Page 12 of Deliverance

"Yes, sir." At that moment, I could have killed my uncle. He knew what he was getting me into when he got me the bouncer job. Maybe he didn't realize it would happen so soon, but he knew—he fucking knew—and let his own blood get mixed up with whatever Frank did besides run a nightclub. And why was someone trying to kill him? To need security, you had to have a lot of enemies.

I started for the door but stopped. "Do you have any idea who would send someone to kill you?"

He snorted. "There are several people, Ric. It's the price I pay for being the king."

"All right." What else could I say?

"Be here tomorrow at nine."

I called my uncle as soon as I got into a taxi to go back to Lock for my car. I didn't fucking care that it was almost midnight.

"Yous better have a good reason for calling me at this hour, kid."

"I went to the docks tonight." I knew I didn't need to elaborate.

There was a brief pause. "And?"

"Seems I've been promoted."

Another pause. "To what?"

"Same as you were."

"Come by the house."

I shook my head. "No. I'm getting my car and going home."

"Yous need to be careful."

"You think?"

"Just do as yous told, and everything will be okay."

I didn't sleep at all that night. How could I after what I’d seen, what I’d done, and what I’d found out about? My mind was racing. Someone was trying to kill Frank, and he didn't hesitate to kill that guy. Was he sending a message?

The next day, I found out Frank's business was more than only running drugs.

Before I could walk into Frank's building at five minutes to nine the next morning, the window of his limo rolled down. "Get in," he ordered.

I did, sitting next to him in the back. The limo pulled away from the curb.

"Sleep okay?" Frank asked.

I closed my eyes briefly. The tone of his voice was mocking me. "Yes, sir."

"I'm going to miss your politeness."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I looked over at him. "Sir?"

Frank chuckled. "Don't worry, that's not what I meant."

I didn't relax. I knew he had his gun on him, and I had nothing.

"What I mean is," he continued, "I won't see you as often. You're going to work for my sister-in-law."

My brow furrowed. "Your sister-in-law?"

"You'll see. I could tell you everything you want to know, but I want you to see everything firsthand."