So, that was why Luz didn’t want to go to the hospital.
“Hold up,” I said, just to make sure I got it right. “You had him followed?”
“It was for his protection, see?” General Zablonsky said, looking uncomfortable. “I tried to reach out to him and explain everything, but he wouldn’t talk to me. Then he disappeared, and my men couldn’t find him until recently. See, Mikolaj is very smart. Resourceful. He would have been a great soldier if he weren’t so… disobedient.”
“I still don’t understand how this is any of my business,” I said, rubbing my forehead. I really had the patience of a saint.
“I know he’s living with you at the moment,” General Zablonsky said. “I also know that you’re a good influence on him.”
I blinked. “Sorry, can you explain this last part?”
“As I said, I have connections. Since Mikolaj met you, he stopped running wild. He stopped clubbing, drinking, and partying. He matured, and my sources tell me he changed because of you. That’s why I have a favor to ask of you.”
I cocked my eyebrows instead of saying “what”.
“It would mean a great deal to me if you would let Mikolaj stay with you for the time being, Detective Bradley. Not for long, but at least until I figure out how to approach him and—”
I stopped him right there.
“I’m not a babysitter, General.”
“I know that, but I will make it worth your while. I’ll give you whatever you want. Money, promotion, power. Just tell me your price and I’ll pay it.”
I stood up and reached into my pocket, then threw the bill on the table.
“I may be stationed in the Loser’s Division, General, but I can’t be bought. The next time you try to bribe me, I will pull a gun on you. By the way, if you’d asked me to look after your son because I care about him, I would have said yes. But you didn’t, so… have a nice day.”
When I got into my car, I slammed my fist against the steering wheel because… what the fuck? Why was this happening to me? A disaster after a disaster after a disaster. Couldn’t everyone just leave me be in fucking peace?
I was still seething when I got home and faced the tornado called Luz. Again, I didn’t see it coming because I was fuckingexhausted.
“Where the hell were you?”
I closed the door behind me, only to see Luz standing in the middle of the room, red in the face. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Was he crying? And why was he holding his sneakers in his hands?
“What do you mean?” I grumbled. “I was at work.”
He threw a sneaker at me, but I dodged it, and it hit the wall.
“You could have let me know!” Luz bellowed. “You could have called. You could have texted. You could have sent a fucking email or a courier fucking pigeon. Anything but leave me here wondering if you’re okay…. if you’re alive or dead, you fucking monster!”
“What’s the matter with you?” I exclaimed, shocked. “I don’t have time to chat with you while I’m at work. I was chasing a gun smuggler all over town, and you’re pissed because I didn’t text you?”
His eyes flashed dangerously. “I’m pissed because I was worried. I’m pissed because you disappeared for a fucking day and night. I’m pissed because you’re an insensitive ass who thinks only of himself.”
I laughed bitterly. “Oh, that’s rich. Who has been taking care of you all this time, huh? Holy Ghost?”
“You did it because you had to!” Luz shouted. “You don’t care about me. You hate me. You only did it because Chief Bibb ordered you to. Say it isn’t so.”
“You’re delusional,” I said, turning my back to him. “And I’m done talking about this. I need to sleep.”
I kept going because the sofa looked like the Holy Grail to me at that point, when a sneaker hit me on the back.
I slowly turned, barely stopping myself from wringing his neck.
“Do this one more time,” I said, raising my finger in warning. “One more time, Luz…”
“And what will you do?” He mocked me. “Beat me up? Been there, done that, boss.”
