Burn by Sarah Fine and Walter Jury Read Free Book Online Page B

an agent behind me. I glance over my shoulder and see his round head, red hair buzzed short. I raise my hands from my sides. The guy scowls. “Get moving.”
    â€œIt’s all right, Mack. I’m sure Tate will be happy to—” Congers is interrupted by a knock at the door.
    Here we go.
    Congers cuts his gaze to Mr. Scolina. “Are you expecting someone?” Christina’s dad shakes his head, and Congers turns to me. “Are
you
?”
    â€œYou guys killed my dad. You shot my mom.
And
my girlfriend.” I hate that I have to say that in front of her parents, who go pale at the words. “Who would I be expecting?” I ask in a hard voice, letting my anger show through.
    â€œYou bastard,” Mr. Scolina says. I assume he’s talking to Congers until his fist collides with my jaw.
    Mack wrestles him away from me as I stagger to the side. “They’re the ones who did it, and you’re attacking
me
?” My fingers probe my aching face.
    â€œIf you cared about her, you never would have involved her in any of this!” Mrs. Scolina says shrilly.
    Her words hit me as hard as Mr. Scolina did, and I’m still recovering as there’s another knock on the door. The third agent, a guy who looks like a younger version of Congers himself, disappears into the entryway. “Two kids in soccer uniforms,” he says to Congers as he returns. “Selling candy bars, looks like.”
    â€œGraham,” Congers says to the young agent, “take Tate in the dining room, and we’ll let the little girl open the door.”
    He gestures for Livia to stand up. She watches him with wide blue eyes. Graham motions me toward the dining room. I walk as slowly as possible.
    Mrs. Scolina strokes the little girl’s back. “Just tell them we’re not interested, sweetheart. That’s all you have to do.” Livia hops off her mom’s lap, still looking uncertain.
    Red-haired Mack gives her a five. “Get me one. I’m hungry.” He leads Livia to the entryway and presses himself against the wall, his gun in his hand.
    She heads for the door with the bill clutched in her little fist. My heart is beating so fast I can barely breathe. I’m too far away to help her if this doesn’t go well. The door squeaks as she opens it, and then I hear Will’s voice.
    â€œHey, kiddo. Is your mom home? Soccer fund-raiser. We got some good candy.” The crinkling of a wrapper punctuates his words. From where he’s standing, he’ll only be able to see her, and not the armed agents listening to the conversation. I pray he sticks to the plan—we’ve done enough pranks together for me to know that’s not a guarantee, even though I stressed the life-or-deathness of this particular situation to him before we set out.
    â€œWe have caramel, too,” Leo offers. I picture him, shuffling his feet and sliding a pack off his shoulder. He’s got on one of Will’s soccer jerseys, and it’s hanging from his scrawny frame. I hope the agents don’t catch sight of him and notice the overlarge soccer cleats tied to his feet.
    But based on the sounds coming from the entryway, all is well. They both seem harmless, just two high school kids trying to raise some cash for their team. Livia asks for one bar, and when Will tells her she’s got enough money for two, she shyly asks for a caramel. It’s perfect. Mack has holstered his weapon now. From his concealed position next to the Scolinas, Congers rolls his eyes and looks at his watch, probably annoyed by the frivolous distraction.
    I hear Will’s cleats on the hardwood floor of the entryway and the
thunk
of his bag as he sets it down and digs inside. “Let’s see. I have change somewhere.”
    â€œI’ve got some,” Leo says, unzipping his pack.
    Livia gasps, and a hissing noise fills the entryway. The agents’ eyes go wide, but they move too slowly. I