Page 40 of Fly's Path

I’m Going To Kill Him

Fly

Vandal is going to get himself killed, along with this girl he’s grinning at like a besotted fool. What is he thinking, falling for an innocent girl at a time like this? I had to turn off the sound because the two of them are so sweet it’s nauseating.

Sweet romances are for kids…I’ll take passion and mystery any day of the week.

That kiss.

Today is the day. I’m going to get a repeat performance.

Vandal slides Lola’s backpack off his shoulder while smiling down at her.

Part of me wants to root for him to kiss her. The smart part that just watched him buy her breakfast and escort her to class needs him to walk away from her before they get in any deeper.

Could this be his one?

Vandal has only known this girl for a couple of days. He needs to stop before he gets in any further.

I follow behind him as he heads away from Lola’s class, staying far enough away that he won’t notice me but close enough not to lose him.

Picking a spot to talk to him isn’t as hard as I thought it would be. There are a surprising number of alleyways near the campus.

There.

That one will work. It’s private without looking too private, and there shouldn’t be any businesses using it for trash disposal at the moment.

Without a word, I walk up and grab Vandal.

My hand goes to his neck while I use the other to bend his arm up behind his back and pin him to the wall.

Before he can put to use any of the moves I taught him to escape a hold like this, I say, “What are you thinking?”

“Fly?”

“No names.”

“How? What? I didn’t see you.”

Of course, you didn’t. No one sees me when I don’t want them to. “What are you thinking?” I flip Vandal around so that he’s facing me. If someone looked, they would see a homeless person attacking a rich boy.

“I’m not.”

That’s obvious. “Get rid of her.”

“I can’t.”

What? “You have to. This isn’t a game. You could get her or yourself killed.”

“I know that. I’ve tried to walk away from her.”

“Try harder.” I glance down the alley to make sure we haven’t been seen.

“Don’t you think I have been?”

How do I shake some sense into the kid? “What if she’s a plant?”

“No way.” Vandal shakes his head as far as I let it move. “There’s no way. Lola just walked up because I was having a bad day. She’s got the kindest heart.”