23. Dragon #2
He stared at me intently while he at that goulash like a machine.
“I don’t dislike him.”
He smiled. “But do you like him?”
“Is this third grade? I like living with him. He’s basically the perfect roommate.
And he’s made everything easier for me with this whole pregnancy, going completely above and beyond what you’d expect anyone to do.
And he lets me talk about engines and other parts of equipment for hours without zoning out. And he’ll be a really great dad.”
He leaned back, crossed his arms, and sighed happily.
“So you do like him. Good. That food was so much better than reconstituted freeze-dried meals. Army rations are not for the faint of heart. Well, Dragon, or Trixie, or Miss O’Hara, it’s been great to meet you, but I’ve got to get going.
I have to catch a plane back to real life. ”
“Your sanitation plant?”
“Water purification, but same general theme. It’s been great to chat.
” He took his helmet and left the kitchen through the French doors, back into the garden, disappearing into the foliage.
He’d probably base jump off the third tallest building in Vegas.
He had been wearing a pack of some kind.
I should go watch the show, but then I’d have to get up, and I still had to deal with Carmichael.
That conversation with Horse’s friend was uncomfortable. Was I actually special to Horse or was I just the neighbor, work friend, someone he knew and had to help since he was there when the thing went down? But why had he agreed to play my baby’s father?
Things were getting too complicated. Living with him made it look like we were serious and would make things awkward when the truth finally came out. Horse wasn’t going to be this baby’s real father, playing catch and cutting up food. I needed to clear things up with Carmichael and move on.
I called him up without another moment’s hesitation. It rang and rang until someone finally picked up.
“Yeah?” The voice was low, barely audible, while some engines roared in the background.
“This is the Dragon,” I said loudly. “We need to talk. Where can we meet?”
It was quiet for a long time, and then the engines were muffled and his voice got louder. He was nasally, more Brooklyn than upstate. “We don’t need to talk.”
I knew that voice. “Boney Hue?” I said, frowning at the phone and then putting it back to my ear. “What are you doing with this number?”
“Um. What? No. This isn’t Boney Hue. It’s just The Bone. We aren’t in sixth grade anymore, and you don’t have to beat me up for accidentally borrowing Jessica’s lunch money that one time.”
“You extorted it regularly. She was only one of your many victims.”
“I was practicing in case Uncle Ni?o wanted me to work for him.”
I sighed heavily. “I’m going to ask you again. What are you doing with this number?”
“Nothing. Okay, fine. Look, I did take a job that I should have double-checked to make sure it wasn’t a conflict of interest with the family, but I didn’t, and I’m sorry.
Okay? Don’t tell your ma about the whole thing, ‘kay? And why would you go around telling some piece of trash like Carmichael that you’re having his kid when you’re with Horse?
He’s quality. Thick blood. Like molasses.
Also, when are you two getting married? Your ma will kill him.
Remember that time when she had Travis’s legs broken?
Had to roll around on that board all summer.
Good thing he healed fast. And he didn’t knock you up.
Just stole a kiss. Or am I mixing him up with someone else? ”
My head was starting to ache, and I was getting a really bad feeling. “Where’s Carmichael?”
“Don’t worry about it. Like he can put a hit on the family and get away with it. I’m taking care of it. You can tell your ma that.”
“Huey, don’t be an idiot. You’re in Las Vegas. The family doesn’t run my life out here.”
“Sure. Just forget all about this uncomfortable stuff and get back to your life. But you do know that she will kill Horse if he doesn’t make you an honest woman.” He hung up, and when I tried to call back, the number was disconnected.
I texted his number to Felicia. Can you find the location of this phone? Should be somewhere with machinery.
You had this number the whole time? Sometimes I think that you’re just playing with me. I’ll have it in ten.
I got dressed, but my waistband was tight when I pulled on my jeans.
I’d just leave the top button undone. That was normal for pregnant women.
Also women who ate all the time because otherwise nausea happened.
I needed to exercise some restraint or go maternity shopping like Horse suggested every other day.
Maybe not going kept me floating in the river of denial.
