Page 38 of Rescued Faith

“Why?”

The kid stared out the window, brows furrowed, chewing on his lip. His eyes shifted. Jumpy little guy.

“Koby, what’s going on? What do you know?” Tony kept his voice low.

“You’ll look after my mom if I go?”

“You know how this works. It’s a give and take. You want something, you have to give me something first. But yeah, if your intel is good, I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“I could ask you the same. But I think we’ve had a good thing going here. Why do you want to leave?”

“It’s not like I want to.” The frown only enhanced the whole angsty-teenager vibe. But he seemed genuinely worried about his mother.

“Then who’s forcing your hand?” Tony asked.

The boy clammed up.

The server set steaming hot plates in front of them. “Anything else I can get you?”

They shook their heads. Once she walked away again, Tony took a bite of his burger. Penny followed his lead and nibbled on a hot, salty french fry.

The kid lost some of his nervousness as he scarfed down his meal.

Tony, on the other hand, leaned back leisurely like he had all the time in the world. “So, what’s it gonna be, Koby?”

Koby swallowed his bite and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Look, I don’t have a choice. I owe…someone. And he’s calling in favors.”

“Your dealer?”

“Maybe. All I know is that they’re picking up and moving the whole operation. Someone bigger has taken over and is forcing them out.”

“One of the Hispanic gangs?”

Koby swallowed another bite. “Someone else. A cartel.”

“It’s not the Puerto Ricans?”

“No way Ray-Ray would run from them.”

Penny pulled up a picture of Emma on her phone. “Have you seen her around here?”

Koby studied the picture. “She seems kinda familiar.”

“Where have you seen her?” Penny asked.

The kid shrugged and stuffed a handful of fries into his mouth.

Tony stared him down. “Tell the lady what you know.”

“I think I saw her at the biker place once.”

“What were you doing there?” Tony’s gaze narrowed.

“I had a meeting is all.”

A drug delivery most likely.

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