Public Enemies Read Online Free PDF Page B

and saying Merry Christmas for the last time. Mrs. Riley wasn’t allowed a cell phone, so we couldn’t offer to call her tomorrow. She hugged me, which startled me, but I went with it.
    The woman held on a little longer than was comfortable, whispering, “You’ll take care of him for me, won’t you?”
    I’m trying. I imagined facing this broken woman to tell her she’d lost her son—the only person she had left in the world—and every muscle in my body locked in denial. No way. She’s barely coping as it is. For her that would be the end.
    â€œOkay,” I said.
    Kian gave us a weird look as I hurried past, alarmed in every possible way. I knew him; there was no way he’d bring up such a convoluted issue with her. So she’d just get blindsided in four and a half months or whatever. I steadied my breathing.
    That won’t happen. I’ll figure something out.
    â€œYou ready?” Kian asked, once he finished saying good-bye.
    â€œYeah.”
    There was a line downstairs to turn in the passes and reclaim our IDs. I didn’t say anything until after we got in the car and had been driving for a while. Kian broke the silence first, letting out a long sigh.
    â€œShe looks pretty fragile, huh?”
    I nodded.
    â€œFor the last eight years, I’ve felt like I’m the parent. And I’m tired. But…”
    â€œYou can’t give up. I love that about you.” Though I didn’t say so, I wished he had that kind of determination when it came to his own self-preservation.
    He smiled, reaching for my hand. The snow had accumulated a little while we were inside, dusting the trees and sidewalks. Passing cars had the wipers on and the street was dark with melting snowflakes. I put on the radio, wondering if I’d ever feel better. Between my mom, the dead Teflon crew, and the sword of Damocles hanging over Kian’s head, fear felt like a permanent fixture, needles constantly digging into my spine.
    Half an hour later, he pulled up in front of my building. “What time should I come over tomorrow?”
    â€œNoon?”
    â€œSounds good. I’ll see you then.”
    I didn’t invite him inside because I saw my dad shuffling up the sidewalk toward us. He wasn’t dressed for the weather, wearing only an old tweed jacket my mother had begged him to throw away years ago. His shirt had stains on the front, and it looked as if he hadn’t shaved in at least a week. His beard was more gray than brown, something I never noticed before.
    Kian kissed me quickly, then I climbed out of the car. He waited until I went in before pulling away. Dad followed a couple of minutes later. I hugged him and was alarmed to feel how skinny he’d already gotten. He’d always leaned more toward reedy than Mom or me, but I could tell he hadn’t been eating during work hours. Shit, it was all I could do to make him have dinner after he got home.
    â€œWhat did you have for lunch?” I asked.
    He made a vague gesture that was supposed to reassure me. “One of the grad students brought me a sandwich. I’m fine.”
    That doesn’t mean you ate it.
    â€œYou’re not. Promise me you won’t go to work tomorrow.”
    At first he gave me a blank look, edged in frustration. “Why— oh .”
    â€œIt’s Christmas Day. Kian’s coming. And I need you to help, or all the groceries I bought a few days ago will be ruined.”
    He exhaled slowly, and it was like watching a light come on in his head. “Right. I guess I’m not doing very well, huh?”
    Finally. I was afraid the fog would never lift.
    â€œI want you to be present when you’re here. I still need you.” Since I wasn’t used to saying stuff like that, it was hard, and the words came out choky.
    â€œOkay.” Awkwardly, Dad reached for me, offering a one-armed hug. “I promise. We just need some time to figure out how