“I know you’re fine, you’re always fine. You’re like a cat with nine lives; you always land on your feet. Is she speaking yet?”
“No. I think it’s gonna take a bit longer than a day of my sparkling wit and awesome pancake-making skills to get her to talk. Maybe I should cook something disgusting tomorrow, force her to tell me I fucked up. Don’t all women love telling guys that?”
“I wouldn’t know. I never fuck up,” he said in his deadpan voice.
“Any news on the Contis?” I was scared to ask, but I needed to know.
“Yeah. They’re tearing shit up man, telling everyone who’ll listen that you’re a dead man walking. We’ve got your back though. Luca put word out that you’re under his protection. You both are. No one would dare go against him on that.”
Good old Luca. I had to hand it to him; the sour-faced bastard had really come up trumps on this one. I’d definitely need to ease up on the taunting next time I saw him.
“Have you heard from Nick or Julian?” My guilt over dragging them into this was like a boulder in my gut. They didn’t deserve this bullshit.
“I spoke to Julian earlier. They’ve been put through the ringer by those fuckers, but it’s nothing they can’t handle. Nick has gone to stay with family out of town and Julian is taking a break, going overseas for work. I think they just want out of it all. He did send his regards though.” Thank fuck for that. The last thing I wanted was to disrupt their lives, and I was pissed they’d felt they had to leave. But it was for the best, I supposed.
“And you guys? Are you both doing okay?” I asked.
“Ryley had some sickness this morning. Well, most of the day, actually. It was a blessing in disguise. She was chained to the bathroom when the Contis showed up at noon.”
“Fuck. I’m so sorry, man. Did they cause trouble?”
“Do you even know me? No, of course they didn’t. They didn’t even get through the fucking door. I showed them my gun and told them I had no problem using it. They might be heavy around women, but when they came up against me, they weren’t so cocksure. They’re pussies, Cill. They only bully those weaker than themselves. Pitch them against a stronger opponent and they crumble. Don’t tell Ryley they were here though. Her being in the bathroom meant I could keep it from her. She doesn’t need the stress.”
Like I would tell Ryley anything that’d frighten her. I loved that girl like she was my sister.
“Of course. No worries. Do you think they’ll come back?”
“If they do, I’ll be ready for them. They’re not gonna intimidate me. They’re nobodies here and they know it.”
I liked Jackson’s attitude, but I wasn’t convinced they’d stay away. The Contis had no class, no code. They were savages.
“They want to be somebodies though. Taking me out would help with that.”I’d like to see them try. That was the thing about a guy with nothing to lose. He was reckless, unpredictable; andIhad nothing to lose.
“Not on our watch. They’re the dead men walking.”
We chatted some more about how Ryley was, and Jackson’s plans for staffing at the clubs whilst I was gone. Then he turned the subject back around to Wednesday.
“You know, I’ve spent a large part of today trying to find out who she is,” he told me, immediately piquing my interest.
“Yeah? What did you find?”
“Jack shit. Do you know how many people go missing every day in the U.K? Almost six hundred. Six fucking hundred, Cill! I mean, Jesus Christ, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack the size of a mountain. I think we’ve got more chance of getting her to talk than finding out who she is through my investigations.”
“I think you’re probably right.” I knew for sure he was right. When that would be though was anyone’s guess.
“Damn right I am. Which reminds me, I need to send you a burner phone, for when you need to call me in an emergency. I know you have Luca’s land line and it’s clean, but a burner would be better. We’re covering your tracks pretty well from this end, but you can never be too careful. I’ll get Verity to bring one to you.”
“Thanks, man. I really do appreciate all this.”
“I know you do. I’m proud of you for stepping up and taking care of her. You were there when she needed you. It’s a good thing you’re doing, man. I know I didn’t show that yesterday, but I get it. You’re a fucking hero, mate.”
“Shit, we need to cut this call before you have me crying into my cocoa,” I joked, picking up my mug and sitting back into the couch.
“Please tell me you haven’t been driven to drinking cocoa.”
“Nah, it’s just warm milk. They’d run out of cocoa at the store earlier,” I said, smiling to myself in-between sips.
“You’re losing serious man points here, Cill. Get the bourbon out or I’ll send someone down there to kick your ass.”
