Fight(38)

“No. He loved his job so much. He told me that. This was his goddamn career. So I had him buried right beneath this floor.”

It made me shiver to think. Some guy tossed into concrete as it was poured for a new floor in the office.

But that was how Aldo and his family did business. They did what they wanted, when they wanted, and they generally acted upon emotion. And Aldo always kept his cool.

“How’s Endo?” I asked.

“Tripp, I know you’re a smart guy,” Aldo said. “It was always strange to me to see someone like you fighting on the streets. You were like a dog fighting for a piece of old meat. But you could fight. And you listened. You never asked for more than what I was willing to give you.”

That was probably the best form of a compliment I’d ever gotten from Aldo.

“Do you understand what I’m getting at?” Aldo asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“You came here to protect Winter. That was your job. You know, the Red Aces have come to me several times for assistance. No different this time. But I know what I was looking for. Guilt is a powerful thing, Tripp.”

“Guilt?” I asked.

“I know everything,” Aldo said. He pushed from the desk. “Everything.”

“Meaning?”

“You know why you’re here now,” he said. “Not to protect her, Tripp. I want to know where my granddaughter is.”

The words came at me, attacked me, and I stepped back.

“So you know,” Aldo said with a grin. He put a hand out. “I’m not mad at you, Tripp. You went above and beyond, like I knew you would. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist her. She’s a beautiful woman. Just tainted.”

“How?” I asked.

“Endo,” Aldo said. “The guilt. It was eating him up. See, we had a meeting about making him. Think of it as a promotion. He’d be on my level in the family. With that kind of power comes a responsibility that not many can take on. So he started talking. Told me about a deal he had with the Red Aces. About a woman he met. And how she f*cked him over. Tricked him into getting her pregnant.”

“That’s not how it happened,” I said.

“You were there?”

“No. But Winter…”

“Is manipulative,” Aldo said. “The second she was done with Endo she moved on to the next guy. Rocky. Poor Rocky met his death and now she’s latched onto you. Right?”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to answer.

“Oh, come on, Tripp,” Aldo said. “You’re telling me you haven’t f*cked her yet? I know you. You like to fight and f*ck. That’s your gig.”

I swallowed hard and started to feel angry. I felt used. I felt like I was part of a plan that I wanted nothing to do with. Worse yet, my heart had been put in the middle of everything too. I really cared about Winter. I think I loved her.

“Trust me, I know I’m right,” Aldo said.

“Yeah, okay,” I said. “What do you want me to do?”

“She has to know,” Aldo said. “My son is in a hospital bed right now. We started talking about the kid before the fight and the gunshot. He was drunk as anything, almost weeping, feeling embarrassed that he hurt the bloodline. But the thing is, Tripp, all that shit is for the movies. It’s a guideline. And with Endo in a coma, that child is my only blood now. So I guess you could say there’s a provision.”

“You think Winter knows where she is?”

Aldo nodded. “Nobody just gives it up like that. That woman always has a motive. And I’m sure Endo knows, but he’s not waking up. And I’m not waiting any longer. Someone out there is my blood. Do you realize what that means to me?”

“No, I don’t, Aldo. I don’t know much about you. My job has been to fight and win you money.”

Aldo laughed. He crept forward and patted my cheek. “Too bad you’re the wrong blood. Bunch of Irishmen. Wild things. Can’t have that too close to me. Tripp, you’ve gone above and you need to keep going. Winter’s life is in danger, yes. But it’s going to be me who makes the call on her life. I want my granddaughter.”

Jesus Christ… I swallowed hard again. I forced myself to nod.

“You know, we talked,” I said. “She opened up.”

“Legs?”

“Her f*cking heart,” I yelled. “She told me all she knows. Endo paid for the pregnancy to be hidden. He paid for her to deliver the baby and had everything arranged for the baby to be taken. That’s the last she knew. Endo left her hanging.”

“You really believe all that shit,” Aldo said. “Pull your head out of her * for a second.”

“Fine. The other thing I know about is Skull X. That’s where the answers are going to be.”

“Then find them.”

“Why can’t you?” I asked. “You have power.”

“The bloodline,” Aldo said. “This is touchy still. I can’t just run around like a damn fool.” Aldo came closer. “So here’s what you’re going to do. First, you’re going to keep your dick to yourself. No more f*cking Winter. It’s done. Second, you’re going to go back to her with the assumption that she knows more than she’s been telling you. Remember who she is. A f*cking stripper. She got paid to do that. Then she won over Endo. Then she won over Rocky. Put it all together for a second, Tripp.”