One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1)(82)
I quickly put my sweatshirt back on, feeling my own sense of defeat.
Manny followed Yoss back over to our spot and waited as he grabbed his deodorant and cologne.
“Where are you going?” I asked, feeling the anger start to simmer dangerously.
He was leaving?
Why couldn’t he just tell Manny to leave him alone? That he wouldn’t do that shit anymore? That he was done selling his body to those disgusting people?
“I’ll be back later,” Yoss muttered, not looking at me. Never looking at me.
“He won’t be gone too long, Imogen. He’ll be back before you know it,” Manny remarked, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and handing it to Yoss, who took it and immediately lit it.
I didn’t bother to acknowledge Manny. I got to my feet and moved close to Yoss, my back to Manny so he wouldn’t hear me.
“Don’t go, Yoss. Tell him you can’t,” I pleaded.
Yoss swiped deodorant on his armpits and put it back and then spritzed himself with cologne he never wore any other time. I hated the smell of it.
“I have to, Imogen.”
I grabbed his hand, not letting him walk away from me. “No you don’t,” I snarled. “You can say, right now, you won’t do that stuff anymore. We can leave. Tonight.”
Yoss’s face hardened and the look in his eyes scared me. He finally looked at me, but for the first time I wished he hadn’t. “If my life disgusts you so much, you can leave you know. No one is keeping you here,” he spat.
I recoiled, taking a step back. “I just worry about you, Yoss. I see what this does to you,” I implored, lifting my hand to touch him, but he shook his head.
“I take care of my family. This is what I do. I can sleep a little better at night knowing you and Di and Shane and Bug have food in your bellies. That Manny will keep Karla safe from the guys who raped her when she first showed up three years ago. That Bug doesn’t have to worry about getting his ass kicked every other day because Manny knows they’re my friends so he takes care of them.” He clenched his fists. “I do what I’ve got to do to make our lives a little easier!”
I stared at him, horrified. “No one expects you to do anything like that! To put yourself at risk to make sure we’re okay!” I protested.
Yoss glared at me and I shrank. He had never looked at me that way. As if I were bothering him. As if I were a nuisance.
“Sometimes it’s nice to go and buy food like a normal person. Just so, for at least one meal, you don’t feel like such a f*cking drain on society.” Yoss brushed through his hair and dropped the comb on our makeshift bed. “I want to be able to provide for that happily ever after you seem to think we’re going to have. How am I going to do that, Imogen? How the f*ck can I take you away from here if I don’t have money in my pocket?”
“You could get a job—”
Yoss barked out a laugh. “Yeah, because there are a lot of employers willing to take a chance on a homeless kid. Don’t delude yourself.”
Were we fighting?
Whatever it was, it didn’t feel good.
“I just don’t want you to leave. Not after what we were about to…you know.” I stared at the floor, feeling uncomfortable with our audience, even though Manny didn’t seem to be paying attention.
Yoss’s face softened and he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
“Come on. We’ve got to go.” Manny looked thoughtful for a moment, his finger on his chin. “You could come with us, Imi.” I felt cold. Manny gave me a once over. Starting at my feet and slowly working his way up. “I think that could be a very good idea for both of us.” Manny smiled and my mouth went dry.
“No, Manny, I told you already that’s not gonna happen,” Yoss broke in. He gave me a hard shove so that his body shielded me. “She’s too old anyway.”
I couldn’t see Manny because of the barrier Yoss created but his voice pierced my eardrums and I felt genuine terror. “But she looks so much younger. That can work. Why don’t you let the girl answer for herself?”
“No!” Yoss shouted, his hand wrapping around my wrist and squeezing. Hard.
“Imi. What do you say? You want to come with Yoss and me tonight? It won’t take long and then the two of you can come home together. No leaving you here by yourself,” Manny said, stepping around Yoss so that he could see me.
“I don’t think so,” I rasped, nausea bubbling up in my stomach.
Manny cocked his head to the side. “Are you sure? You’re looking very thin, sweetheart. Some money for a decent meal is just what you need,” he said kindly. So gentle and concerned. It would be so easy to do what he wanted. He spoke with soft persuasion. Like politicians and cult leaders.
He was the scariest person I had ever met. Scarier than Tag or the faceless monsters in the dark.
Because Manny hid his evil with a kind face and an easy smile.
“She’s not going anywhere. She’ll be fine. Shane will be by later,” Yoss’s voice held a hint of his own fear. “Let’s go,” he said to Manny. He quickly looked back at me, his eyes bright and his face sad. “I’m sorry,” he said.
I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t sob. He hugged me tight, kissing the sensitive spot just below my ear, whispering something I couldn’t quite hear.