Lawless Hero

“She died because of me. I’m going to carry that the rest of my life.”

“It’s not like you were trained to be able to save her,” I reasoned.

* * *

Later that evening, my phone rang. I grabbed it, thinking it might be Warren, but I saw Melvin’s name on my screen.

What the hell? Is Kim okay?

“Hello?” I answered, worried.

“Hey, Rose. What’s going on?”

“Um, not much. Why are you calling me? Is Kim okay?”

“She was fine when she left this morning, although it probably hurt her a bit to walk, if you know what I mean.” He guffawed while I groaned internally.

“Good for you, I guess. Now again, why are you calling?”

“I just wanted to thank you for hooking me up with her. Damn, she’s fine.”

“No problem. Just be nice to her. Don’t fuck her over.”

“Too late for that. I fucked her over, under, and around…” His laugh screeched through the phone and I scrunched up my face, thankful he couldn’t see me.

“Well, I’m going to go now,” I said.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Will you do a story on me?”

“What kind of story?” I asked suspiciously. “I don’t do journalism anymore.”

“But you know people, right? You could submit it some

where?”

“Maybe…”

“I’m opening a new security company and I need a big launch, you know? Big like me.”

“Whatever you say.”

He chuckled. “Come on, now. Your friend must have told you.”

“I haven’t talked to her yet.”

“Well, she might not tell you, but it’s fucking huge.”

“What’s huge?”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t have time for this, Melvin,” I said, annoyed.

“I’m just talking about the story, you dirty woman.”