“What happened to the last kid?”
“He was a runaway and was afraid to go back home. Since he’s older, we’ve got him in protective custody, and he’s going to testify about the traffickers.”
Parker goes thoughtful and points to a place on the screen. “You’ve got this whole list of people here, but according to the news they only found one guy, a low-level grunt.”
“Shame, that,” Odd says coolly.
Thane adds, “We still need your discretion because this is an active op. We’re effective because we’re underground. We don’t always follow the letter of the law, but our purpose is to keep the community safe.”
My brain finally comes back online, and I ask, “How…how do you pay for all of this? I mean, who sprung for this place?”
Everett looks at the other guys, then answers carefully. “We take the money from the bad guys.”
“Okay, but aren’t you just pissing off bad guys? I mean, I assume they’re gonna want their vineyard back, right?”
Parker laughs, shaking her head. “Rafi, dead people don’t need their things anymore.”
Oh.
Oooooh.
Oooooooooh.
Anders holds up a five-dollar bill. “He’s going to say it.”
Odd responds, “Doubt it. Bet.”
They all look at Everett, who looks at me and shakes his head. “Nah, he’ll say it.”
They all look at me, anticipating…I don’t know.
“What? Not to be stupid around a bunch of guys who think they’re Dexter, or whatev—”
“Boom, called it. Brother, you owe me and Everett five crisp ones.”
“Fine. I’m good for it.”
“Hey, I didn’t know how the bets worked, or I coulda told you that’s what he was going to say.” That’s my good friend Parker, betting against me with a band of murderers.
I turn on Omar, who’s been nearly silent this whole time. “So…how did you join the crew? Is there a test? Or did you just bring a dead bad guy with you to the first available meeting of the Austin Social Gun Club?”
Gotta be honest with you, did not see that one coming.
Yeah, me either.
I stare up at my brother-in-law, who shrugs in return. “I was taught by my father’s head assassin starting at age thirteen. I figured it’d be nice to do it for the good guys for a change.”
“How is that possible? You don’t even kill spiders; you just put them outside. Also, I’m the one who got fucked over by, you know, everything. If anyone gets to kill bad guys, it should be me.” I up-nod Everett. “You saw my shooting skills.”
He opens his mouth to say something but stops and grimaces while rubbing the back of his head.
My mouth drops open in shock. “What the hell, Everett? We’ve been friends for six months now. You never even met Omar before last week!”
The silence in the living room is telling. Everett is biting his lip, shaking his head. “Told you guys he’d want in.”
Thane holds up a five-dollar bill, and Odd takes it. After a beat, both Anders and Parker bust out laughing. Seconds later the rest of the team joins them, and Everett throws up his hands, then opens his arms to me.
Feeling very pouty, I stomp over to him and let him hold me, even though his whole body is vibrating with laughter.