I wasn’t fat or pregnant. I was just Horse’s fake baby mommy.
The lies piled up like my mother’s lasagna.
Boney Hue had Carmichael. It was doubtful that he’d gotten gentler in his old age, and he’d been torturing rats when he was twelve. Not a good kid. Ni?o wouldn’t ever hire someone that malevolent. Then again, what did I know about their business? As little as possible.
I went to Horse’s room to grab one of Horse’s t-shirts out of his laundry basket to cover my open button.
I didn’t think about it being his bedroom, just went in to grab a shirt and then stopped when I saw the pile of twisted metal in its own place of glory. C-class, burned and crushed. There was a story there. Probably scars. That’s right. He hadn’t wanted me poking around in his room.
I forced my eyes off the heap of steel that I really, really wanted to look at more closely. His bed was large, big enough to comfortably hold two large people, like myself and him, but over the bed wasn’t a fancy duvet, but an old, ripped quilt, hand-sewn and patched.
And I’d thought that he wasn’t sentimental. This room screamed sentimentality that he didn’t want anyone else to see. And here I was, staring at it.
I shook my head and went to his closet, grabbing a t-shirt off the hanger before I headed out in my leather pants and stompy boots.
I’d have to tell him I went where he asked me not to go. Would he be upset? Maybe he wouldn’t want me to live with him after all, which was probably a good thing because after I took care of Carmichael there wouldn’t be any reason to stay here. And my mother probably would kill him.
A cold chill ran down my spine. The family didn’t interfere with life out here, at least it hadn’t for a long time, but if Boney Hue was here, the family wouldn’t be far behind.
My mother’s side of the family was mafia.
My dad’s wasn’t, so she’d stopped being an active part of their business when they got married, but she was still feared by pretty much everyone who knew her.
Boney Hue’s words kept running in the back of my mind like an engine that needed a tune-up.
About my mom killing Horse. It wasn’t a euphemism in my family.
But I lived here, doing my own thing. During all the drunken sprees, my family hadn’t gotten involved.
I’d forgotten to worry about it. But a baby?
No way my mother would let that go. One day, the father would just disappear, and she’d find me a nice Italian boy who could take care of me.
When I came out of the elevator in the lobby, I was scowling at a nice couple waiting for a lift. They backed away until I remembered to smile and be polite. My feelings didn’t need to control me. Except when they did.
I had to make a big announcement that Horse was not the father of my baby. Between Horse and Carmichael, I’d much rather protect Horse. But did I have to end it now? I liked living with him. I liked being the one he let into his sacred inner sanctum.
Wow. When had I gotten so selfish? I couldn’t use him indefinitely, and with the way I felt when he touched me, even if it was something stupid like putting up my feet, it wouldn’t be too long before I was trying to take advantage of him.
I needed to leave before I betrayed his trust and humiliated myself more than I already had.
And I’d gone into his private bedroom after he’d specifically asked me to stay out.
One thing, and I hadn’t been able to respect that.
I had so many questions. What car had that been?
Why did he keep a ruined wreck in his bedroom?
And the ragged quilt. Who made it? Why did he keep it?
And the twenty-dollar bill. Why frame that?
I shook my head and focused on walking through the lobby, marble pillars and sculpted garden scenes. It wasn’t any of my business. And after I grabbed Carmichael and dealt with Boney, I could move out of Horse’s place and go back to my real life.
In the garage, I hesitated next to Horse’s bike, Pansy.
If I were going to make it fast, I was going to need to get through the city traffic quickly, get off road as soon as possible.
Nothing was faster and more agile than a bike.
And my bed rest was basically over, so motorbike riding should be fine.
But I’d said I wouldn’t steal his bike again, didn’t I?
Like I’d promised to stay out of his room with his personal twisted wreck and sentimental display.
He was more sentimental than anyone else in the circuit, but he acted like he didn’t care.
It was a protective barrier to keep out everyone who might see the softie under the egotistical jerk.
I’d miss him. I’d miss being on the inside where he was soft and sincere.
“No wonder you’ve been staying out of the spotlight.” Janice’s voice was like an ice pick to my nerves.