Page 25 of Hold Him Like Gravity

“They give us all a Q100 to get off the island. But I had a nice chain on when I was brought in. Walked around, found a pawn shop, got the cash, and used the cash to get here.”

“Woulda been easier to wait for me to come get you.”

“Been in a cage for years. Felt good to be able to move around. Haven’t been away so long that I forgot how to get around.”

That was fair. Both having shitty home lives, we’d been kicking around Brooklyn and the rest of the boroughs since we were in elementary school.

“So what are your plans for the day? Figure after food and a change of clothes, it likely involves a woman.”

“Gotta admit, it was disappointing as fuck not to see a single one here.”

“We have one. She’s been out for a few weeks.”

“There’s more to that,” Bastian said between bites, his eyes on me.

He’d always been good at picking up on shit even when no one else could.

“About a week and a half ago, we had a robbery.”

“A robbery? Here? You’re shitting me.”

“I know. Couldn’t believe it either. And there’s been no developments about who did it.”

“We lose anyone?” he asked.

“No. Up until then, I kept this place fully legit. But, as you could see out there, my manager got jumped. And our only female employee was knocked around, then dragged back here and almost assaulted. So, she’s been on paid leave since.”

“Don’t want her messed-up face broadcasting to the neighborhood that this place can be robbed.”

“Exactly,” I agreed.

“Shit been that rocky?” he asked.

Sure, some of us had kept money on his books while he was away. And we even went to visit him. But you had to be careful as fuck with what you said to someone through letters or visits. Everything was scanned or recorded. The last thing any of us wanted was for there to be a chance that something got overheard and screwed up Bastian’s chance for release.

So he was in the dark about just about everything that had gone down the past several years, save for tame shit like people getting married, having kids, or starting new business ventures.

“No. Things have been calm. I mean, compared to how shit was when Renzo was first working to take over here. We had some issues with Renzo’s marriage, then some feud involving Cinna. More recently, we had some… negotiations with the Bratva. But in the end, they willingly moved on over to East New York. We haven’t had shit else going on. Save for the usual people not wanting to pay thing.”

“Well, you got me now. If you want to use me here, an added layer of protection, or want me out on the streets doing something, I’m there.”

“Appreciate that. But you deserve a chance to enjoy your freedom for a bit before you get back to work.”

“Oh, I’ll be enjoying all night and half of tomorrow. But after that, I’m anxious to get back out there. Earn my way.”

“I’d be happy to have you here then. But we’ll have to talk to Renzo first. Figure that can wait until tomorrow, though, if you want to go have some fun.”

“Anywhere good to get a drink around here?” Bass asked.

“Yeah, I’ll come with.”

A drink turned to several, some meeting up with others, food, and then a club that I ducked out of as soon as Bastian got himself occupied with some women. I didn’t expect to see him until sometime the next day.

I didn’t realize how close the club was to a certain someone’s place until I found myself looking down her street, wondering how fucking creepy it would be to show up at her door.

Before my rational mind could talk me out of it, though, I was walking up the steps out front. Only to find the fucking front door not only open but the lock busted.

Real safe.

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