Adam rolled his eyes. “Hey, I understand this probably isn’t the right time, but since you’re trapped here…shall we talk about the elephant in the room?”
“No.”
“I love her, Mitch. I know it seems sudden, but I’ve been searching for her my whole life. The old saying, love at first sight is not just a cliché. From the second I saw her, I knew.”
“Shit. You have a barf bag in here?” Mitch opened the glove box and made a show of rummaging through it.
“I know it sounds crazy. If I weren’t living it, I wouldn’t believe it, either.”
“What about all the women in Boston? Did you love them at first sight, too?” The bitterness came through loud and clear.
“I told Jenny, and I’ll tell you. My reputation in Bostonwas a bunch of bullshit. I’m not sure how it spiraled so far out of control. I diddatea lot of women, but that’s because I was looking for, I don’t know, someone.” Now he just sounded sappy.
“So, you’re not a lean, mean fucking machine?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve had sex with about a dozen women in my life and the majority of those I was in a committed relationship with.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. I would never hurt her. You have to know that. And I think the world of the boys. I don’t want to replace Jimmy, but I think I’d be okay at helping to finish what he started. I’d be honored to take care of his family.”
Mitch was letting that sink in when movement from the black car got their attention. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum had finally freed themselves and were getting into the front seats. Adam put the truck in gear and waited.
“It’s times like this I wish I drove a Honda. A truck in New York City is hardly inconspicuous.”
“Why do you drive a pickup?”
“You can take a man out of Texas…,” he said, and Mitch chuckled.
Leaving several cars in between, Adam followed them straight to a nondescript, four-story building downtown. The address wasn’t marked, but they could find it again with no problem. When the black car parked, they kept driving.
Adam drove Mitch back to the strip club to get his car. On the way, they made plans for what would happen after they captured Manuel. Before he got out of the truck, he swallowed his pride.
“Hey, man. Thanks.” This time he was sincere.
“No problem. Don’t do this crap without telling someone, eh? You scared the shit out of me.”
“Yeah, well, before you, there was no one Icouldtell. When I say thanks, I mean for everything…not just saving my ass tonight.”
Adam gave an easy smile. “Go take care of Maggie. I’ll handle the rest,” he said.
“Will do.” He jumped out of Adam’s car and into his own. Making sure they weren’t being tailed, Mitch headed home, and Adam went straight to the station.
***
“What do you mean he got away?” Manuel threw his glass against the wall, spittle coming from his mouth. “Did you or did you not have him at gunpoint?”
The driver, Humberto, did not envy Jose one bit and was backing out of the room slowly, an inch at a time, trying to go unnoticed.
“And what about you?” Manuel rounded on him. “Tied up in your own back seat? Fucking idiots. I ought to kill you right now!”
Jose was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. Humberto, not so much. “He came from nowhere and stuck a gun in my face. What was I supposed to do?”
“Not fucking just give in, you pussy.” Manuel picked up the only thing within reach, a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels, and hurled it at Humberto’s head. His cat-like reflexes failed him, and the bottle hit him square in the forehead.
“What the fuck you do that for?” yelled Humberto, digging himself in even deeper.
There was a long pause. “What did you say?” Each word was enunciated and laced with malice. This time Manuel took the time to go to his desk and get a real weapon. He came around the desk with his gun pointed at Humberto. Jose was now the one backing away.
