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Alex clicked his tongue in disappointment. “Nice to fucking see you too, Eddie.” With one last glance behind him, Alex stepped in and kicked the door closed.

Eddie raised his thin eyebrows as he grabbed a small towel and started to wipe down Rafael’s back.

Alex strolled over to Rafael, grabbing the metal bar in his hoodie.

“I’m here to ask y’all some questions. Then I’ll leave you two lovebirds to yo’selves.” He held up the bar.

Rafael glanced at it, then back at Alex. “What about it?”

“You seen it before?”

“Am I supposed to know what it is?”

Alex fumbled with the seam.

They were supposed to know what this was. They were the ones pushing it.

He found the click, pulled the device apart, and shook out the glass vial. The pink liquid caught the light.

Eddie went still. He pushed back from his station and stood. “Wait. Is that fucking—”

“Durden?” Alex finished for him, closing his fist around the vial. “Any reasons why this is back?”

“Hold up.” Rafael shifted onto his forearms, eyes narrowing. “Why do you even have it?”

Alex shrugged. “Don’t matter.”

Rafael hit him with that look—the one that used to come right before a lecture. Alex’s jaw tightened on reflex.

Before Rafael could pester anything out of him, Alex took his time putting the vial back into the bar and licked his lips. “I got a client that came in contact with this and was wondering if y’all back in business.”

Eddie spread a thin layer of ointment across the fresh ink before tearing off a sheet of plastic wrap. “I haven’t even thought about that shit ’til now,” he said as he gently pressed the plastic on Rafael’s back.

“For real?” asked Alex, before glancing at Rafael for confirmation.

Rafael shrugged his muscular, tanned shoulders, resting his stubbled chin on his arms. “Same.”

Alex pursed his lips, not sure if he could take their word. “Not even from Oscar?” The name felt disgusting when it left his tongue.

Rafael sighed. “I don’t care how much you don’t like your dad. Be respectful.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “Haven’t seen your old man in a week though. And even if he was, I would have known.”

Eddie reached out, skeleton fingers stretching across the back of his hand. “Can I see that metal thing again?”

Alex handed the bar over. Eddie examined it under the light before glancing at him, then at Rafael. “I think I’ve seen this before.” He pointed at the ground. “Here, actually.”

Alex and Rafael leaned in. Alex waved him on.

“From Luis.”

Rafael scoffed. “You serious?”

Alex squinted. “Who?”

“You know,” said Eddie. “Skinny dude. Only Filipino here. Obsessed with the shitty Prius.” When he saw Alex trying to rummage through the memory of faces in his head, he gestured a cap on his head. “Angels hat.”

Alex grimaced. Who in their right mind would show up with that shit team in Dodgers nation?

“Did you forget?” Rafael pressed him.