Page 81

Trig

“Sweep just left. Meet me at Bones’ bar, now. Park on the side,” I say into the phone.

“Okay, be there in a few.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Bexley

Later, after we’ve changed, we pull up to the curb, and both of us step out, walking toward A-Street Flower Shop. Me, now in jeans and a sweater, him, now in jeans and a long-sleeved button-down. Both of us still in black. My mind replays Danny calling me Mrs. O’Brien and, I have to admit, I never thought I’d hear him call me that.

Actually, I did, but only if I was married to him.

It’s clear he’s always thought of my marriage with Samuel as nothing more than a temporary nuisance. He never gave it the respect it deserved, but I have no doubt if it was us who were married, he would act as if it were law. I roll my eyes at the thought and cross my arms as goosebumps form on my neck when the wind moves my hair, tickling my skin, and then out of nowhere, a man appears and knocks Danny in the head.

“Danny!” I cover my mouth in shock. A masked man hits him a second time. Danny, now on the sidewalk, blinks and then goes to get up, looking completely disoriented.

The man kicks him in the ribs. Not having any idea what to do, I jump on the guy’s back, hitting him repeatedly in the head with my fist. Like I’m nothing but a ragdoll, he yanks me off and I hit the ground, and then something hard smacks me in the head.

Everything goes black.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Sweep

(Atlanta)

“You people got a nice place here,” Simon says, picking his teeth with a toothpick. He’s got an empty plate in front of him, brought in by the staff here at Red from the restaurant next door. The trick to get into the casino below Red is through a broom closet in the kitchen of that said restaurant. They’ve got good ravioli. The chef talks too much, though, and reminds me of Yaps. I do the signal of the cross in my mind. Poor bastard’s food for the worms now.

But that’s what happens when you’re disrespectful. At least around Bones. My boy’s been missing for nearly a month now. I’ve looked everywhere.

“Yeah, Bones set all this up. Guy who used to own it got busted by the feds. If it weren’t for Bones, he’d be in prison.”

“Sad thing what happened to Bones. Still no word?” Simon says, leaning back, adjusting his white slacks over his belly.

“No, but we’ll find him.”

“Hope so. Man’s not very friendly, but he’s one of those you know you can trust in business.”

I don’t respond to that. “So, where’s the product?”

“Out back. There’s a vehicle dressed up like a produce truck near the restaurant. You’ll find your cocaine in there.”

“Okay,” I say. “And there is where I’ll leave the money.”

He shrugs. “Fine by me.” He stands up, dropping the toothpick on the plate. “Are you who I’m doing business with now?”

“For now, yes. But not forever.” I stand, too. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Have some fun,” Trig says.

“I think I will,” Simon says with a smile. I look over and see Moretti talking with a man I’ve never seen before.

“Who’s he talking to?” I ask Trig.

He shrugs. “Who knows.”

I look down at him. “How about you find out, yeah?”