I pulled up my father’s text and handed it to Bones. He groaned, setting his cup beside mine. We stood there and watched the coffee brew like it was the most fascinating process in the world.
“You still haven’t heard from Johnny?”
“Not a peep.”
“That dumbass.” Bones tapped his fingers on the counter. “You know where to find him?”
“No, but I know someone who does.”
I poured us each a cup of joe. As we caffeinated our bodies, my mind served up memory clips of Johnny tied to the bed. Tears streamed down his cheeks while he screamed in pain, begging for mercy. We’d done a number on him, and I’d been so sure he would pay. Now we’d have to go further. How far? What would we have to do?
Bones let me brood in silence and retreated to his room to get ready. Since I didn’t feel much like eating, I did the same.
Less than an hour later, we climbed into the Hummer and called up Tech.
His face popped onto the dashboard screen. “Angel, Bones. Good morning. How can I help you?”
Tech had to be the busiest man I knew; too busy to waste time with things like sleep or small talk. “Mornin’, Tech. I know you got eyes on Johnny Dominas. Where can I find him?”
Tech looked down. There was the tap-tap-tap of a keyboard and reflections of changing screens in his glasses. Although I’d never seen his set-up, Father had described it as a wall full of monitors, with which Tech watched the city.
“He’s staying in a little roach motel off the strip. I’m sending you the address now. Room twelve.”
My GPS started up, telling me to head out of the garage and take a left.
“You watching him right now?” I asked. If Johnny was with a broad, I didn’t want to bust in and scare the crap out of her.
“No. He checked in late last night and the boss didn’t want to waste any resources setting up eyes in the room. We greased the motel clerk and he promised to notify us if Johnny moved. Let me just hack into the motel security cameras.”
More keyboard taps.
“His car is still in the lot. I’m sending the property site code to your phone now. Do you want me to dispatch a team?”
My phone buzzed with the incoming information. “No. This is my mistake. I’ll handle it. Thanks for your help.” I disconnected and rubbed a hand down my face. My stomach felt sick, and I was pissed at Johnny for putting me into this position.
“He said two days,” Bones said.
“Yeah, I know. Must have already wiped out his mom.”
“Such a mammone,” Bones spat.
Italian men were notorious for being mamma’s boys. But since I’d grown up without a mom and Bones had become the man of the family in middle school, neither of us had any respect for mamma’s boys. Especially ones who bled their mamas dry.
“You don’t have to take care of this. I can—”
“Can you wipe my ass for me, Bones? You and I both know what has to happen. I can’t hand this off to you. It’s my mess, and I need to clean it up. Anything less, and the old man will…” I paused, realizing I had no idea what my father would do. Would he kill me for my cowardice and finally rid himself of the disgrace I regularly caused him? Would he strike Bones for interfering? Would he finally realize I didn’t have the balls to be his clone? The tension in my back crept into my head, pounding at my right temple. “I have to do this.”
I followed my GPS into the parking lot of a gaudy concrete building, painted to resemble gold. A smoke shop and a sex toys retailer were connected to the hotel.
“Classy place,” Bones observed, sliding out of the Hummer. He opened the back of the vehicle and returned with the handheld machine I kept in my toolbox.
I powered up the machine and entered the site code Tech had sent me. Bones released the safety on his gun and slid it back into his pocket. Then we walked over to room twelve. I inserted a card attached to the machine and waited. Seconds later, the lock clicked open. Bones drew his gun as he entered the small dark room. I held the door open, peering in so my eyes could adjust while I waited until Bones signaled me in.
The room smelled like shit. Literally, like someone had taken a dump on the floor in front of a fan. I covered my nose and followed Bones to the other side of the bed and a body facing away from us. A packet of white dust was on the nightstand beside a burnt-out candle and a metal spoon, telling us exactly what Johnny had been up to.
Bones crept forward and nudged the body with his foot. Johnny flopped over. His lifeless eyes stared up at the ceiling and a syringe rolled across the carpet. The stink was overwhelming, forcing me to step back. Bones squatted and felt for a pulse.
“Dead. We need to get out of here.”
