Nobody’s Hero Read Online Free PDF

I haven’t found a place to stay yet. I was going to head to the campus this afternoon and look for a sublet for the summer.”
    Mr. Ortega stroked his chin.
    Brad’s guts twisted. Mr. Ortega was going to reconsider hiring him. He hadn’t even been part of the team for five minutes and already he was causing more trouble than he was worth.
    “We have a small efficiency apartment above the garage.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t—”
    “Sure you could. We usually have a summer worker staying there. And it’s not a handout. You’d have to pay rent, but it’s a lot cheaper than anything you’ll find near campus. Two hundred bucks a month. The place is pretty basic. It’s got a bathroom, a dorm-sized fridge and a microwave. It doesn’t have a stove, but if you need to cook something, you can come down to the main house and let my wife Anna know.”
    It was perfect. The fear of too-good-to-be-true offers almost had him saying no, but the alternative—sleeping in his truck for the next week or two until he had enough money to try to get something less cramped—kept his mouth closed.
    Sucking in a breath, Brad thrust his hand out to Mr. Ortega. “If you’re sure, that’d be great. I really appreciate it.”
    “Good!” Mr. Ortega shook Brad’s hand then stepped forward and threw his arm across Brad’s shoulders. “Let’s go take a look at the place. Make sure you don’t need anything.”
    And that, it seemed, was that.
    They’d only made it a few feet when the phone at Mr. Ortega’s belt rang. He pulled it free of its holster and glanced at the display. “I’ve got to take this.” Tapping the screen he answered the call. “Hey, Pat, give me a second, okay?” After muting his phone he bellowed, “Danny!”
    Brad jumped.
    Danny yelled “Yeah?” from another part of the house.
    Does this family have any other volume?
    “Come here!”
    A moment later, Danny jogged into the hall, a muffin wrapped in a paper towel held in one hand. “What’s up?” He looked between his father and Brad.
    “I’ve got to take this call. Brad’s going to be staying in the garage apartment for the summer. Can you take him up and make sure everything is there? Help him haul in any stuff he has too, would you?” Without waiting to make sure Danny agreed, Mr. Ortega turned and headed back to his office, already talking into the phone.
    Brad braced himself before turning his attention to Danny.
    The guy leaned against the wall, nibbling at the muffin. “I didn’t think I’d see you again. Let alone here, of all places.”
    As though it hadn’t nearly sent him into a panic attack, Brad shrugged. “Strange coincidence.”
    “Or fate.” Danny pushed himself away from the wall and indicated they should continue on.
    Before they’d gotten far, a squealing toddler dashed into the hall, a tan-and-white terrier at her heels. She careened into Brad’s legs and wrapped her chubby arms around his knees. She craned her neck to look up at him. She said something in a language he suspected was supposed to be English, but it could have been Romulan. Or maybe Elvish. He held his hands away from his body to keep from accidentally touching her and jerked his eyes to Danny for some kind of clue as to how he was supposed to react.
    “My niece, Veronica. She wants you to protect her from Pepé.” Danny pulled the girl away from Brad and settled her on his own hip. She leaned away from him and held her arms out to Brad.
    “Pepé?” Brad was completely lost.
    “Pepé, the dog,” Danny said, adjusting his grip on his squirming niece, who was still pulling away from him. “I think she wants you to hold her.”
    Pepé yipped and sat on his haunches, furry tail wagging furiously.
    “Ah...okay.” Brad studied the toddler and tried to determine the best way to hold her without breaking her. The second he put his arms out, she launched herself out of her uncle’s arms and into his. Brad grunted at the unexpected weight. She was more solid than