“I’m just so damn hungry and desperate, and—”
“Over the hard life?”
“Yes!” he spits out, and his anger clearly isn’t at me.
“Right. So, how about this.” I reach into my pocket and grab my wallet before unfolding a couple of twenties and holding them out for him. He goes to snatch them off me, but my fingers hold firm until his gaze jerks to mine. “You use this to get some food into you, and you let me make a call for you so you have a warm, safe bed to sleep in for a few days.”
His eyes jump wide. “Whoa. You’d do that?”
“Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, bud.”
Skepticism hardens his expression, and he arches a brow. “Why should I believe you?”
“Honestly, you’re right to question me. But I’m legit. My name is Rhodes, and I work for the CFD. I’ve got nothing to gain from lying, dude. I’ve got a son your age, and you’re far too young to be living on the street—whatever the circumstance. So instead of calling the cops, I’ll cut you some slack. ’Cause something tells me you haven’t had much of that lately. Am I right?”
He nods, the relief shining back at me tugging at my heartstrings. If I hadn’t already decided to help him, that look would’ve secured it.
“Good. So, take this.” I let go of the bills, feeling verified when he doesn’t move to snatch it this time. Instead, he’s looking at the money in his hand like it’s a lifeline.
“You sure you don’t expect anything for this?” he asks.
I shake my head, hating the fact he even has to ask that question. Kids should have time to be kids, not worrying about people’s intentions. “What’s your name?”
“Pete.”
“Well, Pete. Life may not have been good to you yet, but it will. This is me just offering you a break.”
His look of relief is all the thanks I need.
“I will ask you to do one thing though. I want you to think of a way to apologize to the woman who owns this purse, because she didn’t deserve what you just did to her at all.”
“But . . . the cops?”
“Pete, I’ll take care of that. I said I would, and I meant it. Now, you know the shelter by Grant Park?”
He bites his lip, and his eyes go up as if he’s wracking his brain. “Yep. Three-story brick building. Kinda old, but clean.”
I grin. “Yeah. Go in and tell the manager Rhodes sent you. I’ll clear it with them, as long as you turn up, Don will look after you.”
Pete looks at me with such wide-eyed wonder, I can almost see the carefree teenager he should be. God, Lily would be smiling so big if she could see me right now.
“You sure?” he asks, his voice turning defensive.
“Yeah. Don’s my dad. I’m gonna call him and he’ll be expecting you.” I lock eyes with the kid once more. “You’ll go there?”
Pete nods. “I will. I’ll go and talk to Don and say you sent me. And the lady, I’ll think of a way to say sorry. Without, like, scaring her. Okay?”
“See that you do,” I say, putting my dad hat back on. Pete waves and walks backward before turning around and hurrying away. “And don’t eat crap. Get a salad or something!” I yell out to him.
When he disappears from sight, I shake my head, hoping my gut feeling was right.
It hits me that I’m standing alone in a dirty alley, in the middle of the Loop, holding a handbag. Shit, Dee!
I make quick work of retracing my steps, and I’m soon rounding the corner near Delish.
“There he is!” Dee says, pointing me out to the cop standing next to her—a cop who looks right at me. His eyes widen before he shakes his head and smirks at me while Dee runs toward me.
“Oh my god, you got it back,” she hurries out, taking her purse from my outstretched hand.
“Are you okay? ’Cause that’s more important.”
She freezes and blinks as if I’ve surprised her. It’s cute as hell. I may be a big man, but that doesn’t make me a Neanderthal.
“Yeah, thanks. Officer Rossi wanted me to go get checked out at the ER, but I’m fine.”
I arch a brow, and her eyes widen.
She holds her hand in the air as if to give me a scout’s honor salute. “I promise. I’m okay. My arm is a bit tender, but otherwise, I’m more embarrassed than anything. I should’ve been paying attention instead of talking on the phone.”
I rest my hand on her forearm. “You did nothing wrong . . .” Dee, I just manage to stop myself from saying.
She blushes, and I think that may be my favorite look on her. Then I mentally kick myself, because it’s way too weird to have a favorite anything about this woman I’ve just met in person but already feel like I know after watching her videos. Am I a stalker now?
We stand there staring at each other, her purse now hanging over her shoulder, my fingers still on her arm, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s almost as if we’re having a moment. God, I’ve been out of the game so long I can’t even be sure anymore.
“Miss Duncan?” Gio Rossi calls out, walking toward us. I jerk my hand away like I’ve been caught breaking the law. He nods my way. “Rhodes,” he says, his lips twitching.
“G.”
“Wait, you know each other?” Dee says, her head shifting between us. “I know Chicago can be a small world sometimes, but what are the odds?”
“Indeed.” Gio muses. “Your vigilante here is our family’s best friend—well, my brothers and I, anyway.”
I open my mouth to explain further, but Dee beats me to it. “Oh, wow. So, it’s serendipity, of sorts.”
“Something like that,” Gio replies. I give him a death glare that thankfully he reads before changing the subject.