My feet couldn’t carry me away from the scene fast enough.
“He killed himself to avoid me.” The thought had been tumbling around in my head, and finally vomited out while I drove away from the motel.
“He OD’d. People do it every day.”
My hands tried to shake. My stomach soured. My body wanted to react, and I had to fight for control. I breathed deeply, forcing my emotions to settle. “He wasn’t a junkie.”
“Which makes it easier to OD.”
I drove until my body went numb. My mind kept spinning, though. I couldn’t stop myself from feeling relieved about Johnny’s death, because it kept me from having to deal with him. And that felt cowardly and wrong. I glanced into the rearview mirror, disgusted at the sight of my own reflection. Fear of me had driven my friend to kill himself, and I had the nerve to feel relieved.
“Where are we going?” Bones asked.
That was when I realized I’d unconsciously headed for the orphanage. “I know it’s stupid and I’m probably making a huge mistake right now, but I need to see her.” In the darkness of my mind, I desperately needed the light of her smile. To hear her laugh. I wanted to flee from my world and escape into hers.
“All right, man, do what you need to do,” Bones replied.
We entered the building in time to watch Markie set a stack of papers on the admittance desk. Her back was turned to us, but I knew it was her. She wore a long dark skirt with blue flowers on it, a blue blouse, and dark flats. Her hair was up in a messy bun.
“Here’s the food pantry inventory you asked for. Is there anything else I can do to help?” Markie asked the woman sitting behind the desk.
“Thank you, no, this is perfect. You saved me so much time.” The woman gave Markie a quick smile before her attention shifted to me and Bones. “Hello. How can I help you?”
Markie smiled at us. “Michelle, this is Angel and Bones.”
“Angel and Bones?” Michelle grabbed a post-it off her desk and her smile turned sugary-sweet. “Oh, right, Angel and Bones. Welcome. The director is on a call right now, but I’ll let him know you’re here.” She stood.
I held up a hand. “No need. We’re here to volunteer.”
“Oh.” She eyed our suits. “Okay then.”
“We had a business meeting this morning,” I explained.
“Yeah, be lucky they didn’t come in their SWAT costumes,” Markie added.
“That sounds like an interesting story,” Michelle said. The phone rang and pulled her attention from us.
“Are you okay?” Markie asked, searching my face as she grabbed my hand. It felt like she opened a valve, releasing all the pent-up tension and guilt I felt over Johnny. I didn’t know how she did it, but I wanted to hug her and thank her for it.
“Stressful day,” I replied. “I’d like to forget about it.”
She nodded. “Understood. You guys any good at card games?”
I loved that she didn’t push or prod. She just accepted my answer and moved on.
Bones snorted. “We did grow up in Vegas.”
“Good. I heard you met Myles.” She watched my face, but I was careful not to give anything away. I only nodded. “Well, he and his friends are setting up a game in the great room. I’m sure he’s in there stashing card
s right now. I could use some help bringing that little cheater down.”
“Yeah, well cards isn’t the only thing that little punk cheats at,” Bones said, rubbing his side.
Markie frowned. “He’s a work in progress, but then again, we all are. Speaking of which, we should get in there. Last time I left him and his crew alone, they got into the packing tape and stuck a couple of the bigger kids to the wall.”
She led us down the hall and turned into a room with several mismatched ratty couches. Myles and his crew sat in folding chairs surrounding an old scratched-up table. He was hunched over, rubbing his calf, but the second he saw me he sat up straight, crossed his arms, and scowled. Bones snickered.
“You sore, Myles?” Bones asked, patting the kid on the shoulder.
Myles pulled away from him and Bones laughed.
Markie joined the boys, sitting at the head of the table.
“Hey guys. You got room for two more?” I asked.
Myles kicked an empty chair toward me. I reached out and stopped it right before it slammed into my leg.
Markie shot him a look. “Be nice,” she said.
His scowl only darkened. “Five card draw, fifty dollar buy in,” he said.
Markie cocked her head. “I told you, no gambling. It’s a friendly game, no buy in.”
“It’d be a lot friendlier if you’d let us make some money,” one of the kids argued.
