Page 62 of Flyboy's Nightingale
“Why can’t I just be doing this out of the goodness of my heart?” Fuck, this man is starting to get underneath my skin.
“If I was talking to anyone else, I would say there was a chance. You on the other hand, I know that nothing you do comes without a motive. So, tell me what’s it going to cost us?” Steel watches Owen with an eyebrow raised in question.
“You’re right, there is actually several things. One, like always, the continued protection and well-being of my sister.” Owen starts before Duck stands slowly to his full height.
“Your sister's well-being and protection are never up for sale. She’s my Ol’ Lady, the mother of my child, and one day, my wife. If I ever hear you use her for anything again, I’ll accept her hating me for turning you into pig food. Do not push me, Owen.”
For a split second, and if I wasn’t watching the man the way that I am, I would’ve missed it but fear and respect flash in the man's eyes before going completely blank.
Owen raises his hand in surrender. “Understood. Let’s start over. One, Smith you’ll call your man off. Tell him to stop digging, and if he has questions, he needs to reach out to Luca and Yuri Volkov.”
All our heads snap to Smith, trying to figure out exactly what the fuck is going on here.
Smith just glares. “Way to be subtle, asswipe.”
“Never was my way,” Owen chuckles before continuing, “second, anything you find out about the Dazed Monkeys, yourepost back to me. Dare I ask that you record the meeting and supply me a copy?”
“That’s it?” Steel is skeptical as we all are.
“That’s it. I won't give you any more than that. Deal or no deal?” Owen asks directly before taking the last swallow in his bottle and finishing his beer.
Steel looks at each of us, asking us our opinions without voicing the words. I watch as we all give him a nod to go ahead.
“You’ve got a deal.” Steel stands, holding his hand out to Owen.
The man jolts up to his feet, taking Steel’s in return. “It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. Y’all have a good night.”
Owen turns, walking toward the door and makes it halfway there before anyone moves or says a word.
“You fucking played us. You don’t know a motherfucking thing. Do you?” Pretty Boy growls, standing and stalking toward Owen.
“Pretty Boy, stop,” Steel snaps, holding up a burner phone for everyone to see.
Owen stops at the door, turning to look at Duck. “Tell Red I love her and I’ll see her soon.”
And like the ghost he is, Owen is gone just as quickly as he showed up.
“I’m going kill the son of a bitch one day,” Razor announces as he glares at the vacated spot Owen once stood before he walked out.
“I’m pretty sure there is a long fucking line, brother,” Torch states, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Steel spins looking at all of us. “Let’s get into church and find out what he brought us.”
We all file into church, going over the information he left us, and coming up with a plan to finally deal with our pest problem.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Riley
Standingat the counter in the kitchen, I hand Starla a Cheeto Puff before taking my own. She smiles wide, happily munching on the cheese powdered treat. I watch her closely, at just over two years old, she can still choke. The puff is gone faster than I would’ve imagined she could’ve eaten it.
“Moe,” she mumbles, pointing at the bag.
“Can we say, more please?” I question her, knowing that Edge has been working toward getting her to say please.
Starla studies me, and I can see Razor in her as she watches. “Moe, peas,” she says, chopping the words.
