I think about that for a long moment before responding, “Yeah, but I’m trying to find my exit plan.” He stares at me, crossing his arms. “I need to go straight, man. I’ve thought about it a long time, but now it’s what I need.”
He shakes his head. “You know that’s going to make people nervous. Especially Sal.”
“Fuck everybody. Especially fuck Sal. It will be okay. If you need to keep your distance, I’ll understand.”
“I’m not keeping any fucking distance,” he barks. “Loyalty is exactly this. You want to clean up a bit, I’ll help you. Can’t say I’m looking to do the same, but I’ll try not to muddy your waters, and I’ll go in on deals as best I can to support you. But…” He sniffs and finishes. “What’s really going on? Yesterday you were talking about dropping by your old office, getting your books so you could set up a delivery of AK’s. Today you want to go white picket fence and a day job?”
He looks confused, and I don’t blame him. He’s right.
“Sometimes, something hits you, and you see things differently. Like someone turned the light on in a room you forgot you had and you realize that’s where you want to be. I guess my light got turned on.”
That’s not the only thing that got turned on.
Fuck, I’m losing my mind. Esme doesn’t even know me, and I’m planning our future together. I’m planning a fuck ton of other filthy things, as well, and I plan to get started on that later today.
But why the fuck hasn’t she texted me yet? Her friend Karen seems nice enough, but my guess is that she wouldn’t call me if something had happened. I throw my head back and growl, looking at the ceiling.
“You gonna make it?” Malcolm asks, stepping over to the console on the wall in my office and grabbing his leather jacket.
As he puts it on, I catch a glimpse of the special inside pocket he has in all his jackets, the one holding his nine-millimeter, and it reminds me of the dangerous life we still lead.
“Yeah.” I shove my desk chair back so hard it hits the wall, then stand, shoving my phone into my inside suit jacket pocket and locking my computer. “I gotta go.”
“Didn’t you say the Lucci brothers are coming in an hour to make a payment on the next shipment? You going to blow them off, too?”
“Fuck,” I grunt. “Just deal with them for me, will you? I need you on this, man. I’ll message them, tell them you’re taking point on this for now, I have an emergency or something.”
He shrugs but takes his jacket back off. “Okay. Like I said, I’m loyal.”
Before I can make it out of the office, there’s a quick knock at the door, then it opens.
“Hi there, boys.” Maria sashays in with a devious smile, wearing her scrubs from work and looking so much like my mom that a flash of melancholy tightens my chest.
But, as much as I love my sister, she can be a pain in my ass.
“I’m on my way out,” I grumble and hear Malcolm snort.
“You can’t spend a few minutes with your sister? Geez.” She shakes her head then shoots a smile at Malcolm and takes a seat in the chair next to him.
“You should call first if you want some time. You know I’m busy.”
“Yeah, yeah. You love to be busy. I was on my way home from my shift, wanted to see how the new digs were coming along.”
“Coming along fine,” I snap, then try to get a grip because she means well. “What do you think?”
Maria shrugs, looking around my sleek office. “Pretty good. Mom would like it,” she adds, and my heart twitches knowing mom would be proud of how I’m moving in my own direction.
I want to stay and chat, but my obsession with Esme is burning through me, and per usual, Maria narrows her eyes and reads me.
“What’s going on?” She studies me and looks at Malcolm, who raises his hands in a shrug of his own, then back to me. “Did you meet someone?”
“What the hell?” I shake my head as Malcolm chokes back a laugh.
She looks at Malcolm again. “He did, didn’t he?”
“I’m not saying anything.” Malcolm crosses his arms and gives me a sympathetic sneer.
“Who is she? When can I meet her—”
