"He's my sister's boyfriend. Or at least he was. He got pissed and took off, so I'm not really sure about the status of their relationship right now."
I had no idea why I told them this, but couldn't seem to stop myself from blabbing. My brain felt like it had been filled with cotton.
Retching sounds came from the bedroom. I leaned back and hollered, "Ari? You okay?"
What sounded like dry heaving answered. I waited for her to stop before turning back to the cops. They still hadn't said anything about the overwhelming smell of pot, and I didn't want to press my luck. Besides, my sister needed me. "Ariana's sick. I need to get back to her. If you have a card... I promise I'll call if he shows up."
The dry heaving started again.
"What's wrong with her?" Angel asked, surprising me.
"I don't know. I got here right before Matt split, but it came on so quickly... shaking, cold sweats, throwing up. She can't even stand. Probably some sort of flu."
Most likely, she took some bad dope, but I wasn't about to narc on her.
The two exchanged a look.
"All right. Thanks for your help," Bones said. "Be sure to let us know if Matt returns."
When I closed the door, I realized neither of them had given me their business card. Oh well. I hurried in to check on Ariana.
CHAPTER SIX
Angel
SHAKING, COLD SWEATS, throwing up. She can't even stand.
The words assaulted me during the walk back to the Hummer. I made it to the door, even got my hand on the handle, but couldn't open it. I had a bad feeling about Markie's sister, and I needed to know if I was right.
"Angel, get in the car," Bones said, opening the passenger's door. It wasn't a demand--Bones would never cross that line--more like a strong suggestion, softened when he added, "We'll talk inside."
I nodded and climbed in. Bones checked something on his phone.
"Matt's one of your dealers, isn't he?" I asked.
Bones's primary job was to ensure my security, but like all my father's employees, he was also an earner. We all were. I made weapons, and Bones was an upper management dealer. That's the way things worked.
"Yeah. Or at least he was before the asshole stiffed me. Now I'm gonna have to make an example out of him."
I wasn't worried about Matt being made an example of. I looked back at the door, worried about the girl who was suffering through whatever he gave her. It wasn't any of my business, and the smart thing would be to drive away. Only my brain couldn't seem to settle on the smart decision.
"What's she on?" I asked.
Bones shrugged. "Sounds like she got some bad shit."
I eyed him.
He held up his hands. "Don't look at me. You damn well know everything I touch is pure. We don't sell shit, Angel."
He was right. My old man would never allow it. Like all other illegal activities, Father ran the drug trade in Vegas to make money and keep it in check. He controlled the quality and quantity of everything he ran, increasing profits and keeping the authorities out of our business.
My attention drifted back to the apartment door and stayed fixed there while I tried to force myself to put the key in the ignition, but couldn't. My memory kept flashing through images of a dead cop, schematics of a bomb, my father's armory, all the shit I couldn't do anything about. But Markie's sister... I could help her. I needed that, needed to feel like something other than a useless pawn in my family's ongoing battle to stay on top.
"If we're gonna save her, we need to do it soon," Bones said.
"Explain."
"Someone's been offloading this shit. I've heard rumors... It's not good, Angel. She needs a doctor."
