I swallowed hard. Between him having seen me blowing T and my mini-breakdown, I hadn’t been sure which topic he’d press me for more information on, but I’d figured he wouldn’t just let things lie. Didn’t make it any easier to deal with, though. So I did what I did best and kept my mouth shut.
“Your brother must have been a real piece of work.”
At his words, I stopped walking. “What?”
He turned to face me.
“What would make you say that?” I asked, my heart thudding in my chest.
“You were talking about him right before you…” His voice dropped off briefly. “His name is Ricky, right?”
I nodded absentmindedly. “Was. He’s dead.”
“I’m sor-”
“Don’t,” I cut in before he could finish talking. “He doesn’t deserve your pity.”
I moved past him and started walking more quickly. The sooner I got away from this man, the better. He was far too perceptive.
“Levi, wait.”
“No!” I yelled as he once again grabbed my arm. I yanked free of his hold and he quickly put his hands up.
“This is my car,” he said carefully as he motioned to a large silver SUV.
Embarrassed by my over-the-top reaction, I nodded and tried to catch my breath. “We should go. I don’t want to be late for work.”
I wouldn’t be, of course, since I’d given myself enough of a cushion to make the walk to work, but I didn’t tell him that. I just wanted to get away from him because the roller coaster of emotions he was putting me through was just fucked up.
“No problem,” Phoenix said softly. I suspected he knew I was in no danger of being late. I started to approach the car, but stopped in shock when he went to the passenger side door and opened it for me.
I hurried past him and climbed into the car before I completely lost it.
As soon as he closed the door, I let the few tears that had been collecting in my eyes fall so I could quickly use my sleeve to wipe them away as Phoenix walked around the front of the SUV. I turned my head to look out the window as he climbed in. I just needed to keep it together for a few more minutes. Since I’d be getting to work early, I’d at least have a few minutes to myself to try and get it together.
I was glad when Phoenix didn’t try to engage me in conversation as I directed him on which way to go. But as soon as he pulled the car over to the curb and I went for the door, his big hand closed over my wrist. “Levi.”
I flinched at the way he said my name. I knew I wasn’t going to like whatever came next.
“Please, don’t,” I murmured before he could speak again. I kept my eyes downcast as I tried to ignore the warmth radiating outbeneath my skin where he was holding on to me. I chanced a glance at where we were connected and marveled at how much bigger his hand was then mine. His fingers easily encircled my wrist. It would take next to nothing for him to snap it if he wanted to.
“Don’t what?”
“Just don’t,” I whispered, hoping it was enough.
To my shock and disappointment, it was. Phoenix released me. “Take care of yourself, Levi.”
I couldn’t even find the strength to respond, so I merely gave him a jerky nod and then nearly fell out of the car in my effort to escape the charged air inside of it. My insides hurt with every step I took away from the SUV and I felt another round of tears threaten to fall.
Goddamn fucking hope.
I was half expectingto find Phoenix waiting for me the next morning as I left work. I tried to tell myself I was glad when I didn’t see him outside the employee entrance, but the fact that I actually went out of my way to walk around to the front of the store just to make sure the big man wasn’t waiting there either contradicted my relief.
It was still dark outside considering it was just a few minutes past five. The fog was heavy, but it wasn’t raining. Most days, I would have just walked home, but with my latest run-in with T on my mind, I decided to play it safe and catch the bus. The man was likely passed out somewhere with one of his women, but I wasn’t going to risk it, especially not after the request he’d made the night before.
I’d been working at Carlisle’s Food Market for almost a year now, but for some reason, T had waited until last night to use my position there to benefit him. He hadn’t ever confronted me at the grocery store before, so I supposed it was possible he hadn’t realized until recently that I worked there, but I couldn’t be sure. It didn’t really matter because now that my employment with the small chain of stores was on his mind, he wasn’t going to let it go.
I’d met Betty Carlisle about two months after I’d gotten out of prison. I’d been job hunting for nearly as long when I’d walked into the store to fill out an application after being turned down by the two dozen other places I’d tried. I’d been half-tempted not to check the yes box for the question that had prevented me from even getting a call from all the previous jobs…the one asking if I’d ever been convicted of a crime. But as desperate as I’d been, I’d been more frightened about getting caught in a lie, though I wasn’t sure why, since it wasn’t like a lie could send me back to prison.
