Page 52 of Not Your Romeo
I was scared that if I kept pursuing him, he’d end up crashing. So, I let off, giving him the advantage, for now. He didn’t slow, but he didn’t shoot away from me, either. He held it steady, even as we neared the curve. There was a four way ahead. It was the stupidest shit ever. I don’t know what asshat thought putting a stoplight and a four way in the middle of a sixty-five mile an hour expressway was a good idea, but welcome to the Midwest, huh?
“Fuck,” I growled, letting off a little more.
It only created further distance between us.
“He’s gunning for the safety of a cell.” I realized, giving a small round of thanks to the universe when the light switched green moments after it came into view. I began to pep talk whatever powers were listening, “Don’t be no cops. Don’t let there be no cops.”
My speed dropped to forty, and twenty. I safely navigated the turn at the intersection, instead of following Sauce straight. I could cut past the pawn shops and come out by the Felon’s neighborhood. I had a nagging suspicion that he was heading for the nearest dope spot that wouldn’t recognize him. I imagined it was probably a hard mission when your daddy was king.
There was a cop two cars behind me when I reached the next highway light. I sighed, forced to sit there, and play nice, rather than racing to catch up. I sucked my teeth until I realized I could be putting this delay to use.
That girl Ro pummeled had given me her number. I scrolled until I found it and shot her a quick, but simple text.
Where you at?
The response was instant.
Cane?!?!
Fuck, I thought I had time for it. Not if she was gonna play around like this.
No, dumbass. It’s your fairy fuckin’ godmother. Answer the question.
You don’t have to be a dick! I’m at the mall with Dandy.
Not anymore. Fuck off and tell Dandy to meet me at that gym downtown, Devastation.
I locked the phone and shoved it into my pocket when the light turned green. That didn’t stop it from vibrating for the next ten minutes. Over and over again it went off, tickling my ribs and lighting up my chest and vest.
I ignored it and drove sensibly until the cop passed. Then I hauled ass to Bryce Deveraux’s gym. His friends and family called him Dev, he was the Vice President of the Filthy Felons and my brother-in-law once upon a time. He was also the man my brother, Abel, snitched on. Dev and Care’s marriage crumbled after I executed Abel for it, but somehow, despite it all, our friendship survived.
His gym was on the corner of Monroe and Twenty-Second street. It was on the edge of the Deuce’s territory, but the Felons supplied just about everyone with arms, so no one bothered them much.
I was pretty sure everyone but the Double Nickel gang was afraid of starting a war with them, since no one knew just how deep that weapon depot of theirs went, or how sturdy the pipeline of arms really was.
The dope spot was on the opposite corner, across the street from Devastation. It was set up in an apartment above a tattoo parlor. I noticed Sauce’s bike outside the pub at the corner between the two places and hooked a right, letting the bike idle as it coasted around so it wouldn’t spook him.
I pulled into an alley and shot Griz a message.
Tell your girl Dandy to call me ASAP.
The phone lit up a short time later with a number I didn’t recognize, and I snorted, “Ain’t that like him to not bother replying.”
About the time I said it, the top of my screen lit up with a message from Griz. They were so short and rapid fire I didn’t have to open it to appreciate either.
Ain’t my ass.
Party favor.
I laughed and swiped the green.
“Dandy?”
“Yep,” She chirped. “I’m at the place you said.”
“Good, I’m around the corner, but I can’t have anyone knowing I sent you. I need you to go to that pub that Sauce is hiding in across the street. He’s waiting to see if I’m coming to kick his ass or pop him off at the dope spot. I need you to keep his little ass in that pub, get him so sauced he forgets why he came and take him home for the night.”
“Y-you– Uh, Sauce– Yeah,” she stammered.
