Raw (42 page)

It’s growing every day. And I’ll be damned if anyone tries to take her away from me. I’d kill anyone who tried.

Running a hand through my hair, I swallow hard as my gut sinks.

A decision has to be made. No one would dare take her from me, so why am I risking losing her by telling her the truth?
 

I know what I did was unforgivable. I could tell her. I know what the result would be, though. My girl would walk out on me in a second flat.

The sinking feeling grows.

There’s a lot that needs to be said. And Nox was right…the noose around my neck is tightening. I can hardly breathe.
 

“You okay, boss?” The concerned voice coming from the doorway snags my attention.

The kid. “I’m good.” Smirking, I ask, “Are
you
? You ask your girl out yet or what?”

He half-glares at me. “I would’ve if I didn’t think I’d have been late for work.”

There are just some things that can’t wait. I know this now.
 

Picking up my cell, I type out a text, press send, and wait. Michael looks more and more nervous by the second, and I smile. I like knowing he still fears me when he shouldn’t. It’s funny.
 

Happy appears at the office door behind Michael. “’Sup?”

Crossing my arms behind my head, I lean back in my throne and direct them both. “You’re gonna take the kid along with you today. First, he’s got a stop to make, though. Then you can both go about business as per usual.”

Happy’s eyes narrow on me. “No can do. I got…” His eye’s bore into mine. “…shit to do.”

Dammit. I forgot. He’s accompanying some runs today for some bigger drops that need to remain secure. My face falls. I don’t have time to take him myself. I’ve got an appointment in an hour.

I sigh. “Forget about it.” But then I see Mickey’s face. It falls faster than London Bridge. Fuck.

Happy raises a brow at me. I know he’d take him along, he just needs my say so. Lexi would be pissed.

That is, if she found out.

If.
If is good.

A grin tugs at my lips. “Go on. Mickey, go ask your girl out, then you’ll be on the road with Happy most of the day.”

The kid’s face turns from stunned disbelief, to shock, to beaming, all in a matter of seconds.

“Seriously?”

Not wanting to see the mush coming off of him, I turn to my laptop, dismissing them both. “Go on. Get.”

Typing away, I pretend not to notice Mickey still standing in the doorway of my office.

“Thank you.” He says this so softly that I barely make it out. “For everything.”

My chest aches.

I respond with equal softness. “You’re welcome.” He gently closes the door behind him.

I whisper into the empty room, “You’re welcome, brother.”

Happy

Grinning like an idiot, I watch Michael run down the steps of the apartment building. His eyes wide, he looks like he’s about to faint.

My heart skips a beat. My smile fades.

He pauses mid-run and walks over to the car almost in slow motion.

Fuck. The kid looks like his heart is breaking.

Dammit.

When he finally reaches the car, he opens the door and sits, staring into the dashboard of the car, his eyes blank.

Reaching over, I clutch his shoulder and ask gently on a squeeze, “What happened, buddy?”

His mouth opens, but nothing comes out. He shrugs. A moment later, he whispers, “She said yes.”

I smile. “She did?”

Still looking confused beyond belief, he nods.

Pushing at his shoulder, I laugh, “Isn’t this what you wanted, kid?”

“Yeah. I mean, of course.” He pauses. “I just don’t get why she’d want me.”

Oh, man. This is getting too deep for me.

I offer him the best comparison I can think of. “You seen Lexi?”

His brow knits as he nods.

“You seen Twitch?”

Brows still bunched, he nods. He nods some more. A small smile tugs at his lips, and I know he gets me. I tell him, “Opposites, bud. Opposites attract.”

Starting the car, I pull out my cell and text Twitch.

Me: The kid got his girl.

Not ten seconds passes when my phone chimes.

Twitch: Good. Now get back to work.

Turning to Michael, I ask, “You ready to see the real side of Falcon Plastics, boy?”

His eyes widen and he whispers, “Fuck yeah.”

I chuckle.

The kid is doing just fine.

Going through the rest of the budget from Falcon Plastics is stressing me out.

