Page 135 of Night and Day

Like she was daring me to push her.

I muttered a curse and took another sip. She was myemployee. One I suspected needed help.

There was a knock at my office door. I took another swig of the bourbon and set the glass down.

Speaking of employees who needed help…

“Come in.”

The door opened. The man in the doorway was in his early sixties, stocky and balding, and worked a ball cap nervously between his fingers.

“Hiya, Mr. Fury.”

“Eddie, I’ve told you a hundred times to call me Dante.”

The man nodded. “Yes, Mr. Fury.”

With a shake of my head, I circled my desk and sat in my chair.

“Take a seat.”

Eddie dropped into a leather armchair on the visitor side of my desk. “It’s Tommy again.” He pinched his nose, worry on his broad, weathered face.

Tommy was Eddie’s teenage son. He had one more year of high school left, and a scholarship lined up for college.

Unfortunately, a few of his friends were mixed up with a local gang called the Big Gs.

“He’s been hanging with his gang friends again?”

“Yes.” Eddie’s face creased with panic. “They’ve dragged him into a mess. There’s a girl.”

I nodded. “Ah.”

“She was scared, tried to get out.” Eddie smoothed a hand over his head. “She called Tommy and he went over there to get her. The gang, they’d broken into some shop. Someone took a video of Tommy. They said if he doesn’t commit to the gang, they’ll share the video with the police. His scholarship…” Eddie made a sound. “I want better for my boy.”

Eddie was the kind of father that had been lacking in my life.

Anger ignited. I hated people who preyed on others, especially the gangs. They promised a family, a sense of belonging, but it was all just to use people. They ruled with fear and violence. Growing up in foster care, I’d seen it too many fucking times.

“Who in the gang threatened Tommy?”

Eddie swallowed. “A banger called Evan Curtis, goes by Easy-C.”

I nodded. “I’ll deal with it.”

Relief crossed the man’s face. “Mr. Fury?—”

I arched a brow.

“Dante…” Eddie’s voice was a little shaky. “Thank you.”

I rose and pressed a hand to Eddie’s beefy shoulder. “You’re a hard worker, a good employee, and a good man. Tommy is lucky to have you. He will go to college, I promise.”

Eddie rose. “Thank you so much. I can never repay you.”

“I don’t expect payment. Now, get home to your wife. I’ll deal with this tomorrow, and let you know when it’s done.”

Eddie nodded in relief and shuffled out.