“Yeah?”
“I need to do a run, but you’re out this time.”
Oxy’s quiet for a moment. “Same guy from last week?”
“Yeah.” I take a drag, exhale slowly. “Keep your eyes open.”
“You sure you don’t need backup?”
“No. I got it.”
I hang up and text Lexi.
Koa:I’ll be back.
Then I get in the Charger and drive.
The debtor’s name is Marcus. Same guy I warned last week about being late with payment.
He’s waiting in a parking lot across town, smoking a cigarette by his beat-up Toyota. When he sees me pull up, his face goes pale.
I get out, walk over slowly.
“Koa, man, listen—”
I don’t let him finish. Just grab him by the collar and slam him against the doorframe. His head bounces off the metal with a sick crack.
He drops to his knees, blood streaming from his nose.
I crouch down, voice dead calm. “Two days. No later.”
“I swear, I’ll have it—”
Two kicks. One to the ribs. One to the shoulder.
He crumples, gasping. That’s not enough. One more punch. Two more.
I stand, wipe my shoe on the concrete, and walk back to my car.
When I get back to the hospital, Thea’s in the waiting room. She’s sitting in the same chair I was in earlier, arms crossed, leg bouncing.
I walk over and sit down across from her. She glares at me. She’s high as a kite right now.
So, I look her dead in the eye, “If I hear you start buying shit for Axel, you’re fucking cut off.”
Her eyes narrow for a moment as she processes what I’m saying.
I stare back.
Yeah. I know you’re high.
She whispers, “Like you’re a fucking saint now? You think because you have her wrapped around your finger means you’re going to get something from her?” She leans closer. “Newsflash, buddy. She’s never fucking you. Mark my words, asshole.”
I stare at her and almost laugh she thinks that’s going to bother me. I own Lexi. She is going to fuck me either way.
“Hey.” Lexi rounds the corner, looking between us. “What’s going on?”
I lean back. Thea stares at me like she wants to murder me.
