Page 114 of Average Joe

Marley was wild. A rabid field mouse about to get stomped by a moose.

“That’s enough.” I yanked her off my uncle and carried her kicking and screaming to the other side of the room.

The second her feet hit the carpet, she was on him again, this time drawing a wretched sob from the man.

“Where is my son?” Her scream vibrated the walls, and her fist met Larry’s nose. “Where is he?”

I blocked her second strike, wrestled her away, then restrained her in my arms. “Enough!”

“He knows.” Marley fought my grip. “He knows where I can find Dylan.”

Nose to nose, I told her, “He can’t tell us anything if you kill him.”

Her body softened, going limp. Still, I held firm and whispered, “I need you to go to the car.”

“No.”

“I’ll make him talk.” I doubted he knew anything since he didn’t utter a word through the torture.

“I’m not leaving.”

God, she was gorgeous. I wanted to kiss that fire right out of her, but instead, I leaned close and warned, “Then stay right here. You move a muscle, we’re out, and Frank’s gonna handle this.”

Larry coughed and sputtered, “Crazy, stupid bitch,” through clenched teeth, his body curled in a ball on the couch.

Marley shoved free of my hold and leaned against the front door, lips sucked between her teeth, arms crossed.

I squatted next to Larry. “Give me something, old man. That was painful to watch, and I’d hate to let her loose on you again.”

His body shook. “I don’t keep tabs on every dumbass kid Johan recruits.”

“Give me something,” I demanded through clenched teeth.

“Kiss my ass,” he snarled.

Another tactic, then. “You know, my pops was right about you.”

Larry tensed.

I continued. “Said you and Bill were a world-class pair of idiots. Not because you were stupid, but because you spent your life doing shit jobs for Harper when you could’ve been running your own crew.”

Larry huffed.

“Which leads me to believe that Harper’s got something on you.” I rose from my spot on the floor, snagged a tumbler from the liquor cabinet, then held the empty glass toward Marley.

She rolled her eyes, popped the top off the whiskey she still held and poured a shot.

Larry pushed himself into the sitting position on shaky arms, a wary glare aimed at Marley.

I tried for friendly, approaching him again. “What does he have on you?”

Larry took the offered drink and threw it back, then dropped his gaze to the floor, his shoulders curling.

Too many seconds of silence passed.

“Tell me something. Anything.” I swallowed the bile rising in my throat, dreading what came next. “Don’t make me call my old man. I don’t want him in town any more than you do.” I hitched a thumb over my shoulder toward Marley. “But I’ll welcome him with open arms if it means finding that lady’s son.”

I hoped to God Larry didn’t call my bluff. Neither of us would benefit from having my father in town. And I sure as hell didn’t want to owe Andrew Kaine another favor.

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