CHAPTER EIGHT
Christian stood outside the school, shifting his backpack from one shoulder to the other as he waited for Ava to pick him up. The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the pavement. He glanced at his phone, checking the time, and smiled, thinking about how his life had changed for the good in just a matter of weeks.
The Sea Cadet program was everything he’d hoped for and more. He was officially part of something big, something that would set him on the path to becoming a Navy SEAL, his ultimate dream.
For a kid who had bounced around foster homes most of his life, finally having a goal, a real future, meant the world to him. He felt a sense of pride he hadn’t known before, a drive to not just survive but to thrive. Ava had given him that. Her belief in him made him want to do better in school, to be responsible, and to prove that her faith wasn’t misplaced. He had even applied for a part-time job at the local grocery store, bagging groceries. It wasn’t much, but it was a step in the right direction. He wanted to show her that he was serious about his future.
Just as Christian shifted his weight to lean against the brick wall, he noticed two figures approaching him from the far side of the parking lot. His stomach twisted as he recognized them—Barrett and Chase. They were older by a couple of years. Both boys were bad news. Everyone knew it. Rumor had it they were into drugs and running around on the streets, causing trouble. Christian had done his best to avoid them at school, but now they were walking straight toward him.
“Hey, you’re Christian, right?” Barrett called out, his tone deceptively casual as they neared.
“Yeah,” Christian replied, straightening up. Every instinct was telling him that this was not going to be a friendly chat. He forced a neutral expression, trying to hide the unease that curled in his gut.
“What are you doing out here alone?” Chase asked.
“Waiting for my ride.”
Barrett and Chase exchanged glances before stepping in closer. Christian’s pulse quickened. They were too close. The kind of close that made it clear they weren’t here for small talk.
“You know, we’ve been watching you,” Barrett said, his voice low, almost threatening. “You’re all alone, no family. No one to really watch your back.”
Chase nodded, crossing his arms. “Yeah, man. It must be tough. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can make things a whole lot easier for you.”
Christian’s throat tightened. He knew where this was going, and he didn’t want any part of it. His life was finally looking up, and he wasn’t about to screw it up by getting involved with these guys. He shifted his feet, his mind racing for a way out. “I’m good,” he said, keeping his voice firm. “I don’t need any help.”
Barrett chuckled darkly and stepped even closer, so close Christian could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on his breath. “It’s not about what you want, Christian. You’ve been targeted, and if you don’t choose wisely, our boss is gonna make your life really difficult. You don’t wanna make him mad.”
Christian clenched his fists, the threat hanging heavy in the air between them. He wasn’t scared of these two, but the idea of someone bigger pulling the strings, someone who could make his life a living hell? That rattled him. But he wasn’t about to let them know that. “I’m not interested,” he repeated, stepping back, his eyes darting to the street, hoping to see Ava’s car.
As if on cue, her little black SUV pulled up to the curb. Christian felt a surge of relief but kept his expression steady. He didn’t want Barrett or Chase to think he was running to her for protection. Ava’s eyes flicked toward the two boys, concern clear in her expression even from a distance. She had the same look she always had when something didn’t sit right with her—brows slightly furrowed and her lips pressed together in a thin line.
“I gotta go,” Christian said firmly, stepping away from Barrett. “Leave me alone.”
Barrett’s smile vanished, his eyes narrowing as Christian turned on his heel and walked toward Ava’s car. “This ain’t over,” Barrett called after him, but Christian didn’t turn back. He could feel their eyes boring into his back, making his skin prickle.
He opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, his heart still racing. Ava glanced at him, her voice calm but laced with worry. “Who were those guys?”
Christian hesitated, the truth clawing at the back of his throat. He didn’t want to lie to Ava, but he also didn’t want to make her worry. He was supposed to be responsible and show her that he could handle things on his own. “Just some guys from school,” he said, keeping his tone light. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
Ava didn’t look convinced, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel as she glanced in the rearview mirror, watching the two boys retreat into the parking lot. “Christian…”
He could tell she wasn’t buying it completely, but after a moment, she let it go, starting the car and pulling away from the school. As they drove home, Christian stared out the window, his mind replaying the conversation with Barrett and Chase. Their words echoed in his head— targeted, our boss, make your life difficult .
Ava had given him a chance, a real chance at a better life, and he wasn’t going to screw it up. He couldn’t let those guys drag him down, not when everything was finally going right. He wasn’t a little kid anymore—he could handle it. He’d figure out a way to get Barrett and Chase off his back without bringing Ava into it.
But as they drove through the quiet streets, Christian couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t going to be the last time he’d see them. He glanced over at Ava, who was focused on the road, her expression still tense.
I won’t let them ruin this for me, he thought firmly. I won’t disappoint her. I’ll handle it.