Page 58 of The Reluctant Hero

I’m hanging up with a weak thank you to the skeezy landlord when he clears his throat.

“We’re being bought up. Did you know that?”

I frown at him in concern. Someone is buying this crappy complex? For real? I don’t think I can afford a hike in rent.

“Going to change everything up from top to bottom.”

“Like fixing the elevator?” I ask hopefully. Yeah, it’s good exercise, but some days, I just don’t want to.

“Like new complex and tenants.”

“What?” I gape at him.

This place is the only cheap housing near the Matthias building. Unless he gives me a gigantic raise, I’m screwed. Not to mention the other fifty people that live here.

“Yeah,” he gives me a grin that makes my skin crawl. One of his front teeth is crooked and yellow. “Mr. Blake says this side of town needs a facelift.”

My face pales as I wobble in my flip-flops.

He can’t, can he? What thehellis going on?

My mind flashes to the highlighted paperwork at the Matthias building. All property purchases. He isn’t in that field. He’s never mentioned it and there’s no way we would have the money for that. Is he pimping himself out now?

“You pissed off a rich guy, and now all the people here are going to be homeless. As soon as the purchase goes through I’m handing these out.”

He casually slides a red sheet of paper across the desk for me to see.

It’s an eviction notice. Effective immediately. That can’t be legal.

“Why?” I mutter helplessly. “That’s insane.”

It’s one thing to take his anger out on me, but this is extreme.

“You trashed a man’s car and somehow got the cops to drop charges. What did you think would happen? That he’d let it go?”

“The cops?” I look at him, bewildered. I haven’t had anyone contact me about the police looking for me.

He looks at me like I’m an idiot and nods slowly. “They show up and take down a report and then magically get a call to leave it alone? Ringing any bells?”

Yeah.Warningbells. I’m just not sure who they’re ringing for. Loser definitely. Mr. Matthias? But why would he call off the cops? The guy hates me. And he claims he isn’t mafia. Manny avoids the cops like the plague. Who could do that? And why?

I’m up for half the night thinking about it all and end up with more questions than I started with.

I’m a bedraggled mess when my alarm goes off for work. I don’t even care. They can deal with it. I have bigger problems and no idea how to wade my way through them.

I wear jeans and a T-shirt, with tennis shoes that have seen better days. I pack my lunch out of habit, basically going through the motions on autopilot. I shove all the letters into my purse and then start walking.

I’m dragging when I walk through the doors at Matthias. I have my depressing sack lunch, my sad cup of coffee, and my mopey bad attitude with me. The fact that I’m wearing jeansshould be a celebration. Especially when Harriette sees me and raises a judgy eyebrow.

I pass by and go straight to Sarah’s desk. I only take two highlighters—enough that she knows they’re missing but not where they’ve gone. Then I enter the filing room.

Cade is there with a box filled to the brim with files. I take the sight in with a frown. He’s bent over, so I get a nice view of his butt. I take my time appreciating it since he can’t see me. He straightens and the bubble of dreaminess shatters when I take in his scowling face.

And the black eye he can’t hide. It’s yellow around the edges so he’s had it long enough it’s healing. But the swelling isn’t pretty, and the stark black in the corner of his eye looks painful.

Whoever did that deserves a medal.

My mood takes a step up as I try to remain blank-faced.

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