Redemptive (Combative, #2)(30)

“I should call Benny. Tell him what an arrogant, cocky little f*ck you are.” He spat every single word, emphasizing his hatred. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at me like he had the f*cking right.

I arched a single eyebrow. “Go ahead. Call him. I’ll wait.”

He reached for his gun.

I did the same.

But neither of us drew our weapons.

“Take an extra ten out for this bullshit,” I ordered Tiny.

He stepped up to the table and started removing the cash with one hand, the other pointing a gun pointed at Franco, just like Franco’s man had his pointed at me.

Franco shook his head, but he didn’t speak. He’d already conceded when he didn’t touch his gun. I knew it would come to this because I knew Franco. I’d researched the f*ck out of him and his family, and that was the difference between the old timers and me. They listened to on-street gossip, I read police and media reports. Believe it or not, the reports were more factual than the shit people liked to whisper about.


“Are you looking to die today?” Tiny asked when we were back in his car.

“No. I’m just looking to get home.”

“That’s the first meet. You have three more before the day is over, plus Benny. Calm your shit, Boss.”

“I am calm,” I told him, even though it was a lie. And the ache in my chest was proof of that.

*

“What the f*ck’s gotten into you?” Benny said, his tone clipped as he sat in his usual spot behind his giant desk.

I smiled at PJ standing next to him, his face completely f*cked up.

“Nate! You’re going around beating your own men now?”

“PJ tell you why I was there in the first place?”

PJ’s eyes widened slightly as Benny looked up at him. “No.”

“Jerry called us. Told us to get him out of there. He was running his mouth. Dropping my name. Probably even your name. Telling people our business, Uncle Benny. Frankly, I’m a little pissed you found it necessary to call me in. You deal with your side of The Family. I’ll deal with mine. You shouldn’t have to question what I do. I have my reasons for everything, and you should know that by now.”

Benny sighed and rubbed his jaw. “You’re off the clock, PJ. Take some time off.”

I smirked.

“This is f*ckin’ bullshit, Don. I didn’t do—”

Benny cut him off. “Give Tiny your phone and your weapons. Nate will call you when he’s ready. Take the time to clear your head, PJ.” He shook his head. “This is my fault. I didn’t take care of things the way I should have when Pauly died. You should have taken some time to deal with his death. He was your best friend, your brother, and now that pain is carrying into your work. It’s a risk. To you, and to The Family.”

I stood up and feigned boredom. “Are we done?”

Benny nodded.

“I’ll wait in the car,” I told Tiny. “Make sure you get everything from PJ. Phone, computer, all of it. And change his online access. He’s blocked while he’s off.”

“You got it, Boss Man.”

*

“You wanna hang out for a bit?” Tiny asked, hitting the code to open my security gate. “It’s been a while since the two of us just kicked back.”

I thought about Bailey waiting for me inside, and then I thought about Tiny and how he’d react to what Bailey and I were doing. I knew he wouldn’t like it, and I knew the reasons why, but he wasn’t me. He wouldn’t understand. “Um…”

“What? You got plans?”

“Nah, man,” I sighed, letting the disappoint settle. “All good.” He pulled up at the front door and stepped out. “Just let yourself in. I’ll be there in a minute. I need to make a call.”

“Alright, Boss.”

On my phone, I pulled up a page I’d saved earlier and called the gourmet, healthy food delivery service. The shit I’d been feeding Bailey wasn’t good enough. Especially given her recent health status.

The line connected just as a horrible squeal filtered out of the house.

I dropped the phone and bolted out of the car and up the steps to the door.

“Bailey!” Tiny shouted.

She screamed louder.

When I finally got to the door, Bailey had my baseball bat in her hands, beating the shit out of Tiny, who was lying on the floor covering his head. He could’ve fought back, could’ve made her stop, but he didn’t.

I shut the door so her screams wouldn’t be heard and wrapped my arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground and away from Tiny.

“Let me go!” she screamed, swinging the bat anywhere and everywhere.

“Grab the bat,” I told Tiny.

He got to his feet and removed the bat from her hands, the entire time she cried, screamed, and kicked her legs in the air.

“Bailey,” I said in her ear, trying to calm her down. “It’s Nate, okay? I’m here.”

She kicked harder, squirming and trying to pry my arms off her. “Bailey! What happened?”

I looked up at Tiny. “Was she trying to escape?”

“I don’t think so.”

She screamed again, her head shaking from side to side.

“Bailey!”