Page 2 (1/2)

Chapter 1

JAMES

I roll over in bed and look atat me like I’ tardy, even if the jobs for hiirl right now and I need to keep it that way Well, I’irl, but there’s no reason to focus on that

I’ve never felt the wrath of Bradford, but I’ve seen others on the receiving end of it For an old guy he can still pack a punch That’s why I do what I’m told and walk a fine line between petty theft and odd jobs tothat could land me in the state prison for the rest of my life because I’d never make it on the inside My best quality has always been that I’o Inside, a person is trapped and that thought has alwaysI always have an exit plan

If anyone knohat prison is like, it’s me Both of my parents have been locked up since I was fifteen Mom was in and out, but after the last ti out anytiht be for the best, at least for et ht next to her I don’t touch drugs after I watched the to thee to stay far away from them Before I ever worked for Bradford he told me to stay away from them, too, and it’s one of the reasons I work for hi as you respect his Bradford was always around when I was growing up He letsmall errands for hiroceries for hiserrands

I grab s over the side ofI check rown over tier jobs It will get h I’ive me if I asked for it Sometimes it feels as if he treats e that work for hiirl and I don’t know if I should be thankful or pissed

I think it over as I look at the money, and I don’t knohat the number in my bank account should be before I o soirl with twopockets It’s the one skill that ht me that actually helped me in life Desperate times call for desperate measures

An uneasy feeling settles overat the base of o for a run, but I don’t have the tilance out theof my tiny studio apartment, if you can even call it that It’s maybe three hundred square feet and thefaces a brick wall I think its original intent was meant to be a set the place and I get to pay my rent in cash weekly It’s cheap and I feel somewhat safe since Bradford knows the owners Plus, I don't let anyone knohere I live

I put on tight black pants and sneakers and a si on a hoodie over it It’s the sarab my phone then make my way out the door and down that stairs to the e crowd I pullto make sure I have my phone tucked away I know all too well how easy it is to lift one

Not paying attention, I slaasp just as I start to fall backwards Strong hands gripon my side Fear races up my spine as I stare at a very expensive suit—one that is out of place on this side of town

My eyes travel up to see two bright piercing blue eyes staring down atI ruined his outfit that cost more than a car, but I’m sure he can afford another My hood falls off as I lean back to look up at hi out around me

His eyes widen for aThen the hands on rips me harder

“Let go,” I snap in the h that I know others will turn to look at a irl who is about half his size

He doesn’t let go, though, and instead a cocky half s he’s handsome

“Do I need to repeat et out of his hold…yet A so and I’d need surprise on my side

“You are a feisty little thing, aren’t you?” He pulls ainst his For a moment I’m

shocked as his eyes roam my face “Or maybe not so feisty”

“Sir,” I hear someone say and the sound of someone next to us breaks into my mind

I glance over to aon to me He’s in a suit, too, but it’s not as nice as the one holdingattention to the er opens his h

With allmy knee up to try and break his hold, but he blocks rip and I take off at a sprint,I know I’lance back I can tell he ood block or tay but he’s stopped He likely knew there was no catchingcan’t move this fast

I circle the block because I still need to get to Bradford’s shop By the tiain blend back into the crowd as I pull lance as my watch tells me I’ll still be on time, even with the asshole manhandler

When I’m a block away I take out the wallet I lifted from the suit and see a nice stack of cash inside I tuck it away so I can go through it later, but I’m pleased that the encounter orth it I should pull the cash out now and toss the rest, but for some reason I want to have a better look at it

A fewout He’s got a good ten years onnoticed He’s tall and has always been lean, but over the past few ym Or the steroids

“Hey” His hand comes down on the wall of the narrow hallway that leads to Bradford’s office and he blocks“What’s got you all flushed, J?”

He pushes my hood back from my head I want to smack his hand, but I try not to poke the beast if I don’t have to Especially ones I have to see and ith I try and stay as under the radar as I can, and if I could be invisible I would

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I ask as I dart under his arm towards Bradford’s office

He won’t follow ives me his shit when no one is around to see it I hear him call me a little shit, then he follows it up with a o into Bradford’s office I don’t knohat his deal is He’s either trying to get in my pants or make me feel like shit

When I walk into Bradford’s office I close the door behind ot his phone to his ear and an irritated look on his face He points to an envelope sitting on the corner of his desk and I walk over to it