Page 6 of Easy Steal
He hung up and sat in the chair across from mine, bouncing his knee as he always did when he was nervous. While we were growing up, I thought that my big brother wasn’t scared of anything. Later on, I figured out this particular tick that he had, and learned that he was burdened with the same fears and anxieties that us mere mortals were.
His knee had been constantly bouncing for the past week, ever since the war between The Family and the Redline Angels had intensified. Ren was Antoni’s second in command, and he had killed the brother of the Redliner’s leader.
Now, they wanted blood in return.
“They’ve found a place to stay,” he said, running his hands through his hair.
I nodded.
“Don’t ask me why they chose Sweden of all places,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
I smiled.
Ren and our sister Valerie had left the country until things with the Redliners settled. It was one thing for Ren to be a target, but his love for our sister gave him a weakness. They had come for her once, and we knew that they’d do it again. Antoni was watching me, with a small smile on his face as his knee continued to bounce.
“What do you want to say, Toni?” I sighed, lacing my fingers behind my head, “spit it out.”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Ren is gone, Sam. I need a right hand man.”
I leaned back, looking to the ceiling, “do you just?”
“Are you gonna make me beg?” he chuckled.
“Oh,” I smirked, “I’d love that.”
“It’s time, Sammy. I need you to step up.”
I let out a deep breath.
I had always existed on the sidelines when it came to the business of my family.
That was how I liked it. I worked on my cars, I brought in money, and helped out in the dirtier parts of the job when it was necessary - but I had never been too deeply involved in the logistics.
Toni was the heir. I was the spare.
I was no angel, I was no saint, but I had never gone to the depths that he had.
Now, I knew that I was about to.
I had no choice.
“I’m guessing that I can’t say no?” I said.
A smile threatened his lips as he shook his head.
“Fine,” I sighed, “what do you need me to do?”
He laughed out loud now, “you think I have any fucking idea?”
“Well you’re the Don, Antoni. Isn’t it your job to do the thinking? We all know I’m just the muscle,” I flexed my arms in front of me, kissing my bicep.
“You’re a fucking idiot is what you are,” he mumbled.
“I don’t know what you expect, mate. If you need me to fix or nick a car, I’m on it. Other than that, this is your territory.”
He sat back in his chair and pursed his lips, his brain ticking over.
