“I told you I was arrested for running jobs for guys like this when I turned eighteen. They turned their backs on me. These guys are not your friends,” I said.
“Most likely this is a group of young men causing trouble, maybe they have beef with someone outside the neighborhood; sounds like they’re running drugs.” Isaac shifted on his feet and crossed his arms across his chest, his eyes on Zach’s bowed head. “You can get out now if you want. It’s up to you. If you keep doing what they want, you’re going to end up in prison,” Isaac said.
I knew he wasn’t saying that lightly. We’d both seen it happen to our friends growing up. It happened to me.
“They said if I wanted protection from the kids bothering me at school, I needed to hang with them and help them out,” Zach mumbled.
“Since you’ve done that, have the bullies left you alone?” I asked.
“Yes.” But his face was uneasy.
“But you don’t like what they’re asking you to do?” I asked.
“No. I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. That’s why I’m here.”
“Alright, we’ll figure this out. For now, let’s get you home.” I stood, waiting for Zach to do the same.
“I’m not in trouble?” he asked me, uncertainly.
It was important for him to know he could come to me and I wouldn’t freak out. “No. Why would you be in trouble?” At least I hoped that was the case. He could be sugar-coating the reality and I didn’t like the idea of that.
“Because I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“All that matters is that you came to me.”
He nodded, relief filling his eyes.
“Let’s go.” I wasn’t sure what we were going to be able to do for him. It was going to be up to Zach to ignore them or stay away from them. To tell them no. I couldn’t be there twenty-four seven. He’d need to handle this largely on his own. I wasn’t sure if I should talk to his teacher or his principal. It wasn’t my place to do that, but I needed help. Maybe I could find some way to keep Zach busy and not be so susceptible to these assholes. There was sports, tutoring, maybe some after school activity? I couldn’t have him working at a bar. It was too bad, because a job would have been perfect. He needed the money and it would keep him busy.
That night when I laid back on the pillows on my bed I checked my phone to read the text I had seen come in from Taylor earlier. She’d asked if everything was okay with me and if she could help out. Zach’s situation reinforced my thoughts that nothing could happen between Taylor and me. This wasn’t her life. She thought she had a rough life because of her brother, but that was nothing compared to this. As a prosecutor she’d be disgusted with my record and the situation with Zach.
I responded to her text telling her everything was fine. I ignored the nagging feeling that she’d want to help. So far, she’d stepped in and helped me at the bar and the business owners in the neighborhood. But this was different. I couldn’t involve her in a gang. And if she knew, what would that mean for Zach? Would she report the situation? Have him removed from his mother? From me? I couldn’t take a chance of that happening. My priority was Zach. I couldn’t help myself when I was a kid, but I could help him. And if it meant not seeing Taylor again or keeping her away then I’d do it. This wasn’t about me and what I wanted anymore.
Chapter Twelve
TAYLOR
At work on Friday, I stared at my text screen and Gabe’s last response that was everything was fine. I didn’t believe it but whatever he was dealing with was none of my business. We barely knew each other so why did it hurt so much that he didn’t want to confide in me?
I needed to immerse myself in my job. I’d forget about Gabe and his problems. I needed to focus on the neighborhood. I had some ideas I could have discussed with Gabe when I saw him yesterday, but I’d handle it myself. I’d talk to the business owners and see if they’d be amenable to an outdoor block party one Friday a month to attract people to the neighborhood.
I needed to live my life here on my own. It was why I’d come here—to finally live life on my own terms, and that’s what I was going to do. I didn’t need Gabe to explore the city. I could do it on my own. I would.
“Hey, a couple of us are going out tonight, want to come?” Preston asked.
I didn’t think I’d spoken to Preston since my first day when we were introduced. I’d disliked him and his type on sight. His blond hair, blue eyes, polo shirts when he didn’t have to be in court, and khaki pants with alligators embroidered into them. He was pretentious and full of himself. The other women in the office seemed to think he was attractive, but not me.
“Did I say something funny?” Preston asked, his head cocked.
“No. Sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Who all’s going?” I didn’t have to work at Isaac’s and I could handle Preston if we weren’t alone.
“All the associate attorneys.”
As much as I disliked Preston, it would be good to get to know my co-workers. I’d talked to Hadley the most but still didn’t know her well. I should have been hanging out with them, not sexy bartenders on the other side of town. “Sure. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course.” Preston flashed a smile and disappeared from my doorway.
I turned my focus back to my job reviewing a case where a local district attorney had collected child pornography pictures
