Page 114 of Give Me Love

“Simon,” I call out. Both he and my right-hand man look my way. Simon’s a short man, unlike Ben, with a big belly who loves gold jewelry, but don’t let his height fool you. He’s a crazy son of a bitch and doesn’t put up with bullshit. He’s an old-school gangster type and a loyal motherfucker.

“What the hell happened after I left last night?”

He shakes his head. “That dead cocksucker cheated with the wrong people. The other men at that table were some tough guys from Eaglewood, and one of them was Danny O’Brien. People call him Bones.”

“Bones?” I ask.

He nods. “He and his crew were here throwing some big money around and selling white girl.”

“Powder?” I ask.

“Yes, sir.” He reaches into the front pocket of his silk shirt for a cigar.

Ben adds, “He’s a big deal in Mud City. He runs drugs and dips into a few other shit. I went to Catholic school with him and his boys. He’s good to have on your side, boss. Especially with the kind of business you got going on here.”

I signal for the bartender to grab me a drink and take a seat.

“Do we know they did it?”

“I’d take that bet,” Ben says, rubbing a hand through his long beard.

“So, why are they so far from home?”

Simon puffs his smoke. “Business, I guess. Or maybe they wanted to come see what all the fuss was about. Your place is a big deal, Grant, and word is spreading. We got people coming in from all over. This isn’t small time anymore.”

I grab my drink once it’s filled, tossing back the warm liquid. Looking around, I say, “Yeah. We’re doing well.”

“You’re doing really well. Money is good.”

I nod at my drink for another. “Do we think the dealer was in on it?”

“Yes. But no worries. He’s gone,” Ben says.

“How gone?” I ask.

“Let’s just say he won’t be dealing anymore.”

I narrow my eyes and lower my voice. “We aren’t in the killing business here, boys.”

Ben speaks up. “Sir, you’ve got to set an example so others won’t be so stupid. He’s alive. He can’t use his fingers anymore, but he’ll live an okay life on the other side of the country.”

Jesus.

I throw back my drink and stand. “Can any of this come back on us?”

“No. Your hands are clean.”

I nod. “They still in town?”

“Yeah, said they’d be here for a little bit.”

I run a hand over the side of my face. “Good. I want to meet him.” I look at my watch, thinking I need to go check on Mom and things at the house. “I’ll be back tonight.”

“See you then,” Simon replies.

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I open the door to my apartment and narrow my eyes when I see Mom over the stove. A light sweater covers her small frame, and she wears jeans and black flip-flops. Her dirty blonde hair is clean and up in a ponytail.

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