Page 48 of Rafe: Sins of the Father

TJ shows us the map he pulled up, and we gather around. “Looks like there’s a long entrance road, lots of trees. Might give the rest of us cover. Someone can wait up the road in the van.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go check it out,” Green says, and we all troop outside.

I grab the tracker off my gas tank and get in the van. Green is in the shotgun seat, and Billy is driving.

TJ reaches in the box we keep in the back of the van and passes out black hoodies and ski masks.

Green twists his head. “Pass me a couple of those zip ties.”

TJ does, then peers in the box. “Ooh, duct tape.” He pockets the roll.

Twenty minutes later, we arrive at Marcus’s house, and he meets us in the drive.

“Where’re we goin’?” he asks.

“We’re going to beat the fuck out of a bully who’s been harassing Rafe’s girl,” Billy says.

I like how they’re already thinking of her as mine, but I doubt it will ever be true. I climb from the van and hold my hand out for the keys. “You don’t have to come.”

“Beating up a bully? Hell yeah, I do. I’m in, and I’m driving the Lexus.”

Our two-vehicle caravan heads out, Marcus behind us and TJ giving Billy directions.

Green takes out his phone and pulls up the songMan on a Mission, then taps out the beat with his gloved hands on the dashboard. “God, I love this song.” Then he sits back. “We need snacks.”

“We don’t need snacks,” Billy snaps, glaring at him.

“I always need snacks when I’m about to pound on someone.” He points at a place as we drive past. “Oh, stop at this donut shop.”

Billy drives on past, and Green shifts in his seat to glower at him.

“You suck, brother.”

“You’ll live,” Billy replies.

“Turn here,” TJ says.

We drive on for another fifteen minutes and arrive at the spot. Billy pulls over and Marcus pulls in behind us. Green, TJ, and I all bail out.

I approach Marcus, sitting in the driver’s seat, and toss the tracker in his cup holder. “Keep low and out of sight. Billy’s gonna drive around that curve out of sight, and we’re gonna wait beyond the tree line.”

“Gee, I feel so vulnerable,” Marcus teases.

“You are kind of like shark bait,” I reply. “Thanks for the help, brother.”

He holds out his hand for a fist bump. “I live for this shit.”

I head into the trees and squat next to TJ and Green, wondering how long this will take. “We could be here a while. He may not even show.”

“Ye of little faith,” Green says. “Your girl’s gorgeous. He’ll show up.”

Turns out Green is right, and we don’t even have to wait long.

A black Porsche slows and parks behind the Lexus.

“That him?” TJ asks.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell through the windshield. He needs to get out of the vehicle, so I can get a look at him. He’s alone, though. That’s good.”

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