His eyes narrow as he glances over my head. Confused, I turn and catch a flash of telltale blue fabric mingling with the crush of pedestrians a block down. The closer the figure approaches, the easier it is for me to make out the silhouette of a uniform I know well—an officer, but not just anyone out on patrol.
“Bye, bunny.” Without another word, Rafe shoves past me, bumping my shoulder hard, and lumbers down the street in the opposite direction.
I catch myself watching him—staring. He moves without a care in the world.
While I falter, trapped in the path of a man who frowns when he spots me. “Hannah? What are you doing down here?”
“Hey, Liam,” I croak.
Tall, with a head of brown hair, the officer approaches me. “Hey.” He looks me over, his eyes narrowing. “Your brother know you’re out here?”
I force a nod. “I’m working today.”
He frowns. “We got a call from that part of town. I’m on my way there. Everything okay?”
“I don’t know. I… I’m on break. I have to go.”
“Alright, well, look out for yourself.” He continues his patrol as I scurry beyond his range of sight.
Despite the blazing sunlight, I’m numb down to my fingertips by the time I finally reach the block where my apartment building is located. However, it isn’t long before determination washes through my veins and banishes the coldness away.
You’ll run back to your little McMansion like a good girl when shit gets real, won’t you? So, go on. Run.
It’s stupid to get involved. It is. I desperately try to tell myself that as I fish my cell phone from my pocket and dial a number I know by heart.
A charming baritone answers on the second ring. “Hannah, pumpkin?”
“Hi, Daddy.” I’m near the entrance to my building now, but rather than head inside, I pace the strip of concrete in front of the door.
“Hi, darling. I have a meeting in a bit, so I can’t talk long.”
“I know it’s a little late notice, but…” I swallow hard before blurting my request out in a rush. “I need some money.”
“Are you in trouble?” His tone deepens with concern.
“N-No!” Yes. “Unless…you count not being able to purchase the new Michael Kors purse before they all sell out ‘trouble.’” I wince at the lie. “It’s nothing serious, I promise.”
“Kors…a purse?” Suspicion laces his every word. “Since when are you interested in fashion?”
I glance down at my vintage sweater, cargo pants, and sandals—all found at a thrift shop for less than ten dollars total. “Since…now?”
“How much do you need?”
It seems way too easy, and my stomach churns when I spout off a random figure. “Ten thousand.”
“Done,” he says before I can even start to feel guilty, and somehow, his trust makes it so much worse. “I’ll make some calls, and it will be in your account within the hour.”
“Thank you.”
“And…how are things?” he adds. “With you and Bran?”
“Fine.”
“And school?”
“We’re on summer break,” I say, though I feel we had this same conversation the last time I spoke to him. And the time before that. His reply even sounds the same.
“Oh, that’s nice, honey.”
“I plan to submit for an internship in the fall,” I add, mainly to hear myself talk. Acknowledge my achievements out loud. “I could shadow an editor for a while. Learn what it takes to be published—”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Daddy questions. For once, he’s actually listened, but his reaction also isn’t that much of a shock. “What does Branden think about it? He’s been good, lately, Hannah. Moving out there has been good for him—” He pauses as if waiting for me to argue, but I don’t. I never do. “I know you have your hobbies, Hannah. I know they’re important to you, but try not to dig up the past too much. It hurts us, you know. Me…your mother…Branden. I know you’re proud of your story, but we are still fielding questions from nosy neighbors who are reading into it more than they should.”
“It was one article,” I say softly, but the guilt cuts deep. Even a vague short story invites judgment. Annoyance. I mourn the loss of my journal now more than ever—the one place I could store my thoughts without being judged.
“Darling…” He sighs. “Think of your brother. You know what it’s been like for him—all the rumors. You’ve always been his champion, honey, and he’s always been yours. People will take any little thing they can twist to fit their narrative.”
“I’m sorry,” I say for what has to be the tenth time since the article was first published.
“I know. Anyway, you can count on the money being in your account by tonight.”
I don’t question how he can possibly arrange the transfer on such short notice. My father and money are enigmas to me—but, for once, his cavalier attitude toward it plays in my favor.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Anything for my princess. That’s what family is for,” he insists. “We help each other, no matter the cost.”
And I know what he means.
Either monetarily, or with our very souls, we pay the price of being family.
Chapter Four
I get ready for bed robotically, dressing in my comfy sweats and braiding my hair into two plaits. My reflection in the bathroom mirror stares back at me warily until I finally turn away.
Entering my living room, I lounge on my couch directly across from my small television, and the tiny, broken device propped on top of it.
With my arm extended, I smile and snap a selfie with my cell phone. Then I send it to Branden with a quick message. Long day, heading to bed early. Night!
His reply takes only seconds to come. Good night. I’ll have Liam drive by to check on you. He saw you in town earlier. You know I don’t like you wandering the streets outside of work.
I swallow hard and compose a reply. Just got some lunch. Night!
It’s like an invisible timer ticks down as I stand and turn off all the lights but the one in my bedroom. In the semi-darkness, I sneak to my window and wait, watching the street. Ten minutes later, a patrol car cruises by, and I know its driver is looking up, searching for my floor. He’ll expect me to wave, so I do, smiling brightly.
He flashes his lights in a silent greeting and then drives off.
And the second he’s out of view, I strip my sweats and change into a sweater and jeans. Then I grab my bag and slip from my apartment, creeping down the stairs as if Branden can hear me all the way from Santa Barbara.
It’s surprisingly quiet out at this time of night. Shadows lurk on the street corners, and I can almost hear them whispering “idiot” as I creep past.
The same old worry crosses my mind. Branden would kill me if he knew. That is, if some criminal or thief doesn’t beat him to the punch.
What the heck am I doing out here? On what? A savior mission?
Or a suicidal one…
Thankfully, I’m not completely naïve and have a can of pepper spray in my bag. My cell phone is at the ready in my pocket, with my thumb hovering over the speed dial for emergency services.