Ginny had suggested those when Lola stopped by her store, and we’ve all been wearing one.Not perfect, but judging from the dirt and soot stuck to us and covering the masks, it was better than nothing.
“Positive.Hugo said he’d be here shortly,” I share.
The man messaged me five minutes ago to let me know he was on his way.I’m not entirely sure why he insisted on coming back here—I have my own wheels—but I’ll find out soon enough.
“If you’re sure, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.I’m assuming you need me back here?”
I have to say, I’m so freaking lucky with my employees.Both of them.Talk about stepping up; both Lola and Emmet have done that in a big way these past days.Their support has gone above and beyond what the modest salaries I pay them deserve.
Once all this is done and dusted, and we’re back to functioning the way we should, I’m going to need to flex my budget somehow to give each of them a raise.It’s the least I can do.
“If you don’t mind,” I tell Emmet.“I’d like to at least go into the kitchen to toss out all perishables and anything else we can fit in the bin in the alley before they pick up the garbage.Otherwise, it’s just going to sit out there until next week, smelling.”
“What time do you want me?”
“Around nine would be great.”
He throws me a mock salute and a lopsided grin, and reaches for the garbage bag I’m filling with paper cups, plastic lids, and other stuff I’ve been pulling from the cupboards behind the counter in the coffee shop.It really hurts, having to dispense of all my inventory, but as Courtney informed me, none of it is considered safe for use anymore.
“Leave it.I’m just going to finish this cupboard and then I’ll toss it out,” I assure him.
There is still some room left in the bag after I empty the rest of the cupboard, and I eye the plastic bin which stores our coffee beans.That’s my gold, a carefully balanced blend I’ve spent years developing and mix myself.Those are pricey beans, but sadly, they too will have to be tossed.Too much has happened, too many people have been through here, and too many hands have touched things.I can’t risk using them.
It’s a bit of a struggle tipping the bin into the garbage bag without spilling beans all over the floor, but I manage to get it done.Of course, now the bag is heavy as hell and I struggle to drag it to the side door.I guess I could leave it for Hugo, but stubborn determination has me haul it outside myself.
Lifting it up high enough to tip over the side of the dumpster in the alley requires a Herculean effort.There, it teeters precariously, but when it threatens to topple back on top of me, an arm reaches over my shoulder, shoving it resolutely into the dumpster.
I swing around, fully expecting Hugo, but instead I find my brother.My instincts kick in and I shove at him with every ounce of strength left in my body and try to dart past him inside.He’s still faster, and manages to grab hold of my arm, swinging me around to face him.
“Please, Bess.They know everything.”
If there is anything that can stop me from fighting him, it’s those words.I freeze instantly.
I get my first good look at Ken and realize how amazing it is I recognized him in the first place.He’s aged, and not just the twenty years since I last saw him.He’s gaunt and his eyes look old, desperate, and I can’t stop my heart from bleeding just a little for him.
“What do you meaneverything?”I hiss at him.
“E-very-thing,” he enunciates slowly.
It’s like a cold fist reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart.
This is a nightmare.
“How?”
The moment he lowers his eyes, I know it was him.
“Why?”I ask my brother, who may have well just signed my death sentence along with his own.
He shakes his head, looking as terrified as I feel.
“Almost twenty years is a long time without being able to talk to someone you trust, Bess.He was my cellmate for nearly ten of those years.How was I supposed to know he’d try and sell that information to Shane?”
Shane is Shane Lee, leader of the Lotus Squad.He and his brothers, Mike and Joon Lee, were the brains and the engine of the gang.At least they were back then when they recruited my brother.
It was a lifetime ago, yet hearing his name, feeling this fear, it might as well have been yesterday.
“We need money and we need to get out of here,” he insists.
