Page 71 of Tainted Princess
“Stipulations?”
“Yes, like, you tell no one who I am. They can know you have a contact, but not who that contact is.” The face he gave me told me I was dumb for even mentioning it. “Just making sure, Sway. I’m sure you can imagine the position I’m in. It would work in both our best interests if people didn’t know I’m—”
“A chick? Yeah, got it. What else?”
“I wanna know what you hear as soon as you hear it. I mean everything. Where the parties are happening. What drugs are making the rounds. Which crews are beefing. All of it. You got a phone?” He nodded, and I handed him my card.
“Frankie the Wolf?” he asked, laughing.
“Like it’s any worse thanSway.”
“Fair point.”
“Actually, here. Take a bunch.” I passed him a stack of cards. “Make sure everyone knows that I will pay for information. Helpful information. I even Venmo, so there is no chance of me being a narc.”
“You’d look fine as hell in a uniform, though,” he snarked, giving me a once over.
“Watch it.”
“It’s cool. It’s cool. I know your boy’d kick my ass. I ain’t stupid.”
“Actually, that’s the last part of our agreement, Sway.”
“Him kicking my ass again?”
“No, Sway. You, staying in school.”
“I didn’t drop out, if that’s what you mean,” he defended.
“You just don’t show up.”
“You know how it is. I got shit to take care of some days.” As if on cue, his stomach growled, and I watched him tense up, like being hungry was something to be ashamed of.
“I do know, Sway. Which is why I’m making this deal with you.” Peeling off some bills, I counted out three hundred dollars. “I will pay you for information, but I am also gonna pay you for good grades.” His jaw dropped. “You send me your test scores, and I will pay you a dollar for every percent you earn. You get a fifty on your math assignment, I send you fifty bucks. You get a seventy-five in chemistry, I send you the same.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“Absolutely, Sway.” I handed him the stack of bills. “Start with this. Get some food. Get yourself some new clothes—nothing too fancy. You show up tomorrow with some new Air Jordans and you’re just gonna get jacked. And we both know how much it sucks to have someone take your hard-earned shit, don’t we?” I said, and he gave me a sheepish look.
Reaching out tentatively, he took the cash, stashing it in his pocket before raising his eyes to me. “Frankie, I—”
“I know, Sway,” I said, smiling, as he just nodded and swallowed. “Now go. And for fuck’s sake, get a haircut.”
He barked out a laugh as he opened the door. I also exited the vehicle, and we were greeted by Vinnie, walking back toward us from the direction of the pawn shop. He had a small smile on his face as he handed something to Sway.
“Are you for real?” he asked as he took the item in question. “An actual Slim Jim? Dude, that’s dope!” He held out his fist and Vinnie bumped him.
I laughed. “But you can only steal cars if your grades stay good, do you understand me?”
He stared at me slack jawed for a second, then stuttered, “Yes, ma’am.”
I was gonna be such a cool mom one day.
* * * * *
I could see Lexi from where we had parked, her blue hair—looking decidedly less oceanic and more ‘last night’s Jell-O shots’—was dangling over the edge of the park bench she laid across, one leg out straight on the ground, the other propped on the bench beside her, knee bent. Walking across the quad, I could see she was still in the same outfit from last night, the gold pants and leather halter top combo. Her feet were bare, and her mouth was open, letting out a soft snore.
Asleep. Lexi was passed out asleep on a bench in the middle of the University of Nevada campus.
