Page 55 of Demise

“Bones,” he says, reaching back into the bag.

I snatch it away. “No. Not until you tell me everything. I can’t deal with the sloth shit.” I toss the bag back into the glove box.

“Hey, man,” he complains.

“Look, I gotta get back in there. I’ve been gone too long as it is. Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“Moretti’s no longer small-time. He’s moved up to the big leagues. Sex trafficking. He’s making millions off one girl. He doesn’t need the drug shit anymore. He wants Bones out of the picture. Says his time is up. Wants me to kill him.” He smiles lazily. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time. He took my spot, ya know? Took it all from me. I was supposed to be Moretti’s right hand. Well, now I get my chance.”

“No, you don’t, my man.” I pull my gun out and pull the trigger. Nugget’s blood and brain splatter with the glass from his window. I exit the car, look around, and walk back into the club.

I smile at myself.

You see, as I was walking through the kitchen an idea occurred to me. Maybe I should record Nugget. See what the lug spits out of his mouth. I figured if it was something concrete, I’d pop him afterward. Let him take the fall for my fuckup just like I let Miles.

I slid on my gloves before I touched the car, and after he retrieved the smack, I put my hand in my pocket, pressed play on my phone, that was resting beside my heat. And then once I got what I needed…well, you know what happened.

I got lucky.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Sweep says as I come back down the steps. Bones sits at the bar with him. Their eyes go to my hoodie.

“Jesus Christ,” Bones says. “The fuck did you do?”

“I got him,” I say.

“Got who? Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.” Bones looks around to make sure no one’s looking at us. He pushes me into the side office and slams the door shut. I toss my phone onto the table.

“Nugget,” I say. “He and Miles. They did it all.”

Bones eyes me. “That his blood on your shirt?”

I look down. “Yeah, I got him. Listen to my phone. He admitted everything.”

Bones’ face turns into a snarl. “Don’t tell me you fucking whacked him.”

What the hell?Why is he mad about this? I take care of the problem as far as they know and he’s acting like I fucked up here.

“Are you not hearing me? He’s on tape.” I point at my phone. “He’s admitting everything. Do you know Moretti wants you dead? It’s right there. Nugget tells it.” I feel the veins popping out of my neck.

Bones rears back and slaps the shit out of me. My ears ring as he grabs a fistful of my shirt.

“I’m always one step ahead, Trig.” He backs me toward the wall. “Nugget killed my brother. I wanted his blood on my fucking hands. You little cocksucker.” He pushes my back against the wall. “Get out of my sight,” he says. “For the rest of the goddamn night.”

I look at Sweep who shakes his head slightly, likedon’t say anything.

I hold up my hands in surrender, going to grab my phone. Sweep eyes me. I leave it and open the office door just as Bones yells, “Fuck!”

Chapter Forty-Two

Sweep

Bones sits at the desk, twirling a drink.

“You know how long I’ve wanted to kill that son of a bitch?” he says.

I nod.

“Years, Sweep. Fucking years.” He sniffs, leaning back in the chair. “Goddamn, I could pop Trig just for taking that from me.”

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