Sidekick Returns Read Online Free PDF Page A

ex-girlfriend.’ His face fell as his eyes trailed off to study nothing in particular. ‘Things are … awkward.’
    â€˜I’m so sorry to hear that,’ I said. ‘But surely I’m not the best person for the job. I—’
    He brought his eyes back to mine. ‘I have lots of men to run errands, but I thought I would give you shot.’
    â€˜Oh, Mr Pushkin,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘I don’t know.’
    â€˜Mischa, please. And little Bremy, you need to be smart now,’ he said, tapping his temple with his index finger. ‘This city, the winds of change, they are sweeping streets like hurricane. A great black hole of power is pulling us into the void. All the little players are blowing and skidding like pieces off of chessboard. You need to have family or you will fall onto subway floor where sticky urine is.’
    â€˜Wow. That’s um …’
    â€˜I pay you fifty dollars.’
    â€˜Fifty dollars!’ My brain zoomed in circles like a cat chasing its tail. Oh, the things I could do with fifty dollars! I could buy a new bottle of shampoo, maybe some deodorant. I could get some new make-up. Oh, make-up. How I missed make-up that didn’t come from the kid’s section at the dollar store. I could buy food that didn’t have an expiration date five years from now. I c—
    â€˜So you say yes?’
    â€˜I say yes! Yes! Yes!’
    â€˜Excellent,’ he said, once again slapping the table. ‘You go tonight.’
    â€˜Tonight? I can’t go tonight. I have a date.’ Oh God, why did I say that? Bad mouth. Bad, bad mouth.
    Mr Pushkin’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead, really showcasing his eye. ‘A date? Who is this boy? Should I meet him?’
    â€˜Good God no,’ I said. I then took a breath and tried to de-widen my eyes. ‘I mean, it’s nothing.’
    â€˜Are you sure? I could be scary father figure,’ he offered with an exaggerated grimace.
    â€˜Thank you.’ I shook my head and looked down at the eyeball still in my palm. ‘But it’s really not necessary.’
    â€˜What time is date?’
    â€˜Nine.’
    â€˜You have lots of time if you hurry.’ He shifted back in his seat. ‘Do errand first. She is waiting. Then go on date. You bring me money tomorrow.’
    I sighed. ‘Okay.’
    He handed me a piece of paper. ‘Here is name and address.’
    I looked at the paper. I knew this address. My gaze shot up to Mr Pushkin. Suddenly the fifty was making more sense.
    â€˜It’s fine.’ He shooed me with his fingertips. ‘You see.’
    I got to my feet. Somewhere in that conversation I had gone from being terrified to really put out. Life was so unfair sometimes. Or maybe the universe was still in payback mode for giving me twenty years as a princess funded by my father’s evil deeds. Either way, I was not a happy girl. I just wanted to spend the time before my date with Pierce doing girlie stuff and now—I looked back down at the address on the paper—now, I was going to do this.
    I stood and took a few steps towards the door, when the man with the yellow teeth I had met earlier pushed his chair back to block my path.
    â€˜I got vodka,’ he said, pointing to a double shot on the table. ‘You get bigger boobies?’
    I fixed him in my gaze. ‘Here,’ I said. ‘Catch.’ I tossed him Mr Pushkin’s eyeball then swiped his drink, knocking it back. I wiped my hand across my mouth and slammed his glass back down on the table.
    â€˜Hey!’ he shouted.
    â€˜Now everybody’s disappointed.’
    I stomped out the front door with Mr Pushkin’s thick laughter at my back.
    ***
    Minutes later, with my windbreaker flapping at my sides, I was stomping down the street towards the address Mr Pushkin had given me. I was pumped. Normally, I hated walking anywhere. I really missed my old driver. What