He tries to say it lightly, but I hear the twist in his voice. What he means is he can’t handle hearing her cry and it would be easier for him if she was unconscious. But fuck what’s easier for him. I move, blocking his path to the car. “January’s already at her limits. She doesn’t need drugs.”
“So, what do we—”
“Call it and get a motel.”
Doc groans. “You’re such a pussy.”
“Fine, I’m a fucking pussy, but you’re not taking January any further. And if I see you come at her with a needle I will put you in the ground.”
“Jesus,fine.” Doc clamps his cigarette between his teeth and pulls out his phone. “I’ll ring Mother Morelli and let him know.”
Eli’s voice is sharp when he picks up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Doc says. “We’ve got January but she’s freaking out. Bobby thinks we should get a room for the night.”
“I want her back.”
The possessiveness in his tone makes my stomach knot. When we knew January had been abducted by Parker, Doc, Eli, and I were a united front. But already it feels like we’re back in competition.
“Yeah, well I wanna see the Stones play in 1974. Shit happens.” Doc takes a last drag on his cigarette and tosses the end to the ground. “How’s Adriano?”
“Fine. Text me when you know where you’re staying.”
“Will do.”
“Wait.” Eli hesitates. “You and Bobby aren’t going to sleep, are you? You’ll keep watch over her?”
“I don’t know, Morelli. Do you think we’re fucking stupid?”
Eli hangs up. Doc lights his second cigarette and draws on it so hard, half turns to ash. “Sanctimonious prick.”
I ignore him. I’m not giving Doc an excuse to vent his anger. Archie Baskerville did me a huge favor taking that beating at Dreams. If he hadn’t, I’m sure Doc would be insulting my dead mom right now.
“Fucking twins,” Doc mutters. “You really think Eli’ll want to hire them?”
“Dunno.”
“He can’t. Not once he knows that gangly fuck was all over her.”
I say nothing. I didn’t like finding Archie Baskerville touching the love of my life any more than Doc did. But I wasn’t gonna hurt the guy who brought us our girl back. I’ll put in a good word with Eli about the twins, and we’ll see what happens.
“Dirty fucking rat,” Doc says. “And that fuckinghaircut. He looks like an anime girl.”
I roll my eyes. Archie Baskerville looks exactly like Doc, but again, I’m not dumb enough to point that out. “Can we get going?”
“After I finish this,” Doc says, inhaling.
As Doc smokes, I stare at the night sky, my mouth dry and my eyes heavy. I’m exhausted. When Gretzky called to say January escaped, I felt like I’d been pin-dropped into the ocean. Every time I fought my way to the surface another wave took me under. Adriano was with January. Adriano was taking January to see her Zia. Her Zia was dead. Adriano was shot. January had been abducted by Parker. Whenever I snatched a breath, I was sucked underwater again.
I can only remember flashes of it now, sitting in the car with Eli, typing so fast my fingers hurt. Tracking Parker’s limo while Doc screamed insults in Italian. My abdomen tight from clenching it as I worked to bring January home. Wishing that I’d done what I’d planned to do and bought plane tickets for the two of us to fly to Montana. Rented a car to drive us across the Canadian border. Rescued her then used all my money and power to cast a digital net over both of us, and take her away.
I could still do it.
“Basher,” Doc says, interrupting my thoughts. “That’s enough.”
“What?” I say trying to sound bored but innocent.
Doc gives me a hard look. “Take her from me and I’ll kill you.”
