“Yes. That’s what I said.” She waved an impatient hand. “I’m telling you, Will, you’re better off without that man. He hasn’t been taking care of you. Come home to Erie with me, hon. I’m your mom.”
“Stop it,” I snapped, finally letting anger win. Rage bubbled in my stomach. I couldn’t let PD leave. I wouldn’t. I’d fucked up, sure, but we belonged together. If I had to get on my knees and apologize, I would. “PD is myboyfriend.”
She gasped, blinking big brown eyes at me. “What?”
“You heard me.” I grabbed my cap off my head and slammed it against my thigh. “Fuck, Mom. This is why I don’t call. You’re always overreacting. You’re overprotective.”
“I’m your mother,” she hissed, wiping at her tears angrily. One of her red curls bounced against her rounded cheek. “It’s my job to be protective. You’re my only child, you know?”
“Right.” I took a deep breath, then exhaled again. “But I’m an adult. Yes, I have injuries I’ll live with for the rest of my life, but if I want help, I’ll ask for it. I can’t have you being overbearing. It drives me crazy. Justlet me live my life. Make my own mistakes and deal with the fucking consequences.Please.”
We stayed locked in a silent battle for what felt like hours before she sighed and rubbed her hands on the overalls. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. You don’t know how it is to be a parent. You are an adult, but you’ll always be my baby. Age doesn’t change that.”
I shoved my cap back on my head and reached out to pull her into a gentle hug, careful she didn’t hit my new tattoo. “I know and I’m sorry. But PD takes care of me even when I don’t deserve it. He makes sure I eat. He’s been giving me painkillers when I need them, and he’s been so fucking patient when I wouldn’t have been. He’s good to me.”
She rolled her lips into her mouth, then finally, nodded. “Okay, honey. I believe you. I’m sorry. I’ll apologize, I promise.”
“Good. He doesn’t deserve to deal with two rogue Gardners. One is enough.”
She giggled.
Outside, a car veered in front of the tattoo parlor, taking a vacant spot, and Barber nearly fell out of the passenger door as he opened it. He ran through the door, making the belljingleloudly, and panted as he came to a stop in front of me.
“Will, man, we need to go.Now.”
It wasn’t often that Barber was serious, but apparently this was one of those times. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he gestured toward the car, where Jester was waiting in the driver’s seat.
My skin prickled with anxiety and my stomach dropped. I wasn’t allowed to go on assignments. Why were they here for me? They wouldn’t be. Unless....
“What’s wrong with PD?” I blurted, already rushing past Mom and toward the car with Barber at my heels. I shoved myself into the back of the vehicle, ignoring the twinge of my ribs at the sharp movement, and Barber flew into the passenger’s seat.
Mom threw open the shop door and watched with wide eyes as Jester tore out of the parking spot in front of a BMW that honked.
“What’s fucking wrong?” I demanded, not bothering to put on a seat belt as I leaned up to the spot between them. “What happened?”
Jester and Barber glanced at each other, and Barber winced.
“Fucking tell me!” I shouted.
“Uhlig has him,” Barber finally said, sending me a sympathetic smile. “That handsome bastard sent King a message that he has PD. Word on the street is that Uhlig’s money was hit and his men were killed by guys on bikes. PD was around there on his bike when it went down, and Uhlig’s men are geniuses, so they took him.”
Panic rose in my chest and my ability to control my emotions slipped away.
Fuck. Why couldn’t I get air?
My grip on the sides of Jester’s and Barber’s seats tightened. “Why the fuck would he think it was PD?” I pushed the words out of my mouth in a jumble, but Barber must’ve understood because he shook his head.
“Don’t know. King’s gonna meet us at one of Uhlig’s properties.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Listen, King didn’t want you to come, but we all fought for you, thought you had the right to be there. PD’s your man. So, keep your attitudein check, all right?” His smile turned sly. “Only I’m allowed to piss King off into giving me toilet doody. Get it? Doody, not duty.”
Jester sent him a glare. “Shut up, Barber. Now’s not the t-time for jokes.”
Barber patted him on the shoulder. “There’s always time for jokes, brother. I’m the funniest motherfucker ever born.”
“Is th-that what Quain tells you to get laid?” Jester’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he took a corner too sharp. The front right wheel bounced up on the curb and back down.
Barber cursed as he was flung against his door. “Shit, watch yourself. And FYI, Quain can get it whenever he wants. He doesn’t need to butter me up.”
“Will you both shut the fuck up?” I snapped, then groaned. “Fuck! PD is in trouble. Put the pedal to the metal!”
