The Criminal's Girl

Chapter 9

I’d been mulling over Jack’s words ever since I’d left him at break. Sure, he seemed sincere enough but I wasn’t completely sure I could trust him just yet. But it was nice to have someone you can almost rely on in another gang, gets a little lonely when you’re in my situation.

Once school had ended, I picked up all my belongings and headed towards the car park, trying to see if I could catch Zeni before she left and get a ride. I spotted her and was about to go over when a car beeped its horn. My attention switched and I caught sight of Tony, who was sitting in a car waiting for me. I grinned and skipped over.

Opening the car door, I settled in and looked over at him. “Hey!”

He reversed and pulled out, driving off and replied shortly, “Hey.” I frowned at his response and asked, “You alright?”

“Yeah, I am, Harls, more to the point, are you?” He shot back at me.

On my guard, I said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Xavier Matheson?”

I gulped, then replied, “It rude to reply to a question with a question_”

“Don’t bloody go there with me Harls! Do you know how much trouble you could land your sorry arse in if this gets back to Louis?!” Tony exploded.

“Dear God, calm the hell down or pull the hell over!” I cried out. Tony breathed, and focused, and we sat in silence for a few minutes as he slowed the car.

“I’m sorry for yelling Harls_”

“Too damn right, Tony, I don’t need the lecture from you as well_”

“If someone else mentioned this as well then that’s got to tell you something Harls,” Tony implored, his eyes begging for me to see his side. “It’s a dangerous game you’re playing, one that could land you in a heap of trouble if you continue.”

“Tony, believe it or not, you are the third person I’ve had to hear from in the last two days about the risk I’m taking. I’m not in the mood to hear it again,” I muttered, stressed.

“Well, you should hear it because it makes a helluva lot more sense than you are right now_”

I cut him off, “You know what Tony, you’re the one person I thought I could rely on to at least consider how I’m feeling right now.” I took a deep breath to slow myself before continuing, “This is my chance to have a shot at some kind of normal teenage life, alright? I was jumped into a gang at age 15, to save my brother from getting chucked in jail, something no kid should have to deal with at that age. I’ve killed two people, something that, if I’m honest with myself about, will never be able to get over properly.”

Tears started to roll down my cheeks as I pushed my hair out of my face and gazed out of the car window. “I may not act like it, but every night when I go to sleep I see their faces. I know their names, I researched their birthdays and families and send money and flowers to each of their families on their birthdays, as a pitiful sorry to them. Clive Woods, family of 4 and married to wife Elsa, and Linc Joseph, no children or wife, but a sister, Jenna who was getting married the day after I murdered her brother. He was going to give her away.

“I flirt and giggle with clients, most of them not my age; in order to get them to sign a contract to a man I can’t stand and barely manage to be in the same room with. I’ve been beaten up, harassed, seen things and done things I hate and shouldn’t have had to do and for what? So that a man like Louis Klieth, the literal meaning of the scum of the earth, can continue to get richer and more powerful?