Who am I to decide which charities and organizations need it more than others?

Charlie stopped by half an hour ago to find me all but hyperventilating. He asked what the problem was. That was about the time
Alexa the Freak-Out Chick
pushed her way out of my brain by means of my mouth. “There’s not a lot of money left, Charlie, and I thought this would be easy, you know? Giving money out to people who need it like Robin Hood. Which makes you a member of my merry men. And that’s fine, because you’re like this huge Islander teddy bear, so people would be scared of you and have no idea that you’re a sweetheart, but as a member of my merry men, I have to ask you to take this burden away from me. Because it’s a lot of burden. And I’m only human, Charlie.” I looked up into his eyes in pleading. “I don’t like being Robin Hood. Please don’t make me wear tights.”

And pause for air.

Charlie smiled and stepped closer to me. Once he reached the edge of my desk, he said, “You know what I like about you, Lex?” I shook my head, still in a panic. He went on, “You’ve got heart. And I knew you’d be like this. I’m surprised this didn’t come sooner. But that’s also why I knew you’d be perfect to take care of the budget.” I wasn’t following. And from Charlie’s chuckle, he knew it too. “I know that whoever ends up on your budget will deserve it. I know that every last cent of that money will be given to a range of organizations. The money will be distributed equally and without discrimination.” My heart warmed and he smiled. “That’s why I chose you.”

And with that, he left.

Sitting at my desk, while still stressing but feeling better about it, my phone chimes. Pulling it out of my bag, I see three messages.

Happy: The girl said yes.

Twitch: The kid got his girl.

Mickey: You were right. Tahlia said yes!

Smiling like a loon, I stare into the screen when another text comes through.

Mickey: I think I’m gonna be sick.

Laughing to myself, I suddenly realize I’m not so stressed anymore. There’s really no need to be.

Life is good.

The afternoon passes in a blur.

After double and triple checking my sums, I hand in the revised budget handouts to Charlie. Dawdling, I take my time walking back to my office. Halfway down the hall, I hear my cell ringing, and just as I approach my door, it stops.

Of course.

Walking into my office with a sigh, I check the display.

Ten missed calls from Twitch.

My brow furrows.
 

My cell lights up in my hand and chimes my ringtone. Twitch again.

I answer playfully with, “Hey you, are you stalking me?”

The response I get kills my good mood. “Baby, you need to come to the hospital. The one on Macquarie Street. You need to come now.”

My heart slowly begins to race.

My voice sounds weak even to me when I ask, “Are you okay?”

I hear him swallow hard. Then gently, “I’m fine. It’s not me, Lex. It’s the kid.”

He says three words that make the blood drain out of my body.

“Michael’s been shot.”

Heart racing out of my chest, I run through the crowded city street.

I run so fast that my legs go numb. I nudge and push my way through the ocean of people without apology. I shout at people to move out of the way.

I’m panicked.

I’m irritated.
 

Don’t these people understand I have an emergency? How dare they go about their lives when I feel like mine is crumbling?

I’m worried.

I’m frightened.

More so when I finally make it to the entrance of the hospital. Making a stop by the reception, I quickly ask where the emergency waiting room is. Once the answer is given, I’m off. Running down the halls of a sterile hospital, a million thoughts crash through my head.

What if Mickey’s really hurt? What if he needs special help after this? What if he…

Shaking the crazy thoughts out of my head, I decide to wait to get the details so I know what I’m working with here.

It could be nothing.

I run to the end of the hall and I see Twitch. Panting and sweating, I walk over to him. With his back to me, I ask quietly, “What happened?”

Twitch turns to me. His face blank.
 

Searching my face a moment, he explains, “The kid wanted to ask his girl out. He told me he would’ve done it if he didn’t have to be at work on time so I made Happy take him, then trail the rest of the day.” Lowering his eyes, he shifts around, leans closer, and whispers, “Happy had to make a few stops. Make a few drops. Secure a few shipments.”

The blood drains out of my face.