Chapter 33
Victor
“What are you doing, Vic? All I can hear is your laughing from under that Lexus.” Dominic calls out to me from across the shop bay. I roll out in response, shaking my head at myself, and stand to meet him as he approaches.
“Nothing, man. Just some stupid shit in my head.” Reaching for the rag from my back pocket, I ask, “Speaking of stupid shit, how did court go the other day? Did the judge end up helping you out?”
Dom rubs the back of his neck, and I think there’s going to be bad news, but then he looks up at me with a toothy grin and drops his hand. “Yeah, he did.” He laughs at the concern on my face.
This fuckin’ punk. “Judge says I have 6 months’ probation where I have to stay out of trouble and hold down a steady job. At the end of the 6 months, I have to go back to court. Actually, it’s scheduled on my 18th birthday. Hopefully I’ll stay my ass outta trouble and move on with my life.”
“Hopefully? You’re the only one who can control that, bud. Either you choose to stay out of trouble, or you don’t. Choose wisely, my friend.” I slap him on the back and squeeze his shoulder before letting my hand drop.
“Thanks, Obey Won.” Dom rolls his eyes.
“It’s Indiana Jones, smartass.”
“Whatever. I came out here to tell you that Jessi was looking for you, man.” Ugh, this girl is a fucking pain in my ass. I thought she’d get the point, but it turns out, what I did the other week was less of a mic drop and more of a gauntlet thrown.
“Thanks, Dom.” With my acknowledgment, he turns and heads back over to the vehicle he’s been working on with Tony. I chuck the grimy towel I’m holding into the dirty rag box and start to head inside to see what shenanigans Jessi has for me today, but my phone sounds off and stops me.
Diablo: Hey Kid, what’s poppin’?
Me: What the fuck, dude, why can’t you speak like an adult?
Diablo: Don’t be so boring, old man.
Me: We’re the SAME AGE, jackass. (Facepalm emoji)
Diablo: (Crying laughter emoji)
Diablo: Hey, so I was just wondering if you had talked to Cookie lately.
Me: I talked to him a little over a week ago. Why? What’s up?
Diablo: Eh, I talked to him a couple of days ago, and he was pretty shitfaced. Sheila texted me the next day and said he’s been hitting the bottle pretty hard. I was thinkin’ about heading down there for a few weeks. You know, just a battle buddy check.
Me: A few weeks is a long time for a buddy check. Should we get the team together?
Diablo: Nah. I got some business down there anyway, so I’ll just crash at Cookie’s place and kill two birds, ya know.
Me: Okay, man, well, let me know if you need reinforcements.
Diablo: For sure. I’m sure he’s good, he’s probably just going through one of his down times. I’m sure he’ll pull out of it like always, just needs a little push by the D…
Me: Ummmm. (Wide eye emoji) The D?
Diablo: Duck. I didn’t mean that.
Diablo: I mean, Duck.
Diablo: Damnit, ducking autocorrect.
Diablo: GODDAMNNIT!!!! I’m done.
I am laughing so hard, tears are running down my face.
Leave it to D to brighten my day with his moronic ways.
Tony and Dom are watching me, folded in half across the bay, and I’m pretty sure I hear them chuckling at me laughing.
I reach into my front pocket to grab another rag to wipe my face, but when I open my eyes to look at what’s in my hand, I realize that it’s not a rag.
My dick instantly becomes hard as steel. Oh hell.