I reached over and pulled the burner out from the drawer and dialed the number from memory.
It rang twice.
He answered. "Yo."
"Bael," I said. My voice came out low, steady.
"Vinny?" he snapped. "The fuck— Man, I thought you were dead." His voice dropped. "This shiesty bitch Virginia said the deal went sideways and you were dead. Das what di fuck mi get fi trust har!"
Jamie looked over, eyebrows raised.
I leaned back, exhaling hard, my heart slowing. "You didn't know?"
"Hell no, I didn't know," Bael said. "I never would've cosigned that bullshit. You more my family than her. When I saw this private number, something told me to answer. Why didn't you call me earlier?"
"I couldn't take the risk."
There was a pause. "You safe?"
"For now."
"And the girl?"
My gaze cut to Jamie. She was watching me, her lips pressed tight. "She's here."
Another pause. Longer this time. "You need me?"
I hesitated. Trust was a currency I didn't spend lightly anymore. But Bael hadn't done me wrong yet. "Yeah. Soon. Just be ready."
"Say less." His voice dropped. "Glad you ain't dead, brother."
The line went dead.
I tossed the phone on the table, rubbing the tension from my neck. Jamie hadn't moved, but her fingers tapped a slow rhythm against her glass.
"So…" she said slowly, "you believe him?"
I let out a breath. "Yes," I said without hesitation. A part of me knew he wouldn't have had anything to do with it. Bael was more of a shoot-you-in-your-face type.
"Why would he go against his own mother though?"
"She abandoned him when he was young. I'm the only reason she's in his life right now. They have a complicated relationship."
Jamie shook her head. "I can bet. Virginia's known for being a twisted bitch. I can only imagine her offspring. Who's the father?"
"Lazarus Hylton," I answered.
Jamie choked on her drink.
"The crazy Jamaican who makes people dig their own graves?"
I nodded. "Even made Bael dig his."
She shook her head. "Nah. We need to get far away from him."
She looked worried. "All the evil in those two couldn't have just skipped a generation."
I didn't answer right away.
