Page 137 of Tyler's Rule
“Tyler’s girl,” I added so we were on the same page.
Jonas scrutinised me up and down then scratched his stubble, grey over ruddy cheeks. “Ye don’t say. Work here, do ye?”
I shrugged. If he wanted to judge me, I wouldn’t stop him. “What of it?”
“Heh. Makes sense. Like attracts like.”
“What does that mean?”
Jonas ambled to a chair then sat heavily and sighed. “Him being a prostitute and all.”
I stopped breathing.
A… I stared at him.
Arran made a sound of frustration. “What a way to phrase it.”
I spun to him, baffled. “What is he talking about?”
“A child prostitute, then,” Jonas continued. He settled his hands over a rounded stomach, a small, amused smile spreading. “Did he never tell ye? That’s rich.”
Anger brewed in my belly.
“There’s no such thing as a child prostitute. Only abused kids. What are you saying?”
Jonas shrugged. “Found him for sale before I took him in. Dress it up however ye like, but I know what was right there in front of my eyes.”
Arran’s pained expression confirmed it. He knew. This wasn’t made up.
A memory hit me, of a gap in Tyler’s story, between when he’d lost his family and Jonas had taken him in. Then more. About how he never judged me for the work I’d done. Of how important consent was to him. His rules.
I turned away, covering my mouth with my fingers.
The whole room felt like it shook, but it was only me.
I’d pushed and pushed him to break that final rule. I’d put my needs above something so important to him, all without knowing something so close to his heart.
“Where is he now?” Arran asked.
Jonas replied, “The fucker who killed my brother is getting out of jail today. That’s what I came to tell him.”
I twisted back. “Did…did you see Tyler last night?”
“Nah, sweetheart. But he’s a smart lad. He’ll work it out.”
Arran’s tone stayed calm. “Then that’s where you think he’ll be, at the jail?”
Jonas rolled his arm to check his watch. “Kicking out time has already passed. He’ll be stalking Johnston through the streets, if he’s worth his salt. One hundred percent certain that’s where he’ll be. Ye don’t know what he went through with seeing his kin mowed down. He wouldn’t be able to stand it.”
“Which jail?” I asked.
“Barlinnie.”
My mind spun. Arran questioned Jonas on whether he’d seen anything of a body when he’d left last night, or if he’d heard from Tyler since. I barely heard the answers.
Then the man was shuffled out and the crew leadership brought in, Kane, the Atherton brothers, and Mila along with them.
My sister came to my side. “Are you okay?”
