There was another big, scary-looking guy standing beside Brass, who said, “Come on, Joe. This place is boring as fuck. We got pussy and beer waiting for us back at the clubhouse. Let’s set up the exchange so we can take your dad his money and go blow our cut.”
Joe glared at me for a beat longer, and then shoved me in front of him. The shift in balance almost made me face plant, but I shuffled my feet and turned so I bounced off the wall instead. Joe snickered and roughly grabbed me again, steering me toward the door.
I continued to play meek and demure, biding my time and waiting for an opening, promising myself that when I got the chance, Joe would pay.
Eagle
WHEN BRASS CALLED to set up the exchange, we were back in Link’s office with the team he’d selected for the op. Link put his cell phone on speaker and set it in the center of his desk, and Havoc, Tap, Spade, Stocks, and I all crowded around, waiting for the details. Tap fidgeted with some sort of device connected to Link’s phone and typed on his laptop.
“You know the concrete bench between Pier sixty-two and sixty-three? The one that faces the water?” Brass asked.
Link looked to me, and I nodded. Pier sixty-two and sixty-three were located in the South Park District, which was just south of the Industrial District, where I worked. South Park was a shitty neighborhood, but the bench Brass mentioned had a nice view of the Duwamish Waterway and the Georgetown District beyond. If you didn’t mind being accosted by homeless people or watching the occasional drug deal go down in your peripheral, it was a decent spot to stop for lunch. I took extra sandwiches and went down there occasionally.
“Yeah, I know of the spot,” Link replied.
“Meet me there at eleven. Bring the cash and come alone.”
“Let me talk to my sister.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Brass fired back.
“You want a hundred-k? I need to know she’s alive.”
“What, you don’t trust me, Link?”
Link was bottled rage, barely keeping it together. Every vein throbbed in his neck. “You’ve always been a junkie. I was hoping there was more to you, but I was wrong.”
Brass chuckled. “Still think you can save everyone, huh? Stop wasting your breath on me and save your preaching for someone who gives a fuck.”
There was some rustling of the phone, and then Naomi’s voice came over the line. “Link?”
A collective sigh of relief floated around the table. We’d all been holding our breath, waiting to hear her. Knowing she was alive and able to talk filled me with so much emotion I could barely stand beneath the weight of it. Leaning against the table, I drew closer to Link’s phone.
“Yeah, I’m here. You okay?” Link asked.
“I’ve had better days.” Her voice sounded shaky. Scared. Angry. It put every protective instinct within me on high alert. “Is Eagle there with you?”
She was in trouble and she needed me, not her brother. If Link still had any doubts that this thing between me and Naomi was real, I could tell that she’d stomped them out with that one question by the way his gaze cut to me. He was waiting for my reaction. The entire table was, but I didn’t give a fuck about them. I needed to reassure her. I wanted to tell her that I needed her and the baby in my life. To beg her to survive this and build a family with me. There was no time for all that now, but I couldn’t leave her hanging. I had to say something to let her know I was all in and that I’d make sure she was safe.
“I’m here, sweetheart. In it for the long haul. We’re gonna get you home safe, so we can continue that conversation we started.”
“I’d like that.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
Link was still watching me. “We’re setting up the exchange. We’ll get you out of there, Squirt.”
The phone rustled again, and then Brass came back over the line. “See, she’s fine. Do we have a deal?”
“I’m not meeting you alone, Brass,” Link said.
“I have Naomi. I’m calling the shots now,Prez.”
“I don’t trust you, you son-of-a-bitch. Naomi’s only worth a hundred-k if I can get her away from you alive. If I go in alone, there are no promises you’ll let me walk out of there with her. I know you have at least two motherfuckers with you. If you want this money, I’m bringing two men with me to cover my ass and make sure you don’t double-cross me.”
The line went dead. We all looked to Tap, but he shook his head. Brass hadn’t hung up. He’d probably just muted the call, so he could discuss Link’s counter-offer. I held my breath, waiting for Brass’s response. Finally, the phone clicked again.
“One,” someone else countered. I didn’t recognize the voice. “Or I’ll blow her head off right now and find someone else to use as leverage. Maybe that pretty little lawyer bitch of yours.”
“Who is this?” Link asked, straightening.
