Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
I look over at Nox. “Dude.”
He gently shakes his head, smiling at the ridiculous face his wife is making. “I know.”
Although I declined more times than I can count, Nox wouldn’t accept it. So I placed my backpack in the spare room and promised I’d only stay the night. While Lily started on dinner, Nox and I went out the back and talked.
Handing me a beer, we sat on the deck, staring out into the yard. Sipping my beer, I heard his chair creak as he adjusted himself. He was rubbing at his thigh, a pained expression gripping him. I jerked my chin toward his leg. “Still hurts?”
Massaging his thigh, digging his thumbs deep into the skin, he replies, “Yeah. It’s not quite pain though. It’s something else. Sometimes I can still feel my leg.” Lifting his pants leg, I take in the aluminum prosthetic.
How times have changed.
I’m a man. And being a man, I don’t feel comfortable with the emotions coursing through me. So I do what any other man would do. I change the subject. “So, you’re a father, huh?”
Nox grins, puffing out his chest. “Three times over. I got a little boy, Rocco. He’s six. Then came our first girl, Angie. She’s four. And finally, our second girl, Mia. She’s three.”
My chest squeezes. “Congrats, man.” I sip my beer and squint as I look to the sky and try to keep the pain out of my voice. “Got a boy. AJ. He’s four tomorrow.”
“I know.”
My head snaps toward him. “You keeping tabs?”
He searches my face and, ignoring my question, asks, “What are you doing here, Twitch?”
“Keeping my family safe.”
He immediately returns, “By bringing flaming piles of shit to my doorstep?”
This was a bad idea. I move to stand. “Thanks for the beer.”
“Sit your ass down. Lily’s making dinner. If you leave now, you’ll hurt her feelings.”
I glare at him. That was a low blow. After meeting Lily, I kind of like her. I don’t want to upset her. The asshole just grins. “Sit down. Let’s talk. That’s why you came here, after all. Lay it on me. Give it to me straight.”
I shouldn’t sit. I should leave. Instead, I lay it down. “I got five houses on my list. Each of those houses got a king.” I pause a moment, before stressing, “It’s in my best interest for those kings to retire. So that’s what I’m doing. Forcing each king into early retirement. ” I jerk my chin. “Permanent retirement.”
Nox doesn’t blink. “Why?”
I sit. “Did business with these men. That business went sour. I…” I cough. “…I didn’t handle it well. Made some bad decisions. Left scars. Happy’s been listening out for things. These men all sent condolences to Lexi when I died.” I lay a pointed stare at him. “To her home.”
He nods. “Right.”
“What do you think’s gonna happen if I decide to go home?”
“They know where she lives. She and your boy become walking targets.”
Bingo.
Suddenly, he stills. “You planning on going home?” I don’t respond, just sip at my beer. He continues, “I help you fake your death, use up all my contacts, all my fucking markers, and now you wanna go home?” His eyes blaze. “Are you out of your motherfucking mind? The cops will be on you before you can say boo.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
His brow rises slightly. “What? I told you, I’m out. I don’t do this shit anymore.”
I nod. “I know.”
“Then what the fuck do you want, Twitch?” He sounds exhausted.
I run my fingers down the condensation on my beer bottle. Turning to my friend, I look him in the eye as I relay my request. “I want you to turn me in.”
I don’t believe this shit.
Never in my life have I been more angry or embarrassed. This is not how I conduct my work. I’m a professional. I don’t mess up. I never get it wrong.
I can’t let this get out. If it gets out, everything I have worked for is over. My career will be over.
Let’s rewind.
An hour after the untimely death of Dino Gambino, an express courier came to the door, delivering a package to Eduardo Castillo. Leaving his men to clean up the mess that was Dino, Eduardo excused himself to his private quarters.
Cleaning was never my thing. I didn’t much like the thought of blood on my hands.
I decided to go upstairs and check on Alejandra. Miguel said she needed time alone, and normally, there would be nothing wrong with that, but here was a pregnant woman, upstairs, alone, thinkin’ way too hard on things. On the death of the man she loved.
I never could stand to see a woman suffer.
I felt the need to offer her my condolences. I also felt the need to spare a few words for her, letting her know that she made the right decision. The protection of her child should come first, now and always. No one would hold that against her. I approached the door with caution, but when I placed my knuckle to the door, with a slight creak, it opened; a frown marred my face. Pushing the door open all the way, eyeing the rumpled state of the bed, I searched the room through narrowed brows.