Page 66 of Chicago Sin

“I’m worried about your ma,” Marco says. “If they didn’t find you here, you think they’d look at her place for you?”

I scrub a hand across my face. “I had the same thought. I’ll see if I can send her on a vacay.”

I stalk to the bedroom to look for my cash under the bathroom sink. It’s all still there. But I’m not surprised. This wasn’t a robbery.

They were out for blood, for sure. And after making as much noise as they did, they had to get the fuck out fast. Frankly, I’m surprised they risked it in an apartment building like this one.

I pull a duffle bag out of the closet and start throwing my clothes and shoes and toiletries in it. Hannah’s apartment is still the safest place for me. My instinct to stay there was dead on. But Marco’s right, my mom could be in danger. And that thought does make me feel. I’d do anything for my mom. Growing up, it was just the two of us, and I’d kill or die for her in a second.

“I’ll get my crew over here to clean shit up tomorrow,” Marco offers.

“Thanks.”

“What else can I do?”

“Nothing. I already owe you. I don’t like being so out of balance with you, man.” I give him one of those dude handshake hugs and thump him on the back.

He pulls back and meets my gaze. He’s got light green eyes the color of cash. Total lady killer. “You’d do it for me.” His expression is dead serious like he’s swearing a vow.

I realize then that he’s not just taking care of family. And it’s not just pity. He feels guilty I got caught. I took the fall, and he didn’t. Leo didn’t. The rest of our crew that ran the car heist operation didn’t. I just had the shit luck of getting pinched. And it goes without saying, I kept my mouth glued shut.

I want to say something to let him off the hook. Because it’s the same story—he would’ve done the same thing in my shoes. Maybe he’s eaten up because of how far I fell. I was at the top of my game then. I thought I was in love. Engaged to a beautiful woman. Making money hand over fist. I’d gained recognition and respect within the organization. I led my own crew—Marco and Leo worked for me. I was poised to become a leader and move up through the ranks as the older generation retired.

And then my fence got pinched, and I showed up at his garage driving a brand-new, stolen Mercedes Benz at the wrong time. I got out and ran, but they cornered me, and it was done. All I could do was ride it out. Serve my sentence and restart.

Since words are no longer my thing, I choke on any sentiment and settle for a fist bump. I bump Leo, too. “You still have a key to my place, right?”

“Yeah, we got it. You wanna stay at my place tonight?” Marco asks.

“Nah. I got a place.” I pick up my duffel bag and head for the door.

Marco gives me a searching look but doesn’t ask where I’m sleeping. In our line of business, the less you know, the safer you are. I know Marco and Leo would never roll over on me, but I wouldn’t want them to be in the position of keeping secrets for me. They already keep enough.

“Lie low, then.”

“Yeah. I will. Thanks again.” I touch the pistol at my back and nod at Leo.

“Wait, no fucking way am I going to just let you walk out that door without some eyes. Especially if there is a girl in the picture now,” Leo says.

“I got it under control,” I say.

“Leo’s right,” Marco says. “At least let us put a man on guard. Back up just in case.”

I open my mouth to argue but then think of Hannah. Though I’m trying to lay low, there is a chance whoever wants me dead now knows about her. If not for me, then I should most certainly make sure there are always eyes on her. Nodding, I say, “Yeah, not a bad idea. I want Hannah safe.”

“So she has a name,” Leo says with a smirk.

I walk over to the disaster of a kitchen and find a notepad and pen in the drawer. I jot down the address to her apartment and to the Garden of Eden and hand it to Leo.

He looks at the address. “That florist next to Rocco’s?”

I nod again. “I’ll text you the info on her friend and staff person who works there as well. I’d like to make sure she’s kept safe during this. I don’t want her caught in the crossfire.”

Marco looks over Leo’s shoulder at the note, and adds, “Consider it done.”

“We’ll figure out who’s responsible and put an end to it. Guaranteed,” Leo promises.

My younger cousin became a man while I was away. I see a maturity in Leo that didn’t exist before I went to prison.