Page 80 of Shameless

He shrugs, his body language way more relaxed than mine. “Nah, just stating a fact. Everyone in town knows that staying on my uncle’s good side is wise.”

I clench my fists, annoyed by his tone. “Are we done with the mob 101 class, or is there another reason why you’re in my way?”

His smile fades, replaced by a stony expression. “As a matter of fact, there is. It’s fucking annoying to be talking business on a holiday, but this is important. It’s come to my attention that the cops are sniffing around Star Thunders books. And I have it on pretty good authority that they’ve been invited to do so by you and your brothers.”

Shit.

I don’t let his words rattle me, at least not on the outside. “You should reevaluate your sources, Morelli. There’s a police investigation in progress and the owner of the company and his deputy were brutally murdered. Of course the cops want to look at Star Thunders in depth.”

He takes a step forward and I don’t back down. Morelli is tall and in good shape, but I have at least three inches and thirty pounds on him.

“Cut the bulllshit, dude. I’m just here to tell you that the cops won’t find anything. Unless they look at my uncle’s books that is. But those are kept safe from anyone.”

It’s hard to believe that’s the case. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that there’s no trace of the money laundering Eddie was doing for you?”

“Lower your voice, dammit.” Morelli rolls his eyes. “It’s called money fucking laundering for a reason. It’s all done under the table. What would the point be in fucking up the books of our legit businesses? Then we wouldn’t be able to continue to operate with them.”

Ah. There it is.

I should have known the Morellis wouldn’t let us go without a fight. “This is the problem. We don’t want to continue whatever operation Eddie and Trevor ran with your uncle. We won’t need you to sponsor us anymore and we won’t help you smuggle any of your merch on our boats.”

Mason laughs.

A legit, belly laugh.

“I’m not joking.” I bite out. “We’re not. You can threaten us all you want but we’re done with the shit Eddie was doing for you under any capacity.”

Morelli’s smirk is unsettling. “On that, we agree.”

I swear this is the most confusing conversation I’ve had in a while. “Come again?”

“Eddie and Trevor knew what the fuck they were doing. Do you really think we would put millions of dollars of product in the hands of a bunch of noobs?”

When he puts it this way, I guess it makes sense. “So that’s it? We’re off the hook?”

Mason’s smile fades again. “You are. Of course there is the fact that you gave your fucking books to the sheriff before you knew if that would cause us trouble. You’re lucky we aren’t in the prohibition era anymore or even in the 80s. We would have made a fucking example out of you. And we would have taken your company and every cent you ever made with it. My uncle still wanted to teach you a lesson by making sure there would no longer be any books to look at. Or boats.”

Fear grips the pit of my stomach and I struggle to ask him what he means. “How?—”

Morelli shrugs again. “Oh, take your pick. Playing with electricity and water can be dangerous. And all that fuel you keep on your premises for the traditional engines? Fires happen all the time.”

This guy is a total psycho. How can he talk about setting fire to Star Thunders as if he was talking about going to the movies later?

“You said your unclewantedto teach us a lesson.” I observe, clinging to the irrational hope that he somehow nixed the idea.

That smile makes another appearance on the face of Lula’s former friend’s. “I’m glad you aren’t as stupid as you look. I swear I was starting to wonder why Lula cares so much about you. You’re right. My uncle wanted to send you and your brothers a message that you don’t get the cops involved in your business, no matter what. Under any other circumstances, I would have let him.”

“Why didn’t you?” I ask, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Lula cares about you. And I owe her. I’d have been locked up for years if she hadn’t taken the fall for me last year. I told her I was in her debt, so this is me paying it off. I still feel bad for not believing her when she told me that she had nothing to do with my arrest a few weeks later, so I’m showing some extra good will and I got my uncle to leave you alone.”

That doesn’t make me feel any better. “She told you she didn’t want anything from you. If you think you’re going to suck her back into your bullshit?—”

He shakes his head. “No. I really fucked up with her. She hates me now and I don’t blame her. But at least we’re even. I promise.”

I feel weird believing the words of a lowlife like Mason Morelli, but I do. “Right. Thank you, I guess? There’s something that’s bothering me though.”

Mason chuckles. “What is it? I’m feeling generous. I’ll answer one question.”

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