Page 87 of Skin Deep

1. He didn’t like Kelly.

2. He didn’t like that Kelly married Lach’s sister.

3. He didn’t like that my brother had Kelly to help him out of this mess with the money.

4. He wanted me to work for him, but I worked for Kelly.

Each of those reasons only amounted to a slow-burning fuse. But the killing of one of his sons was going to elevate it to the next level. And fuck, say the name Kelly four times and he popped up out of nowhere.

He was pulling into the drive with my sister.

“We know now the Rhinestone fight was a setup,” Lach said, eyeing them but then looking back at me. “Same two guys were with Devin. Oran always knew my whereabouts in Boston. I thought New York would be different, but he’s wanted in on the territory there for a while.”

“Wayne?” I said.

“No, and not the other guy. They were fronts to start the brawl. Must have paid them. The two guys with the knives.”

“They cut Owen?” I said, and my jaw tightened at the thought.

“Yeah,” he said. “He’s got about fifty stitches. I trust Dr. Tito with him. He’s a good man. He’ll keep him safe until we can pick him up. Clara Bow is there, too. A familiar face.”

I nodded my agreement, then silence fell between us. We watched as Kelly walked around to my sister’s side of the car and opened the door for her.

“What’s the deal between those two?” he said.

“Meaning?”

“Always ready to show off that college education,” he said, sarcastically.

I felt his eyes on my face, but I didn’t turn toward him. That was my sister’s deal, and it wasn’t my place to tell him, even though Kelly said he was going to soon.

Lach sighed. “How do you feel about Raff?”

Raff—the guy who brought me Kelly’s card at the field what felt like lifetimes ago. He was Kelly’s cousin by marriage and was close to him.

“Lie in the laugh,” I said, looking at him.

“Mam’s in your head.” He grinned but it faded fast. “Yeah. Same here. Something about him doesn’t sit right with me. I’ve heard things about him, you know? And opinions of him depend on who you ask and what you ask. He’s close to Kelly, too.”

Lach knew about Kelly’s prediction—that someone close to him would betray him.

“Yeah, well, Kelly has his pick of enemies. He has no friends. He knows it.”

“All in a day’s work for him,” Lach said.

I changed the subject as Kelly and my sister started walking toward us.

“Hey, you mind keeping an eye on Georgina while I run to the store?” I said to Lach.

“You really need to ask that? I’ll watch G all day.”

I shoved him, and laughter barreled out of his chest.

He stepped back, rolling his shoulders a bit. He sighed. “You know I’m just fuckin’ with you. She’s like my sis now.”

“Who is?” Keely said, homing in with her supersonic hearing.

Lach looked around. “Where is G?”

My eyes darted to where she’d just been with Gus. Both were gone. Lach smacked me on the chest and we both took off.

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