“What’s this motherfucker ordering you to do, cunt?” Wally, Jr. asked, swaggering his little ass closer.
“Don’t fucking answer him. Just make the fucking call.” Expecting Gypsy to follow his orders and unable to believe she was housing a Dweller fugitive, Mortician got to his feet and pulled Symphony behind him. Hopefully, the angle of his body protected both her and Gypsy. He’d deal with her later.
“I come in peace.”
He would leave in death. That motherfucker hurt Mattie. Nothing he could say would save his fucking life and if he discovered Gypsy aided and abetted Wally, Jr., her days were numbered, too.
Wally Jr. raised his hands, startling Mortician. That little motherfucker could’ve pulled a gun and shot all of them.
Mort was so fucking off his game right now.
“I have a message to relay,” Wally, Jr. continued.
“Not interested in hearing it.”
“You aren’t curious?”
“Not at the fucking moment.” Mortician debated on whether to pull back and show himself as friendly, so he could snatch that motherfucker without endangering the two women. “Outlaw will be here soon. You can tell him whatever it is.”
“It isn’t for him.”
“Say what the fuck you got to say,” Mort said irritably.
“Can I have a beer?”
Wally, Jr. wasn’t close enough for Mortician to snatch that motherfucker, knock him the fuck out and tie him up, untilsomebody brought the transport van. He’d take him to the meatshack. Any other time, calling Johnnie would be priority number one, but since that motherfucker belonged on the table too, Mort wasn’t sure.
“What do you say, brother? One beer.”
“This not a social visit, Wally.”
“You don’t have your gun out and I’m Junior. Pa said it was to tell us apart. Never been nothing but Wally, Jr. My boy’s Wally though. Like Pa. But since Pa’s dead, I don’t think Pa would mind. We call Lil’ Wally by the name of Wallace, too.” His eyes widened and made him look like a homicidal leprechaun. “Lil’ Wally. I like the ring of that.”
There was one of that motherfucker and Mort. The odds were stacked in his favor, but his back was to Gypsy. Although he stood fully in front of Symphony, he didn’t know where Derby’s woman was. What the fuck hedidknow was she hadn’t made that fucking phone call. He didn’t hear a motherfucking peep from her. As for Tee, he was on his fucking own.
“No gun drawn on me,” Wally reminded him again.
“Don’t fucking matter. We not friends. Especially after Bash sent you to fuck with Mattie.”
If Wally, Jr. took the bait, Mort could prove Bash’s guilt or innocence. Prez seemed to believe what the fuck Bash said. He must’ve had a fucking disease, since Outlaw believed Johnnie, too.
“Wasn’t waiting for that little redhead. I was waiting for the cunt who beat my boy. Big Willy said that blonde cut class all the time and that was the way she went. He said to be careful because Outlaw taught his blonde cunt how to fight.”
“So Bash didn’t send you?”
“I don’t even know where that motherfucker at. He don’t care about my Eliza or nothing. All he talk about now is fucking peace. He says it’s for what’s her name—that other redhead. ButI know it’s for fucking Cee Cee. Stupid fuckhead. Cee Cee always wanted an alliance with the Dwellers. Bash sees this as a way to honor his daddy.” Tears rushed to his eyes and he stomped his foot. “What about my daddy? What about my bitch? Bash said to leave all those cunts alone. I was just going to come in that blonde’s face. Nothing too much. Maybe carve her up a little.”
Behind him, Symphony squeaked. Hopefully, they were getting the seriousness of the situation. Mort had to hold his shit together and not break this motherfucker in a bunch of pieces for MattieandRebel in a public place.
“I saw them searching for me,” Wally, Jr. announced, sniffling. “Earlier today. But I was hiding in the fucking tree. Way up.” He stepped closer, hands still up.
“What did you do, Junior?” Gypsy demanded. “When I saw you in the food court at the mall, you told me you were here alone to take care of some business and needed a place to crash.”
“I ain’t lied,” he snapped. “They wouldn’t think to look for me at your place.”
“You told me not to tell Derby who you were. It’s because you fucked over the Dwellers?” Gypsy sobbed. “Why would you do that?”
“As much as I miss my Eliza, I ain’t interested in joining her. Derby would’ve brought me to Outlaw or Johnnie.”
