Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption (Road to Redemption #1)(95)

Like that’s a thing.

“And you met him, how, again?”

He never has been satisfied, ever, with the simple idea of letting silence fill a car ride. I guess I can’t blame him. It is a little awkward finding out that your little brother, who most assuredly isn’t on the police force nor does he have access to the kinds of backgrounds and records you do, knows about as much as you do with regards to the super-secret undercover case you’ve been working on.

Of course, he doesn’t need to know it was really Green’s contacts, not mine, who gave me said information.

I’ll save that bombshell for another time.

“He showed up at my office after Donnie died.”

“First name basis with your perp, huh?” Enter my brother’s super-secret identity—Captain f*cking Obvious.

“Fuck off, Nick,” I warn him.

“Hey, look, I’m just trying to figure this shit out. I mean, you’re not exactly the knight in shining armor kinda guy.”

Ouch.

“No offense.”

“None taken.” Much.

“I’m just saying this is out of character. Running head-on into a war you don’t know a whole hell of a lot about. Not really your thing, Jackie.”

“I’m not running into a war, Nickie.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“I’m…” What am I doing? “It’s a case. I need to solve it. That’s all.”

“Why do I get the impression it’s more than that?”

“No idea.”

“Technically, it’s not your case. You’re not a police officer, and he’s a minor who can’t legally hire you.”

I don’t answer him. He can’t make me.

“Tell me you did not take money from that kid, Jackson.”

I shrug. “Not technically.”

If we want to get technical, I won money off his brother, who I helped put in the ground, so his brother paid for my services. Yeah, I know. It sounds *-ish to me, too.

“Unbelievable.” My brother grumbles over in the passenger’s seat. “How does a kid with no means pay you to help him find his brother’s killer?”

I breathe in deep. This is gonna be ugly. I just know it.

“It’s complicated.” As in, he doesn’t.

“I’m gathering that.”

Things get quiet again between us until my brother tells me how he really feels.

“Drug money?”

“No.” Seriously?

“You sure? ’Cause─”

“No.” I cut him off with a judgmental glare. I’m a little pissed he’s insinuating I’m an idiot for not knowing the answer to that f*cking question. “Not drug money.”

He thinks on it some more, but since I don’t have time for his almighty BS session, I keep the ball rolling on what’s important here.

“Why do you think Dad was there tonight?”

Nick, who’s been nothing but a jabber-fest of f*ckery so far on this road trip, is suddenly tight-lipped.

“Nick.” I look over to find him glaring out the window.

Ah, shit. No wonder he’s been shining the spotlight on my actions the whole ride.

“Nick, do you know why Dad was there tonight?”

He breathes out as he confesses. “He’s kinda helping me out with something.”

“I’m sorry. What?” The f*ck did he just say? Did he really say what I think he f*cking said?

And side note: What. The f*ck?

“What do you want me to say, Jackie?”

“Our father, who hasn’t been sober a day since Mike died, that guy? You asked him to help you out?”

“Believe me. I wouldn't have if I didn’t feel like I had no other alternative. He’s got old connections, and it’s a two-fold return.”

“Two-fold?”

“Yeah, I mean, he needed a distraction, and I needed someone Black thought was…” He scrunches his eyes into slits and shrugs.

Jesus Fucking Christ.

“You needed a patsy.”

He’s glad I didn’t make him come out and say it.

“I wouldn’t put it that way.” He knows he’d put it that way.

For about half a minute, you can slice the silence with a dull knife.

“Besides, you were busy.” Until Nick makes a dig to try and lighten the mood. Or deflect from the fact that he used our drunk of a father to lure out the bad guys.

Either, or.

“Dumbass.” I make it known he’s not the brightest bulb in the box. He lets out a halfhearted chuckle. It’s about the only thing he can do at this point.

“So how’d all that work out for ya, anyway?”

Big bro gets serious on me. “I’m not sure; I haven’t heard from him since dinner the other night. I was completely surprised to see he even showed up tonight.”

“Fuckin’ A.” Fucking. A. People. “He tell you Ma kicked him out?”

His head spins so fast I’m surprised he doesn’t get whiplash. “What?”

So, guess not.

“Yep. Last night, I think.”

“Shit.”

“I’m the idiot?”