One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1)(112)

He could make you feel so comfortable as if you weren’t disgusted by the things he did. It was quite a talent.

“I’ve known Yoss for a long time, Imogen. I found him as a twelve-year-old kid. Did he ever tell you about how we met?” Manny asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear anything this man had to say. I wanted Yoss’s history from his lips. Not from the man who took his innocence and sold it to the highest bidder.

But I listened.

Because I couldn’t help it.

“He was attacked by two men. Just over there.” Manny pointed to the line of trees on the other side of the bridge.

“They beat him up pretty bad, but it could have been worse. He was small for his age. Thin, scared. He had been through a lot that was obvious. I stepped in and made sure those guys never messed with him again.” He seemed so proud of himself. It made me want to slap him.

“So you took advantage of him. Because he was vulnerable!” I accused.

“I helped him take control of his life. I gave him options. I helped him survive,” Manny argued in a calm, placating voice.

I curled my lip in revulsion. “It’s sick, you know.” Manny raised an eyebrow. “How you can justify pimping out children for money? They look to you for safety. For security. They’re out here because they have nowhere to go and they are desperate for a home. For belonging. So you give it to them. At a price.”

“I think you have the wrong idea about me, Imi—”

“Do not call me that! Only my friends call me Imi,” I warned him, moving away from him. His words coated me in a layer of filth. Even though I had just showered hours before, I felt dirty again.

“Imogen, Yoss, the boys, they’re my family. I love them.”

“I think everyone would be better off without your brand of love,” I shouted.

Manny looked out at the river, his round face thoughtful. “I understand you don’t like me. That’s fine. But I sincerely wish you and Yoss all the best. And I was glad to be able to help him out so you could start your new life.”

There it was. The bomb Manny had been waiting to drop.

“What are you talking about?”

I knew.

“He came to me this afternoon. He needed money. I was able to get him one last job that would set the two of you up for a long time. Yoss is a good boy. He’ll take care of you.”

I jumped to my feet, my heart thumping madly. “Where is he?” I whispered.

“What was that?” Manny asked, cocking his head to the side again. I was close to violence. I felt it crackling in my veins.

“Where’s Yoss?” I said louder.

“The Meyer’s movie theater. The alley in the back is nice and secluded.”

The movie theater. Where we had watched Fiddler on the Roof.

That’s where he was.

He promised he would never let himself be used like that again.

Liar.

I turned and ran. Manny called my name, but I didn’t stop.

I ran and I ran.



He was there.

I had been berating myself for doubting him.

He wouldn’t do this. Not when he had promised me. Not when we had plans.

Important plans.

I had almost talked myself into going back to the bridge to wait.

He had errands. He’ll meet me soon…

The alleyway was dark. But not dark enough that I didn’t see the two figures tucked into the corner. Behind the dumpster. Away from prying eyes.

I’d recognize the dark black waves of hair anywhere. Even in the shadows, illuminated by the gritty illumination of the street lamp, I knew him.

He was on his knees.

And then I saw the man with his sick, sick smile. His hand on the back of Yoss’s head. Holding him in place.

I backed away, stumbling over a beer bottle and falling to the ground.

The man opened his eyes and looked in my direction. He pushed Yoss away and hurriedly zipped up his fly.

He threw something on the ground and ran in the other direction.

Yoss picked up whatever the man had tossed at him and tucked it in his pocket, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked over his shoulder.

My heart broke.

His eyes shattered.

I turned and I left. Without saying a word.





Present

“I am not staying here!” Yoss seethed hours later, trying to pull the IV from his arm.

“Stop it! Just stop it!” I beseeched him, trying to calm him down. I was at my wit’s end. We had been at the hospital for over six hours and Yoss had become increasingly more agitated as time went on.

He had been rushed back once we got there and Dr. Howell was called. He didn’t ask why I was with him. It wasn’t really important. Because Yoss was delirious, coming in and out of consciousness.

“He’s going into acute liver failure,” Dr. Howell pronounced once the test results had come back. “The rest of his organs will begin to fail unless—”

“He gets a liver transplant,” I finished for him. “Where is he on the list?”

“Given his condition, he has been bumped up, but I’m not sure when one will become available. And I’m not sure how much time he has,” Dr. Howell stated grimly.

“What can we do?” I asked, my throat tight, my eyes burning.