Page 51 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Should I ask why?”
Skinner was on dangerous ground.“No.Just do it.I need it in two hours.”
His jaw shifted, and the gears turning in his head were reflected on his face.“That was some different kind of phone sex.”
“Fuck off.One hour and fifty-nine minutes, asshole.”
While I waited for Wolf to arrive and Skinner to track down the information, I made a call south.
“Who’s bleeding?”Disney needed new material.
“Yo momma,” I shot back automatically.
“Hey now, leave her out of this.What do you want?”In the background, there was the distinct shuffling of his bulk and the click of a door shutting.I counted on his discretion and he wasn’t failing me.
“First, I owe you an apology.”
“Ho-lee hell.Let me find my calendar.I gotta mark this date for posterity.”
“Those are awfully big words for you.”I turned in the chair, unable to sit still.
Disney laughed.“Sue me.A couple of my men snagged up some smart women, and they’re giving my Mary-Cherry a run for her money.She’s started one of those word-of-the-day calendars.”
I chuckled at his pain.It was either that or admit the truth.It was a rare treat to find smart women, and in this life, practically impossible.The rare few, like my VP’s old lady, were forces to reckon with.Disney had more than one in his circle, marking him as a rare leader who’d tolerate that shit.Which was exactly why I needed to be up front with him.“About eighteen or nineteen years ago, I’d gotten a favor from you.”
He made a noise that must have jiggled his memories.“Right.The hookup while playing hooky.”
Damn it.He remembered.“Yeah.”
“How bad is it, damage-wise?”
Thank God I didn’t have to explain myself or my actions, and he homed in on the precise issue.“It could take you down.So, if Nonno, or Big G asks, tell them the truth.If Shock asks, tell him to fuck off.”
There was an uncomfortable space of silence.Disney was thinking too hard.“This has something to do with that wife of his who disappeared, doesn’t it?”
If I told him the truth, I was dead.If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have an ally.And I needed allies for Kate and Zoe.I skirted the truth.“You’re a smart man.”
“And you’re a dumb ass.Jesus.She’s still alive?”
“I hope so.”With every fiber of my being.
He huffed out a laugh that didn’t sound amused.It was more akin to dumbfounded fear than anything.“All those years.Damn.”He took a breath.
Oh great, here came the pearls of wisdom from a fool.If I wanted that, I’d talk to Sprout, who miraculously slipped in and stood against the wall, waiting for me to finish my call.Damn six-foot-seven-inch ninja.“What bullshit are you going to beat me up with?”
Disney spoke, “Two things.One, you love her.You might not think you do, but you do.Otherwise my bullshit wouldn’t be needed.Two, a birdie told me that Shock’s crew got in trouble up north.”
I glanced at Sprout who was making a point to pretend he wasn’t listening, but those big ass ears heard everything.“Where?”
“Catch this, Maine.What the fuck is in Maine?”
“Lobsters.Clams.”
“Fish?”Disney asked.
I sighed.“Yeah, those too.”For the millionth time, I regretted not recruiting him and losing him to his own chapter.
“What’s the plan?”
