Page 11 of Always Love You More

“What’d she say?”

My shoulders drop. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

We pull up to a light, and he turns toward me, scanning my face like he’s looking for a clue. “All right, but if you change your mind, I’m here.”

I dip my chin. “Thanks.”

He leans over and messes with my hair. “You’re a good kid. Okay?”

I swat his hand away. “Okay,Dad.”

“Fuck you.” He laughs. “I’m trying to be nice.” He throws the pack of cigarettes at me. “Here, I’ll balance it out with some corruption.”

A laugh slips from my lips as I flip up the center console to look for a lighter. Finding one, I glance up just as we pull through an open gate.

My stomach sinks and my head whips toward him. “The job is here?”

Chapter 4

Jameson

Thefrontdooropens,and I glance up as it chimes. A rough-looking kid walks in, probably the age where he just finished school. He strides up to the desk, with a determined look on his face.

“I’m here to see Marcus.”

Luke gives him a once-over before pushing his chair back. “I’ll go get him,” he sighs out.

I watch from my place on the couch while the new guy waits. He’s completely still, not even the slightest tick. It’s impressive considering who he’s about to meet.

Billy shifts beside me, his attention on the homework spread out before him.

It’s not long until Marcus’s footsteps echo through the room. “Good, you’re here,” he says to the kid. “Follow me.”

Luke takes his seat at the desk, always trying to distance himself from what goes on in the back.

“Who was that?” Billy asks.

“Some new kid Marcus is trying to bring in.”

“You think he’ll go for it?”

“Don’t know,” I tell him. It’s been a while since they’ve brought in someone new.

He turns back to the worksheet in front of him, and I try to focus on the open history book sitting on my lap. I only get through a couple pages before I hear my name being called.

Marcus tilts his head toward the back room, and I stand to follow. Luke catches my eye, but I turn away before I have to see the look on his face.

I trail behind Marcus in silence as he leads us to a familiar closed door. He pushes it open, and my father’s gaze locks on me.

After I enter the room, he turns to the new guy and explains, “This is Johnny. He’s gonna be helping out with some things.”

I tip my chin up.

My old man waves a hand in my direction. “My son.”

Johnny tips his chin back at me in greeting.

“Johnny here is gonna do your pickup from Sid today,” my father says to me.