“I’m your favorite.” He grinned. “Admit it, you’d rather come out with me than Nico.”
If I saw this kid on the street, I’d think he was a fucking pretty rich boy with the way he dressed and looked. Most of the time, he dressed like he was going to Easter mass, with khakis, polos, and shit. I’d joked with him that one of these days, I would try out the look and see if it worked for me.
“Fine. For the sake of honesty,” I said, looking over at him. “I’d rather you both fuck off.”
“Shut up.”He laughed. “You love us.”
“Focus, Matti.”I leaned forward in my seat, and he did the same.
“I don’t even knowwhat I’m looking for.” He paused. “Or who.”
“You don’t know Wally Baker?”
“The guywho burned down the bodega on 79th?” He frowned. “Isn’t he in jail?”
“He’s out.”
“Didn’t he rape someone?”His frown deepened.
“Yeah, his daughter.”
His face scrunched up.“What a sick fuck.”
“I know.”
“Why the fuck would they let him walk?” Matti asked quietly, and I knew he would call his father to ask him the same question.
“That’s our justice system for you.” I shrugged.
“So you’re gonna torture him because he raped his daughter?”
“I’m gonnatorture him because he still owes me a grand, and I’m still pissed that he stole a bottle of Pappy from the shipment he drove from Kentucky a year ago.”
I drummed my thumbs on the steering wheel. “And I’m gonna kill him because he raped his daughter.”
He let out a whistle. “Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
“Your mom.”
“Fuck you,man, that’s not funny.” He scowled.
“Why? Because I fucked her?”
“You’re disgusting.”
I smirked. I hadn’t fucked his mom, and I never would, but she was newly divorced and openly flirted with me in front of him a few times, so I had fun with him about it. She was hot and all, but that shit complicates things, and I respected Mattia. I’d probably never admit it to him, but I respected him. He was a good kid. An idiot sometimes, but still a good kid. And he was loyal, which was rare these days.
I squinted and spotted Wally walking out of a tavern. “Let’s go.”
We locked the car and walked over, looking around to make sure no one was watching us. I didn’t care if random people on the street saw us. They’d never be able to identify us. It was early afternoon, so they’d have a clear view, but people had faulty memories. Tonight, they saw a red car; tomorrow, it was purple; and the next day, it could've been yellow. Besides, in this part of town, you could kill a man in front of an audience, and no one would say shit. What I cared about were the petty drug dealers around here who would no doubt tell their bosses that they saw me. That could very well start a problem. Most of them knew we were “going legit.” They also knew that was kind of bullshit. We didn’t fuck with drugs anymore, though, so they had nothing to worry about. We’d never been in the drug game, but ever since the fentanyl bullshit, we vowed to steer clear. No one wanted to be responsible for the death of a college kid or finance bro.
“A little early to get piss drunk, don’t you think?” I smiled when we reached him, and then I smiled wider when Wally’s face drained of color.
“I told you I would get it to you by Friday.” He put his hands up in defense.
“Oh, you’re going to magically find a bottle of Pappy?” I crossed my arms.
“I told you already! I didn’t steal it.”
