Jimmy wasn’t there, which was a relief. Instead, Ian sat in the back booth with Arthur and a couple of the other older guys he employed.
Quinn strolled to the booth like he had every right to be there.
“Quinn, you remember Henry and Eric, right?” Uncle Ian said, and Quinn shook the hands with the two enforcers he did, in fact, remember.
“Hey. Uh, I need a word.” He looked from Ian to Arthur and back. “I thought I’d find you here.”
Ian got serious. “Alright.” He gave a patented Boss look at Henry and Eric who finished their coffees and slid out of the booth smoothly.
As soon as they were gone, Quinn sat in their place and sighed. He didn’t know how to begin.
“I have two things I want to talk about. One is business, the other isn’t. Which one first?”
Arthur chuckled. Ian grinned. “Let’s get the business out of the way first. What’s up, son?”
The word made Quinn’s heart constrict. He smiled, then pulled the emotion back and sighed. “Okay, so, I have contacts all over. One of them just called me and…Do you guys have dealings with the Burned Skulls?”
Both men looked confused, then suspicious.
“No. Ever since Robert told them off, we haven’t had any contact with those guys. Why?” Ian said firmly.
“My contact has heard that they might be preparing for something,” Quinn placed his words very carefully.
Arthur cursed. “We don’t deal with outlaw motorcycle clubs. Everyone knows that. We have a couple of legitimate clubs we sell to, but that’s small scale and not in town.”
Ian looked mildly worried. “Right. Why would yourcontactthink they want anything to do with us?”
“I don’t know. He promised to call if he hears anything else. Right now, he wasn’t sure, but if something is coming…”
“Then we need to know about it,” Ian murmured. His expression was unhappy. They all knew what this could mean. None of them mentioned the obvious thought they had; Jimmy. If Jimmy was looking to take over…but would he really go over his father’s head?
“What’s the other thing?” Arthur asked, probably to break the tension that had enveloped them.
“Uh, well, you guys know Charlie Kyle has a kid?”
“Yes, I’ve seen him at the diner a few times,” Ian said, then he and Arthur made the connection at the same exact moment.
Their eyes widened, then they both laughed, and Arthur patted Quinn on the shoulder.
“Oh wow,” Ian said, also reaching to squeeze Quinn’s arm.
“Yeah. Obviously I didn’t know until now, and before you say anything, I agree with her decision not to tell me. Lennox doesn’t belong in our type of life.”
Both men looked solemn, then nodded in unison.
“What are you going to do?” Arthur asked.
“Whatever she lets me.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I need to get them out of town before things go to shit here.”
Ian grunted. Arthur said nothing. They both knew something was coming. Whether it was an outlaw gang like Burned Skulls or something else, time would tell.
“So, yesterday, Lennox got out of school in the middle of the day to chase after his grandpa who apparently wanders past the school sometimes when he’s high,” Quinn started, and then told the whole story to his uncles who were greatly entertained.
“That Charlie is tough as nails,” Ian said, smiling slightly. “I wish I could make Benny see sense.”
Quinn shrugged. “He’s way too far gone. She’s been taking care of him forever. He was practically naked yesterday. He’s skin and bones. There’s nothing anyone can do.” He sighed. “Lennox gives him money.”
“What?” Arthur frowned.
