Blowing the smoke to the side, I lean up against the house and take another drag, with one foot bent and against the wall.
Quill frowns, his face now all business. “What do you know about this Reynolds guy? Just need to know what we’re dealin’ with.”
I blow out another plume of smoke and run my thumb over my bottom lip, feeling more at ease. “Besides the fact that he’s tough as hell, and throws a mean punch, I don’t know much about him or his life. He has his own entourage who follow him around—wherever he is, his boys are too.”
“Anything else?”
“I know he’s a fuckin’ asshole for beatin’ on Charity, and for not wanting his own child. I mean, who the fuck does that?”
“A man that doesn’t deserve to be a father, that’s who,” Quill admits with a growl.
I nod in agreement. “Damn straight…. Something tells me he’s into some other shit,” I say out of the blue.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t know, just a gut instinct. When Hazel told me what happened… sounded like he had a mean streak. Hazel said it was out of character, that she’s never seen him like that.”
“You thinkin’ drugs.”
I shrug and take another drag. “I knew Blake in the day, when I used to fight. He was into some heavy shit back then, but I thought he would have given that up to be a professional fighter and all.”
“Yeah, well, there are ways around hiding that shit from people.”
I look over at Quill at that. “There are blood tests we… they have to take regularly. Surely it would come up in that?”
“He’s rich, Trigg,” Quill says, shaking his head. “Probably pays them off.”
I throw my cigarette on the ground and step on it. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“So, you got a plan?” Quill asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
I sigh, putting my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. “I wish I knew, Prez. All I know is, if he comes down here and tries to take her”— I point to the front door of Quill’s home—“I’m gonna do everything in my power to stop that from happening. If he hurts her? Then, Prez, man, I’m tellin’ you now, I will take him down.”
Quill rubs at his jaw, and the sound of his stubble beneath his nails reaches my ears in the otherwise silent surroundings. He looks at me then and folds his arms. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid, Trigg. We’re family and we have your back—your sister’s and Charity’s as well— so don’t think you need to do anything all on your own.”
I shoot Quill a grateful smile, and then sober again at the thought of what we may be up against soon. “I hear you, Prez. But if he hurts her, or my sister, I will shoot the fucker. Don’t care what the consequences are.”
He stares at me for what feels like ages, then nods and taps my shoulder. “Go to sleep, you’ve had a long day.”
“Yeah, I do need some shut-eye. Thanks again for everything, man.”
“Don’t mention it,” Quill responds. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see ya.” I turn and walk to my bike, where Bear is waiting.