Ruthless Heart

I need to talk to my brother right now—and I can’t call him on the cell phone Nero gave me—so I take the burner phone and walk a couple of blocks to a small park, finding a private spot on a bench to make the call.

The phone rings three times before my brother answers.

“Hello?” his voice is guarded, and I realize it’s because he doesn’t recognize the phone number. He probably thinks it’s a telemarketer.

“Hey kid, it’s me.”

“Lily?” His voice relaxes. “Hey, where have you been? You haven’t been responding to my texts.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. Dropped my phone in the toilet,” I lie.

“So, is this your new number?”

“No, I borrowed a phone from a friend. I’ll buy a new one soon.”

The lies just keep spilling out and I hate that I can’t be honest with him. But this is how it has to be.

“What are you up to?” Teddy asks. “You sound weird.”

“I do?” I try to force my voice back to normal. “That’s just because I’m tired. You know how it is the day after a late shift at the club.”

“I don’t like that you work there.”

“Don’t worry about me,” I say, somehow managing to keep my voice light. “A shitty job isn’t the end of the world. Now, tell me about you. How are your classes going?”

He launches into a detailed answer about every class he’s taking, the study buddies and professors, and his dorm’s plans for Prank Week. I listen to it all with a smile on my face, glad at the innocent distraction from everything I’ve been going through. He’s so full of life and hope. None of the ugliness that I’m dealing with should ever touch him.

“Just remember to keep your grades up with all this fun you’re having,” I tease him lightly.

“I will! Plus…” Teddy pauses. “Well, there’s a girl.”

“A girl? Wow. Look at you,” I cheer. “My brother, the stud.”

“Shut up, it’s not like that. She’s really great.”

Teddy has always been a little shy, but as he tells me about her, I can hear the excitement in his voice. He’s smitten.

For some reason, this makes me feel even more afraid.

He’s on the edge of greatness, at a point where he can do anything with his life. He could marry this girl, have a family. He could have an amazing career.

He could be happy.

I feel a lump in my throat. That’s what is at stake here. Teddy’s life. My life. All of it.

“Listen, I have to run to class,” he finally says. “Check in next week? And remember to give me your number. You’re missing out on some truly great viral videos, being off the grid.”

“I promise,” I tell him, trying to keep back the tears. “Be safe!”

I hang up, and sit there for a long moment, watching the city bustle by.

I miss Teddy so much it hurts, but I know what I have to do to protect the both of us. The FBI wants me to be an informant, but I know from experience, there’s no safety in that. More witness protection, always looking over our shoulders, always waiting for the day Nero walks through the door.

He’s a force of nature. A hurricane.

And he always gets what he wants.

So, I won’t bet against him. There’s nobody smarter or more ruthless. And if the Feds had any real chance of busting him, they wouldn’t need me. He’s given me his word that if I land him this deal, Teddy and I will be free. Safe. Forever.