When Gerald and Boone pull up ten minutes later, I follow Les to their car, not trusting this neighborhood to let her walk alone. Those boys might not know who she is, but other people will. If you are on this side of crime, you know who she is. It’s everyone else she hides it from.
“Hey, G. Hey, Boone,” she greets with a smile when they climb out of the car.
“Hey, Boss,” Gerald grins. He is just shy of sixty and watched Les grow up, but he still respects her in public by calling her Boss. He’s still built like a solid brick wall. He’s almost bigger than me, with a slick bald head and watchful green eyes. Boone is on the smaller side, not even six feet, with grey-streaked black hair and blue eyes, but the man can fight like a maniac.
“I need you and Boone to take them somewhere until I figure out what to do with them.”
“What’s their story?” Boone asks, leaning against the side of the car.
“Foster care. Seventeen. Hired by Jerry Moretto to sling blow,” she highlights, still sounding pissed.
Gerald raises both brows. “He knows that’s Poletti’s territory.”
“We are on our way there next,” I answer.
“He has a lot to answer for,” Les says, then gestures toward the boys. “You good with taking them?”
Boone nods. “Yeah. They can stay with us.”
No one knew for the longest time that not only were Gerald and Boone partners, but they were also a couple because they hid it. It shocked us, but Les told them never to hide who they are in front of her.
“I’m going to have Holden look into their foster home, so get me some info,” Les informs them. I know whoever these foster parents are, they’re going to wish she never stumbled on them.
“Give them hell,” Gerald grins, and it’s not a nice one. “And fuck up some of Moretto’s shit for me.”
“If you weren’t such an old man, you could go,” Les quips.
Boone bares his teeth at her jokingly. “Watch it, Lessie.”
She laughs. “I haven’t heard that in forever.” She waves at the other guys to bring the boys over. “This is Gerald and Boone,” she says, pointing them out. “That’s Lucas,” she says, pointing to the taller one. “That’s Landon.” She gestures back to Gerald and Boone. “You will stay with them until I figure something out for the next six months.”
“Who are you?” Lucas asks with a perplexed look on his face.
Gage snorts. “You can tell they aren’t a part of this life.”
Gerald gestures towards the car. “I’ll explain on the way. See you later.” He gives us a mock salute before sliding into the car, Boone, Lucas, and Landon following him.
We get back into Ryder’s car, and Les sighs. “This is going to get worse, isn’t it?” she asks everyone.
“Fuck yeah,” Gage says excitedly, making her shake her head with a smile.
“What happens now?” Leo asks.
Les sighs again. “It gets bloody.”
“Joe!”Les calls out like they are old friends when we walk into his dive bar, Danny’s. Leo was given the option to stay in the car this time, but he refused, saying he could handle it. We are about to find out because Les is done with warnings.
Joe’s eyes widen a fraction, but he keeps his composure. “What can I do for you, Ms. Poletti?”
It looks like it’s only their people in the bar this time of day, which consisted of four guards, no innocent bystanders. Good. I can tell by the set of Les’ shoulders that she isn’t playing anymore.
“I warned you, Joe,” Les shakes her head sadly like she cares about this slimy piece of shit. “You didn’t listen.”
“Because we don’t take orders from women,” Jerry growls to our left.
“Hello, Jerry,” she smiles sweetly, and it’s anything but sweet. I know exactly what’s lurking just behind that smile. “A little birdie told me you had more kids selling for you. Imagine my surprise when I find them slinging none other than coke.”
“I guess you need a reminder that coke is Poletti’s business, and she didn’t fund that,” Gage says and taps his lips thoughtfully. “Which begs the question; who did?”
