He laughed and turned up the block. I followed, trying to keep up with his long strides since he didn’t bother to slow down. As he drove his large black Lincoln Continental out of the city, I realized I didn’t even know his name yet he knew mine.
“William King, by the way. By now you’re wondering who I am. You can call me Bill.”
We arrived at a large brick house in a suburban neighborhood. It was the biggest house I’d ever seen in person and I found it hard to not look impressed. Inside Bill showed me to his office where a huge wooden desk dominated the room. Taking a picture frame off his desk, he perched himself on the edge and handed the photo to me.
“That’s my Jeanne. Her name is Charlotte. She’s not like us and would never understand the life we grew up with.”
I looked at the picture of the happy couple holding a baby. She had the same eyes as Jeanne and I couldn’t help but let my guard down a little.
“You’re nothing like me, man.”
“Shut up and listen. I know you’ve had it rough. I’m not denying you that. But I know how you think. And I think I can train you.”
“Train me for what?”
“Do you want to make a lot of money? Give that girl a better life?”
“Yes, I already said that. I’d do anything for her.”
“The military has a strict training method that only a few are welcomed into and even less pass. I graduated from their elite system with honors. I’m leaving that business. Charlotte and Will deserve better and I believe the store is the way to do that.”
“What’s that got to do with me? Just spill it, man.”
He gave me a crossed look and I felt the icy grip of fear around my heart. Suddenly I understood what he was suggesting.
“I’m willing you train you the way I was trained. I need someone who can learn how the new cartel thinks and see when we can take advantage of their situation. You’re going to help me with my last job and then protect my family. In exchange I’ll make you richer than you can imagine. You’re still just a child—”
“I’m not a kid, I’m eighteen. I’m not even in high school anymore.”
“Dropping out of school doesn’t make you an adult. I’ll make you into a man you can be proud of. One your girl won’t look down on like she does now.”
I stood up and got in his face. Bill wasn’t disturbed at all and shoved me hard on my chest, forcing me back into the chair.
“You’ll work for me,” he said. People will think you’re my driver while I train you in the arts and methods that will help protect my family from harm. You’ll be well compensated, but no one must know exactly what you do. No one. Understand?”
I nodded. I understood more than he could imagine.
That night I entered Jeanne’s window like I always did. She sat at her desk writing and didn’t turn when I entered.
“I did it Jeanne. I found a way for us to get out of here. I’m going to make a great life for you,” I said.
She didn’t turn around at first. Instead she shook her head slowly until she smiled sadly at me.
“Let’s go to bed,” she said.
Present Day
“I never saw her again. She left in the middle of the night while I was deep asleep.”
“Oh Stewart, that’s so sad,” Deborah said now sitting at the edge of her seat, with her face in her hands.
“Turns out what she was writing when I arrived was a letter to me. She met someone else, someone she thought would be able to help her get the life she wanted. And he convinced her they had to leave right away.”
“Did you ever look for her?”
“No,” I said quietly. “I finally accepted she didn’t want me. She might have loved me, but I guess sometimes love isn’t enough.”#p#分页标题#e#
Chapter Twenty-One
Deborah
Alone in the suite after Stewart left, I knocked on Dianna’s door needing to talk. I heard a bit of a commotion on the other side of the door, then a male voice and a woman giggling. Did she change rooms without telling me?
Dianna opened the door a crack, her hair disheveled and a sheet wrapped around her body. My mouth dropped open in surprise.
“I know, I know!” She said as she pushed me further into my room and closed the door behind her. “We met yesterday. His name is Jean-Marc and I swear I’m already in love.”
“Well that explains that giant smile on your face,” I said laughing. “I just never thought you were such a slut!”
“Slut? Me? No! I followed the three date rule. We had lunch together, then dinner and then drinks. See, three.” She raised her brows at me and giggled again.