly in front of my nephew. Protective. Probably too protective, but I couldn’t help it.
“Just want to ask him some questions.” Zoo’s eyes never left Yusef. “About Nigel. They was best friends, right? Maybe he knows something that could help.”
“He already talked to the police,” I said. “He told them everything he knows.”
“I ain’t the police.” Zoo’s voice had an edge now. “I’m his father. And I’m trying to find out who killed my son. That a problem?”
Yes. Yes, it was a massive problem. It was the biggest problem in the entire world.
But what was I supposed to say? No, you can’t talk to him because he’s the one who did it?
Before I could respond, Prime was there. Moving between Zoo and Yusef like a wall of muscle and quiet menace.
“Whatever you want to ask him, you can ask in front of us,” Prime said. His voice was calm, but there was steel underneath.
Zoo’s eyes snapped to Prime. And then something shifted in his expression. Recognition dawning like a slow sunrise.
“Hold up.” Zoo’s head tilted. “I know you. You’re… shit, you’re Prentice, right? Prentice Banks?”
