Wild Girl (Slateview High 2)

“Dear,” she murmured. “They’re young. They love her. Certainly you understand better than anyone what being young and in love will do to you.” She smiled, the expression warm but also slightly sad. “I don’t think I need to remind you how you were when you were their age. What you did for me.”

Nathaniel was quiet, staring up at his wife. He looked miles away, as if he was remembering something that took him far away from this place, this time, to something in his past that had shifted the course of his life.

It made me wonder: was Josephine speaking on this because at a point in time, Nathaniel had killed someone for her?

It was a question I didn’t ask aloud. I held it on my tongue, not daring to pry when we were already in such a precarious situation and Nathaniel literally held our lives in his hands.

After a moment, Nathaniel sighed, bringing Josephine’s hand to his lips, kissing it.

“Teenagers are stupid,” he said, dry humor in his voice even as love reflected on his face.

“Yes. They are.”

Her voice was warm, and I suddenly felt like I was imposing on a moment too private to be shared. Like the two of them existed in a little bubble where no one and nothing else mattered.

God, I know that feeling.

Nathaniel kissed Josephine’s knuckles again, his gaze locked on hers as dozens of unspoken words passed between them. Finally, he pulled his attention away from her, turning back to face us.

“My lovely wife makes a good point. And yet…” He looked to Bishop, his brows drawing together. “This isn’t something that can simply be ignored. It would set a bad precedent. I can, however, grant a certain leniency because of the situation surrounding Flint’s death. And to be honest, it’s been difficult narrowing down who might’ve wanted to kill him, becau

se the list was so damn long. The man was a fuck-up who’d been becoming more and more of a problem for me.”

Nathaniel stood, retrieving his cigarette from the ashtray before walking around to the front of his desk and leaning against it, pursing his lips.

“Now, don’t make the mistake of assuming you did me a favor. Don’t think I’m grateful to you for this mess.”

“Of course not.” Bish nodded, keeping his face impassive.

Hope and worry warred in my chest. We were so close, but still so far from safety.

“You broke the chain of command, and you broke one of the cardinal rules of my organization,” Nathaniel continued. “Which leaves me the question of what to do with you.” Shaking his head, he looked to me. “What exactly did you think you were going to dig up about your father from Flint?” he asked suddenly.

I shifted uncomfortably. I hadn’t been expecting to be put on the spot, but I did my best to hide my nerves as I answered.

“I believe my father was framed,” I said quietly. “Whatever… shady things he’s done with his power, I know that what he got put away for isn’t something he’s guilty of. Someone set him up.”

Nathaniel hummed again. “Does the name Luke Carmine mean anything to you?” he asked.

I bit my lip, nodding. “It’s the closest lead I’ve gotten since trying to find out what happened with my father. Besides the name Abraham Shaw.”

The dark-haired man considered my answer carefully, and I was sure I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes at Abraham’s name. “Well, if there’s anyone that would know—or have a hand in that—it would be Luke. How about we cut a deal? Since it was one of my men that caused this… this trouble, I’ll pick up the trail you were attempting to follow when you agreed to meet with Flint. I’ll find out if and how Luke sabotaged your father, and if he was working with Abraham Shaw to do it. In return, your family will owe me a favor, and the boys will have a second chance. That’s the only condition I’m willing to agree to or give.”

“What kind of favor?” It was Bishop who spoke up, but I was way ahead of him.

“I accept.”

“Cora—”

I shook my head. “I accept,” I repeated. “You have a deal, Nathaniel. I’ll make sure my dad knows who was responsible for trying to get him out of prison, and that he understands he owes you.”

Nathaniel nodded and sat back down. “Good. Then, the four of you are free to go. However, you three? Don’t make this a repeat offense. There’s only so much good grace I can offer before it’s seen as weakness, and I won’t have you making choices like the one you did with Flint again. Am I understood?”

They all looked a little shocked as it slowly sank in that none of us would be leaving this room in a body bag, but each one of them nodded. It struck me for the first time how close they—possibly even we—had come to dying today.

“No problem, Boss,” Misael said. “We’ll be on our best behavior.”

Nathaniel actually smirked, although it didn’t do much to make him appear less intimidating.