Page 163 of Ready to Cash Out

“And?” Trev prompted. “Jupiter was worried and what?”

“I just told you!” Juicy shook his head.

“Tell me again.” Trev was trying to be patient, but he was really not in the mood for Juicy’s usual brand of shenanigans.

“Well, we knew Jupiter wouldn’t be able to leave because everyone was watching him. So, I faked having a stroke to get myself a little ride to the hospital. Once I was there, I just waited for those stupid doctors to leave and stole a car?—”

“You stole a fucking car?”

“Shh, keep your voice down,” Juicy warned. “Someone might hear you! But yes, I stole a car and now I’m taking you back to Boss Cold’s. I know he won’t be pleased, but it had to be done.”

Trev scrubbed his hands over his face and groaned. “He’s not gonna be pleased about anything. He’s fucking dead.”

“What?”

“The restaurant. The hit? They fucking got him.”

“Oh. Hmm, that can’t be right.” Juicy seemed confused. “We should go back.”

“Excuse me?”

“We should go back! He can’t be dead.”

“Juicy, I literally wiped his blood off my fucking face.” Trev cringed. “Going back to the restaurant is the absolute last fucking thing I want to do right now.”

Juicy made a right turn at the next light, insisting, “No, no, no. That’s not correct. It simply cannot be?—”

“Juicy, listen to me!” Trev grabbed Juicy’s shoulder. “He’s dead! Jules ran off! The fucking mayor is gone! Everybody is gone! Hello? There’s no point?—”

“I know what to do!” Juicy argued.

“Goddammit, Juicy!” Trev snapped angrily. “You crazy old bastard! Will you please listen to me? For fucking once?”

Juicy stared at Trev, clearly hurt. “Do… Do you really think I’m crazy?”

“What?” Trev sighed. “No, I’m just—” He froze when he realized Juicy had run a red light and there was a car coming right at them. “Juicy! Look out!” He grabbed the wheel and tried to turn out of the way, but it was too late.

The incoming car slammed into the driver’s side with enough force to spin the car around. Trev’s world blurred, his stomach heaved, and the seat belt held him tight. It took him several seconds to fully reconcile what had happened and once he had, his concern shifted.

“Juicy!” Trev reached over to grab his shoulder.

“Oh! My. Hmm.” Juicy appeared dazed, blood dripping down the side of his face. “That was unexpected.”

“Juicy! Your head!” Trev scrambled for something to stem the flow of blood, frantically unbuckling his seat belt so he could take off his jacket. He wadded it up and pressed it to the side of Juicy’s head.

“Hey! Ow!” Juicy whined.

“Shut up! You’re bleeding!”

“I was fine until you slapped me in the head with your coat!”

“Idiot! You’re fucking bleeding all over the place!” Trev searched over Juicy’s body. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“I don’t think so.” Juicy shrugged. “Hmm. The airbags didn’t go off. That’s probably not a good sign.”

The driver of the car who had struck them was out and hurrying toward them. Several other onlookers were crowding the street to check on the other vehicles involved in the accident. It looked like there had been quite a pileup.

“We need to get out of the car.” Trev unbuckled. “Before the cops get here.”

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