Page 138 of Romeo

“Ain’t an assumption. Facts are fuckin’ facts.”

“Have you figured out who ambushed me, yet?”

“Not yet but bettin’ this has somethin’ to do with the woman I told you to stay the fuck away from.”

“Pretty fuckin’ bold assumption,” Romeo countered.

Magnum shook his head. “Know it ain’t Shade. He don’t get other fuckers to do his dirty work. He would’ve come silently in the middle of the night and left just as quietly after jammin’ his hand into your chest and yankin’ out your heart. Could still happen if you continue to diddle with Maddie.”

“About her…”

Magnum groaned and brushed an agitated hand back and forth over his bald head. “I gotta fuckin’ sit down for whatever the fuck’s gonna come outta your mouth next?”

If he did, Romeo figured the big man wouldn’t be sittinglong. “So…”

“Christ,” Magnum muttered.

Maybe if Romeo gave his enforcer some background, he’d be able to find the assholes who put him in the hospital a lot faster.

“She has…hada dick boss that was constantly abusin’ her.” Magnum’s chest seemed to expand at that, so he quickly added, “Verbally. The fucker treats all his employees like shit. He seems to get a hard-on over making their work lives miserable. He made her work late for free, kept dockin’ her pay for made-up shit…”

“Quittin’ would easily solve that problem.”

“For most people, yeah.” He explained to Magnum about Maddie’s dream of working for the Steelers, or at least one of the Pittsburgh sports teams.

When he was done, Magnum said, “Mighta been told that was why she moved down here. Didn’t give much thought at the time ‘cause I really didn’t give a shit about the why, only the fact that she was in our area.”

“Yeah, so… Maybe you should know. Just in case…”

“In case of what?”

“Any further attacks,” Romeo finished reluctantly.

“Fuckin’ fuck. Knew you did somethin’ stupid. You make fuckin’ enemies with him?”

“Was only tryin’ to help the property of an ally.” Would Magnum buy it? The man wasn’t stupid.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ. By doin’ what?”

“To help her out, had a word with her boss,” he answered.

“About?”

“Don’t matter what it was about.”

Magnum asked, “He do that to you?”

“Not him, but… Thinkin’ maybe he hired someone to fuck me up.” It was the only thing that sort of made sense. If this didn’t have to do with Roger Smith, then it had to be random.

Especially since he never fucked with married women or ones in relationships. It wasn’t worth it. Plenty of single women out there who wouldn’t turn him down when he turned up his charm.

“What gave you that clue?”

“Can’t think of anyone else who’d have it out for me.”

“So, what’d you do to him?”

“Like I said, had a word.”

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