Page 11 of Salvatore

“No,” he answers.

“You don’t get a choice,” Sal fires back. “You had a choice, several, in fact. Go to school. Do the work. Keep your nose clean. You didn’t bother with any of them. So now, this is what you have to do, and what you’re going to do.”

“No,” Apollo says, lifting his chin.

“Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?” Sal starts to rise, but somehow my hand on his knee keeps him in place.

Apollo’s eyes widen and he swallows hard. “I’ll only speak to Miss Aedry.”

Salvatore frowns. “What?”

Apollo looks at me when he answers. “No men?and not Miss Jalisa, either. I’ll talk to you or I don’t talk at all.”

“You’re under the impression that you make the rules. If so, you’re fucking wrong.”

Sal’s voice is so lethal, I fight the urge to withdraw from him. But knowing that my clasp on his knee is the only thing keeping this massive lion from lunging at the skinny gazelle, I stay perfectly still. “It’s okay,” I reply, patting him gently. “Apollo,” I say, fighting the urge to glance back at Salvatore. “My schedule is full. I can’t meet with you during school.”

“You hear that?” Sal says. “She’s not available.”

“I won’t talk to anyone else.” He bows his head. “Especially a man.”

What the . . .

“He’s playing you,” Sal says, causing Apollo to lift his head.

I steal a glimpse at Salvatore, not missing the way his features darken. Maybe he’s right. Or maybe something else happened to Apollo. I can’t be sure. What I do know is that I can’t abandon this boy. I twist my body around to speak to Salvatore, keeping my voice soft. “I think there may be a way to help Apollo and Gianno. I can meet with them after school in my office and go over their work. On alternate days, I’ll take Apollo aside and meet with him privately while Gianno finishes his assignments.”

“You’re volunteering to stay after school?” Sal asks, sounding doubtful.

“Yes,” I respond.

“Without pay?” he clarifies.

“It’s not an inconvenience,” I assure him. “I’m often there anyway, catching up on reports.” I hold onto my smile when his granite expression remains firmly in place. “And this is something I’ve done in the past that’s garnered tremendous success.”

“Why?”

“Why have I had success?” I ask, trying to understand why he doesn’t appear to believe me. “Because in addition to counseling the students who need it, it’s an opportunity to tutor those who are struggling academically.”

Sal holds out a hand. “I mean why do it for any of them?”

“I told you. I want to help.”

For a long while, Salvatore’s brown eyes sear through me, as if trying to catch traces of lies or ulterior motives. It’s not until I see him relax his guard that I think he finally trusts what I’m saying. Yet whatever softness he greets me with is lost when his focus returns to Apollo.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he tells him. “This is your last chance. You fuck this up, you won’t answer to Aedry, the school, or anyone else. You’ll answer to me. And you won’t like what I have to tell you . . .”

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