“Eyes are on you, Trick. A lot of them,” C says.
I swirl my drink and take a swig. Room temperature. That makes me think of Laurel’s ginger ale and why she was drinking it.
“What can you tell me that I don’t know, C?”
“Usually not much. Usually nothing fazes you. The lawyer said you were so flawless in your Grand Jury testimony, the prosecutor wanted to take his shoe off and throw it at you. Then tonight you pull a gun and almost do a Palermo guy for tossing someone in a pool?” He’s silent for a moment. “I thought you were going to Boston to celebrate?”
“I’m celebrating. Didn’t you hear Rachel congratulate me?”
“Yeah, and I saw the ring too. That rock’s hard to miss.”
“YOLO.” Finishing my drink, I set the glass down.
“Trick. What’s up?”
“She’s pregnant.”
There’s dead silence for several beats.
“Are you sure it’s—”
“It’s mine.”
“All right. When Coynston got too rough, we sent our families out of town. She already lives in Boston. Maybe farther would be better?”
“Only if I go too.”
C’s brows rise in surprise. “Is that what you want?”
After a beat, I make a dismissive gesture. “No. I can’t leave Coins. St. Mary’s cemetery was getting full, so I bought some plots. One for me, you, and ‘Vil.”
“Fuck off,” ‘Vil says.
C smirks.
“How’d you get her pregnant? She wiped her mouth and touched herself?” Anvil asks.
I laugh, some of the tension behind my eyes easing. “Rachel’s a good influence, ‘Vil. That’s what? The third joke you’ve cracked since I’ve known you?” The liquor finally hits, and the thousand colliding thoughts slow down and line up. Elbows on the table, my forehead drops into my palms.
“You pulled your gun in front of about fifty witnesses,” Anvil says.
I don’t look up. “You put Frank in a chokehold in front of cops.”
“That’s my crue,” C says, pouring himself a drink. “Can’t be famous in Southie stickball circles unless you play the gangster game like the OGs from the 1920s.”
“My taunting Frank is what held other dogs at bay when he tried to turn everyone loose on us. By making him nothing, I made us something. And what’s the most successful recruitment tool we’ve ever had? That line and the way it went real-life viral. Would-be badasses flocked to Coins to join C Crue.” I tap my finger. “You’re welcome.”
I look up and find C smiling.
“But the brand only holds if we back it up,” I say. “You gotta do him or let me.”
“Trick—” C begins, but there’s a tap on the door, and all three of our heads swivel.
Anvil gets up and opens the door.
Rachel looks around him to me and holds up my phone.
I meet her at the door, giving her a kiss on top of the head. “Thank you.”
