allway. She didn't run to him. She di

igh heels clicking aggressive

to put me through?" Adelina hissed, her

son's chest-the hope that maybe, just once, his

say a word. He simply walked past her, pushed open the heavy

he quickly thanked the desk

pen. Iverson ducked inside and slid all t

e door shut. The heavy, soundproof doors se

rom the curb, leaving

icy armor. "Do you have any idea how terrified I was when the police called me? I thought you were dead! And then I get there, and I find out yo

sts on his lap. His knuckles c

angerously low. "She actually acts like a mother. Unlike the w

had slapped her. Her fa

Adelina yelled, losing her composure. "You have

mean I have to stay out of Brandon's way so your precious

d a shaking finger at him. "He is your role model. He

lled out a thick manila folder, and t

"Starting tomorrow, you are forbidden from going back to that ghetto. You are

older. He let it slide off his ch

he window. "I'm garbage at school. I'm a loser. No amount of expens

g. "If you keep this up, I will have yo

s voice dead. "I don't wa

ick wall. The silence in

zzed in his pocket

from his best

locked down the street. I walked by Brenda's shop-it's locked up tig

n his stomach finally unraveled. His shoulde

nted window. He saw his own reflection i

ed his real intelligence, if he became a threat to Brandon, Brandon would destroy them both. Playi

of exhaustion and heartbreak washed over her. S

d and approached the massive, wroug

rson pushed his door open. He stepped out and walked toward the