I gave him a sharp nod but gritted my teeth as I grabbed my jacket and slid it on. It was cold outside and I’d need it. I did the same with my gloves. “I want you to get word to my pet and nephew. Hanson is to be handled.”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “While I agree with you, sir, I don’t think now’s the right time. You’re still in here and that could cause issues. If a corrections officer is killed, the warden may not look too kindly on you for it.”
I hated that he was right. The warden was fickle, and while he was fine with being used right now by exchanging favors, that could quickly change if we brought down heat on him by killing one of his men.
“We can handle him for now. Until you get out.” Taffart glanced around and stepped in closer. “I’ve talked to your lawyer, and he’s close to getting information on the judge that’ll take your arraignment. Right now, the date’s a long way out, but they are working on bringing it forward. As soon as we blackmail the judge, your men will handle them.”
“And the gun?” I asked.
He nodded. “Our contact’s working on it. He’s close to making it disappear. Your captain’s got cold feet and won’t do jack shit.”
Then, we’d have to get rid of him, too. I didn’t have cowards on my payroll. Once you were in with the Company, you couldn’t pick and choose when you helped us. That wasn’t how it worked with any criminal organization.
“Tell them to expedite it. It’s time to leave this place.” I strode past him, making a point of not limping while ignoring the pain that throbbed through my knee, and followed a line of cons that were filing out toward the yard. I pushed past men to get down the stairs, and they bolted out of my way, giving me space. The men I’d personally chosen to guard me in here sidled in beside me. They were all Company employees who’d taken a fall for us at some point or another, and they would be rewarded for their loyalty.
I took care of the men who took care of us.
I led them to the weight bench where a con was already lifting. The moment he saw me, he cleared his throat and carefully stood, giving me a small head tilt of acknowledgement before walking away. I grunted, my mind still caught on Hanson. He’d also said something to my pet and that wasn’t allowed. I could handle that bastard, but Conall was off-limits and everyone with two brain cells to rub together knew that. There weren’t any ifs or buts—when I was out of this place, I’d handle him personally.
I lay on the bench and waved my hands toward my guys. “Put three-fifty on.”
I closed my eyes as the men got to work adding the weight to the bar. Rubbing my now soft cock, I mentally cursed Hanson. There weren’t many people who could get under my skin, but he’d successfully done it. He was going to regret it, too.
“Ready, sir,” Gallagher said. His dark hair glinted under the morning sun and he towered over me even when I was standing. He had to be at least six foot six. Covered in tattoos and brutal, he was the type I usually had on the streets scaring the shit out of people who owed us money. He came to us from an Irish family in Chicago seven years ago and was arrested for assault after he beat the shit out of a Russian for talking shit about me. He would be rewarded well when he got out.
I gave him a sharp nod. “Gallagher, you spot me.”
“Sir.” Gallagher shifted to stand behind me as I grabbed the bar.
I lifted the weights, straining for a moment before I lowered the bar toward my chest and pushed it up again. My first set of reps was twelve, and despite my arms trembling, once I got to the twelfth, I lifted the bar to sit it on the cradle.
Someone behind me whistled, and my men straightened, shifting to move in front of me. I sat up, not needing to look. I knew who it was.
“Reyes. You’re like a bad smell. I can’t get rid of you.”
“Do you want to build a snowman?” Reyes laughed as he strolled past my men a little too gleefully.
I turned my head to blink at him, not quite sure if he was referencing something or being a smart-arse.
“Let’s go and play.” He grinned as he danced his way over toward me.
Crazy arsehole.
Gallagher went to move, but I shook my head. Reyes wasn’t a threat in here. He made it his mission to piss me off, but it wasn’t going to work.
“Or we could braid each other’s hair?” he teased as he stopped in front of me. “I’ll do you first. Although, yours is looking particularly brown lately, Killough. You’re almost looking human.Almost.”
I exhaled and ignored him as I lay back down on the bench. Wiping at the sweat on my forehead, I pointed at the bar, and Gallagher grasped it to lift it off into my hands. I spread my legs, getting into position before I took the bar again. I ignored the throbbing pain in my knee. I would make a deal to get some painkillers because I was going to need them. Fucking Hanson. I’d dealt with enough pain in my life that I was used to the pulsing irritation. My father had always taught me to keepinjuries on the down-low and not to give our enemies what they wanted—weakness.
Reyes stayed there as I did another twelve reps, singing some kind of tune under his breath that sounded like it came from a kid’s movie. He rocked on his feet. “You know, I was thinking.”
I breathed heavily through my nose. It was a shame I couldn’t kill him here and now. There was no integrity in that kind of murder. “I’m not interested,” I ground out as I finished my twelfth rep and passed the bar to Gallagher again.
“Our boyfriends get along. At least, they did when we were in Pleasant Beach. Manny liked Conall.” Reyes grinned at me. “I liked your pet, too. He’s a lot nicer than you.”
I grunted. “You underestimate him.”
“No, I don’t. I know he’s clever. You wouldn’t have put him in charge if you didn’t trust him.” He smirked and ran a hand through his dark hair, throwing his head back like he was in a shampoo ad. “You’re many things, Killough, but you don’t mess around with your business. That doesn’t mean he’s not nicer than you.”
