Page 48 of O'Mega's Revenge
Jackson began speculating. “He knows you gotta show because you’re related to at least one of those assholes, right?”
“A third cousin, maybe even an uncle.”
Trot’s eyebrows went up. “A biker related to the mob?”
I snorted. It wasn’t the first time that happened. “Not uncommon.”
She tipped her head. “Well, we got our relations, too. Fell, get A.C. on the phone. Let them know what’s up. Harlow is going to be pissed.”
Nonno groaned. “You do not want to get them involved in this.”
“Give me one good reason not to.”
He pointed at Meghan on my lap. “She’s dead if you do.”
“You don’t know that.”
“The fuck I don’t. I grew up hearing stories about this man.” Unexpectedly, he turned to Meghan and blurted out, “Tell themwhyyou couldn’t go home.”
Her eyes went wide. “No.” She shook her head violently. I pulled her close and let her hide her trembling against me. It was my turn to step up.
“I’ll fucking answer that. Her parents are dead. Happy?”
Nonno’s eyes went wide. “Did she tell you how?”
Meghan tensed. I shifted her so she wouldn’t slip out of my arms. “Yeah.”
Trot flicked her attention back and forth between us. “Someone talk.”
Nonno filled in the story.
“Her father owed money. Just some gambling debt. He didn’t want his family to know. But he got cocky, thinking he could work out a deal. They took Meghan as collateral.”
I cupped her head and tightened my hold. She squirmed. Her voice was rough as she spoke. “When he didn’t pay on time, they took pictures.”
Nonno’s face tensed. “Then they took his son. Killed him outright. Dumped his body in the middle of the school’s parking lot. Made it look like an overdose. The wife took off to Florida. Her fingers showed up first. Then other pieces. They framed her father for it. He got shivved on the inside waiting for trial.”
Meghan shook off my hold. “When that happened, they put me with him, the Surgeon. I was shown how they did it. Told if I didn’t cooperate, I’d join them.”
She leaned her head against my shoulder. “I didn’t want to die. But I did run. Twice.”
“The second time, she left him for dead.” Nonno added. “Everyone thought he was, so we didn’t know what to do.”
“Wait a minute, what do you mean, you didn’t know what to do?” Trot asked.
Jackson kicked his legs out, knocking the table leg out as he did. “Are you that fucking naive? Do you need it spelled out?”
“Yes, I do. What the fuck does he mean by that?”
“The bikers do the dirty work, and the mob makes the deals.” Tits sat up straight and pulled the invitation toward her. She shoved the handwritten note away as she did, a look of cold hatred flashed through her expression. I knew her well enough to see the quick flinch and the tightness near her right eye. Then it was gone. A mask of calm indifference replacing any emotion.
“Do you mean to tell me you’ve been sleeping with the enemy this whole time?” Fell shoved her two cents into the conversation, not helping things one bit.
“There’s a saying. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Her finger traced the raised script on the ivory paper.
“That’s fucked up.” Fell dumped her vitriol and started pacing.
“So, when he lived, what happened?” Trot asked.
