Once again, I mentally curse Jordan for all the bullshit he put me through. Ripping my social security card had been a power and control move on his part. An attempt to force me to stay reliant on him to take care of me. Well, it didn’t stop me from leaving then, and it won’t stop me now.
“Fine. I guess that’s that then. May I please have my documents back, so I can take my business elsewhere?” I’m being a brat, but who would blame me? I know it’s not the bank employee’s fault I’m in this bind, but jeez, he also doesn’t have to be such a snooty prick about it.
He hands me my paperwork, and I slink toward the door, avoiding the line of people waiting to conduct their business at the counter. The open air lobby of the bank means probably everyone standing around got to hear my embarrassing exchange with the teller.
“Hey, wait!” a woman calls as she abandons her spot in line to follow me out the door.
“You couldn’t open an account without IDs, right?” she asks.
“I guess.” It’s humiliating to admit it, especially to this woman. She’s carrying a purse that looks as if it cost more than all the money I’ve got to my name.
“My name’s Hollis. Do you have time to grab a coffee? I think I can help.” She seems earnest, and it’s been so long since I actually had someone to talk to, so I’m nodding before I can overthink it.
“Um, yeah, that would be cool I think. I’m Petal.” My agreement has a smile breaking across her face that draws one to my own. She shakes the hand I extend without hesitation, saving me from feeling like a dork for offering a handshake as if I’m some sort of professional type instead of an unhoused diner waitress.
I have no idea what kind of help this girl, who doesn’t look any older than I am, can possibly offer, but I’m willing to hear her out. My shift atPete’sdoesn’t start ’til mid-afternoon, and the bank I chose to try to open an account is just a few blocks away from work.
“Do you want me to wait while you finish your bank stuff?” I offer.
“Nah, I just needed to transfer some money from my checking into my daughter’s savings account and the app was acting funny. Figured I’d use the time while she’s at preschool to stop at the bank in person and have them do it, but it can wait.”
She meets me eyes when she mentions her daughter, an assessing look on her expressive face. I can guess exactly what she’s expecting me to say, but who am I to judge another woman?She doesn’t look old enough to have a daughter in school.
“That’s really smart to have an account for her, even if she’s only in preschool. By the time she’s old enough to start adding her own earnings to it, she’ll be in great financial shape.”
I may be broke now, but I wasn’t always. One of the few classes I’d gotten good grades for in high school was economics, and early, frequent savings was a big topic.
“Exactly! I never want Dru, that’s her name, to struggle like I have!” Hollis gushes.
I give her another once over, taking in her couture purse, name brand clothes, and the expertly applied makeup that gives her a runway-ready look. Whatever struggles she’s had, it looks as if she’s made them her bitch. Hearing her admit she’s been through tough times and come out the other side looking like a million bucks makes me glad I didn’t blow off her offer to grab coffee. Whatever she’s done to get ahead, maybe, it can work for me, too. So it’s an easy decision to walk with her to the coffee shop next to the bank.
“First things first, when getting ahead without a bank account, you gotta get one of those prepaid credit cards they sell for gift giving. You can reload it whenever you have cash. All it takes is stopping by customer service at any of the big-box stores. Once you’ve got a good build up on one, get another one you carry for every day expenses. They’re untraceable, too.”
I’m so excited by the info-dump Hollis is spilling I’d forget all about the coffee and muffin in front of me if she didn’t pause and gesture at me to take a drink. The idea of using a prepaid card hadn’t even occurred to me, but it’s brilliant.
“Plus, you can use the prepaid cards to open an online account with one of the money moving apps and that way you won’t have to keep all your money with you. Cuts down the risk of being robbed, ya know?” Hollis has a way of addressing the elephant in the space between us without ever directly calling it out.
I don’t know her history, but for the first time in a long time, maybe even since high school, I feel as if I’ve met a kindred spirit. Someone I can call a friend. See? More good luck. I handmy found phone to her, so she can add her contact information and she doesn’t even pause when I admit it doesn’t have service except for when there’s free Wi-Fi around.
“I get it. I’ve been there,” she says simply, with no pity and no judgement. “You’ll get through it. I had a friend help me, and now, I get to be a friend to help you.”
We both ignore the tears in my eyes as she gives me a quick hug before taking off to pick up her daughter from preschool. I’m not sure when I’ll see her again, but just knowing someone knows what it’s like to climb back onto their feet after life takes its licks makes me feel confident and powerful enough to follow in her footsteps.
Chapter
Ten
CHAPTER 10
Zinovy
Watching Petal St Clare has become an obsession. She slips Gleb’s phone into the side pocket of the tattered backpack she carries with her everywhere and say goodbye to the woman she met at the bank.
Furious as I am at the tie connecting her to the dead traitor, I’m thankful as fuck for it because it means Rurik was easily able to clone it remotely. Since he already had trackers and monitoring software installed on it, thanks to thePakhan’ssuspicions about Gleb’s activity, it was simple for Rurik to undo the factory reset Gleb had attempted. Rurik’s hacking skills gave me access to everything she does on the cell and every word spoken near enough for the microphone to pick up.
I know she’s felt my eyes on her, but standing at the corner of the coffee shop, ready to step back the instant she turns this way keeps me out of sight. It won’t be forever, I remind myself. Preparing a life fit for the queen she will be when she’s mine is the only reason I haven’t taken her. The time will come when I’m ready, but there are things to deal with first. Anatoly is concerned the authorities have realized their little snitch has been dispatched. He’s been on all our asses to stay off any and all radars that could bring heat to the brotherhood.
Kidnapping Petal would likely cause a lot of unwanted attention. She has no idea the impact she has on people and would likely be shocked to realize how many people will miss her when I take her. But I’ve been watching her, and by extension everyone around her, for days.
