Page 52 of Switchin' Lanes

“What’s up, Kicks?”

“I came to check on our friend here at the hospital,” he says. “I’ve got some bad news.”

“Go on,” I tell him.

“Andy died. His nurse told me it happened overnight. On top of that, Kara is missing. She wasn’t here when I got here and she’s not answering her phone.”

“Fuck. This isn’t good,” I say.

“Don’t worry about Kara. Let’s find who is behind all this and fuckin’ destroy them.”

“You got it, bro. I’m gonna go talk to Tink and Prez.” With that, we hang up. “Tinsley, babe. Come sit with me.”

I sit on the couch, leaning forward, and resting my elbows on my knees.

“What’s up? You hardly ever call me by my real name.”

“That was Kicks on the phone just now,” I tell her. I hesitate because I’m not sure how she’s going to handle this news. She sits by me and I grab her hand. “He went to see Andy.”

“And?”

“He passed away during the night.”

Her face goes white. “I need to call my mom.”

“Pixie, let’s go back to your room. You can call her later,” Diesel suggests.

She nods her head and stands.

“Tinsley, we’re gonna find out who’s behind this,” I promise her.

“I know you will.”

Diesel wraps his arm around her and they walk away. I mull over my next move before deciding to go talk to Prez. I knock on his door, even though it’s already open.

“Come on in,” he calls out.

I walk in, closing the door behind myself.

“Andy died in the hospital,” I tell him.

“Shit,” he says under his breath.

“Honestly, Prez. I don’t think this is over. I think we just disposed of one of Torres’pawns. There’s more where he came from and it’s only a matter of time before another pawn is sent out.”

“What’s on your mind?”

“We track Torres down and kill him. Once and for all.”