CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR #3
The room was quiet. Angel’s cell buzzed in his pocket. Angel answered it, then handed it to Conor.
“It’s Ronnie from The Locos,” said Angel. “Says he’s got something for you.”
Conor took the phone. He stood and paced around the room, talking low.
He smiled, clicked his fingers at Angel and whispered, “Pen and paper.” Angel handed him a legal pad and a pencil.
He wrote something and said, “You’re the man, Ronnie.
Thanks, brother.” Then he hung up the phone and whooped, extending his hand toward Angel.
“Give me the keys to your Camaro. Ronnie and Pedro saw Julia stripping at a club in Massey last night.”
Angel shook his head. “It’s the middle of the day. Barry’s crew will see you.”
Conor clenched his jaw. “No they won’t. Just give them to me.”
Angel crossed his arms over his chest. “No.” He waited, staring. Not moving a muscle.
Everything in Conor told him to back down. Instead, he returned Angel’s stare, counting silently to ten in his head. When he got to ten, he wasn’t sure exactly what he’d do, but it wouldn’t be fun for him or Angel. He got to eight when Angel cocked his head.
“Well,” said Angel. “Looks like you’re ready to throw down over this girl, so I’ll make this simple.
You tell me why she’s worth putting you, me, and your dad in harm’s way, and—if it’s good enough—I’ll give you the keys.
And if this is about nothing but you having a hard-on for her, you’re out of luck. ”
Conor relaxed his hard stare on Angel. The answer was simple.
He’d been in her apartment. He’d seen that Joe Cracker Jones had broken into her place, which had probably sent her running back to Massey where the only work she could get was stripping.
Or her ex had paid her a second visit, dragged her back to Massey, and put her to work in a strip club.
Not a pleasant thought, but not out of the realm of possibility.
Either way, it was on him to make it right.
Her life had been nothing but shit raining down, and somehow, someway, she’d been unlucky enough to get close to someone like him who’d brought her more of the same.
One way or another, he was sure that she’d disappeared because of him, and he couldn’t let that stand.
The delicate part was how to explain the situation in a way Angel would understand.
And he couldn’t mention Cracker going into her apartment.
Angel would freak out if he heard that a hit man was after him.
He cleared his throat, deciding to just lay out why he couldn’t get her out of his head and let the situation speak for itself.
“You ever know someone who was good?” he said.
Angel nodded.
“Not just regular good. I mean real good.”
“Maybe one or two,” said Angel. “Probably one.”
“Well, she’s number two then. Grew up hard. Like me. Like you. And still didn’t go bad. Like me. Or you.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“I’m speaking for her,” said Conor. “She plays everything straight. Does the right thing. And you know what that got her? Raped and beaten by her last boyfriend.”
“I know a few women like that, and yet, you don’t see me putting your head on a chopping block for them, do you?”
“No. But what if she was your girl?”
“Unless she’s getting raped right now, what’s the hurry? Why don’t you just—”
Conor’s gaze hardened. “Her ex showed up at her apartment right before this whole shitshow started. Somehow she got the better of him. I tuned him up a little bit and tossed him out, but I think he came back. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
She wouldn’t go back to that town unless he dragged her there. ”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really,” said Conor.
Angel sucked in a long inhale through clenched teeth and muttered, “Fuck it.” He shook his head as he dug in his pocket and pulled out the keys.
Conor held out his hand. “How about I leave when it gets dark? Nobody will see me.”
“Where’d you park?”
“Down the street. Nowhere near the garage.”
Angel dropped the keys in Conor’s hand. “You’re a pain in the ass. No crying if you get caught and Duck’s guys skin you alive.”
Conor slipped the keys in his pocket. “Thanks. I owe you.” He watched Angel walk out of the office and close the door, then turned to see his dad grinning at him.
“Nice performance,” said his dad.
“It’s the truth,” said Conor.
His dad raised his eyebrows. “Except for conveniently leaving out that you do have a hard-on for this girl.”
“Angel said that was a no go, so why bring it up?” said Conor. “Plus, it’s more than just her looks. It’s, uh—”
His dad shrugged. “What?”
Conor rolled his eyes. “It’s how she makes me feel. You know? Happy?”
“I get it,” said his dad with a huge smile. “But what were you going to do if Angel didn’t give you the keys?”
“I would’ve fought him I guess,” said Conor, walking over to the desk and taking a seat. He looked at his dad. “You would’ve had my back, right?”
His dad walked toward the door and opened it. He looked back and winked, saying, “Always, Conor. Always,” just before shutting the door.