Markie stared at him and he ducked his head. “Sorry, Ms. Markie.”
Myles was right. She didn’t put up with anything from anyone. Bones and I sat while Myles dealt. I caught him cheating twice in the first deal alone.
“How can you tell?” Myles asked, after the second time I called him out.
“Because you’re not very good at it. If you’re going to deal yourself extra cards, your dealing has to be seamless. These cards are slick. They slide and one of the edges is going to show. If you’re going to cheat, it’s easier to do it when you exchange your cards.”
Markie gaped at me. “Are you really giving him tips on cheating?” she asked.
“Someone has to,” Bones replied. “He sucks at it.”
Markie dropped her head to her hands. I knew she was going for angry, but her shoulders shook with laughter. She took a moment to compose herself, and then glared us all down. “No gambling and no cheating,” she said.
“Of course not,” Myles said, holding his hands up.
Bones won the first game and Markie won the second. The third went to one of Myles’s little cronies. I sat back, counted cards, and threw the game to the best of my ability, lest she peg me for a cheater. After all, I was going for her phone number, not trying to ignite her temper. In the middle of the fourth game, the boys were called to do their chores. They moaned and groaned before throwing in their cards and taking off. Then it was just the three of us.
Markie pulled out her phone and studied it. Minutes ticked by, thickening the awkward silence that settled over the room. Bones looked at me and his eyebrows rose in question. Then he got up from the table, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and walked down the hall to give us some privacy.
More awkward silence. I had to break it. “Did I do something wrong?” I asked.
She set her phone down and picked up a card. She turned it over in her hands a few times, and then flicked it to me.
“No. Thanks for showing up. It means a lot to them. To me too.” She blushed. That’s when I realized Markie had even less game than I did. “I’m just surprised to see you, is all. I’m trying to figure out what you want, Angel.”
“What I want? I thought I was pretty clear about that. I want your number,” I said.
“Yeah, Myles told me you cheated to get it.”
“I cheated? You have met him, right? He’s a pint-sized thug.”
She laughed. “That’s a surprisingly accurate description.”
“You know what he gave me? The number to the paintball place he wants me to take him to.”
This only earned more laughter. “Do you really think I’d give Myles my number?”
“Nope. I figured he lifted it.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Okay, I can see that. The boys are going to be busy for a while. What are you two up to today?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I’m hungry. Can we go get something to eat now?” Bones asked from the doorway.
“He’s always hungry. You want to join us for lunch?” I asked.
She nodded. “Sure, I could eat.”
We headed to a local diner and engaged in some light conversation before Markie asked what we did for a living.
“Well, we’re definitely not secret government agents nor SWAT,” I said.
She blushed. “Yeah, I figured as much by the way you kept me from a possible jail cell on Halloween. Thanks for that by the way. But if you’re not cops, how do you know Matt?”
I looked to Bones. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I couldn’t exactly tell her the truth.
“He owes me some money,” Bones said. “Since we were in the neighborhood, we stopped by so I could collect.”
Markie blew out a breath. “Matt’s a slimeball, isn’t he?” she asked Bones.
He frowned. “If I had a sister, I sure as hell wouldn’t let her date him.”
Markie nodded. “Thank you for your honesty.” Then she turned back to me. “So, where do you work?”
“In a computer lab, mostly. I also drive around a lot.” Both of those answers were true.
“He’s a geek,” Bones added.
I would have flipped him the bird if Markie wasn’t sitting with us. “I manipulate computer programs, write some code, install security devices, stuff like that. I handle some sales, too. That’s why the suits are necessary. Gotta look professional.”
That seemed to sate her curiosity, and before long we headed back to the orphanage. Bones and I had errands to run, so we couldn’t stay. We idled in front of the door to drop Markie off, but I could tell she was struggling with something. She took a post-it out of her pocket and fiddled with it.
“Before I give you this, I need you to know I can’t promise you anything other than friendship. I don’t know how long I’ll be here and what the future looks like.”
It had to be her phone number. She was finally going to give it to me. “Understood. I promise not to stalk you.”
She laughed and handed me her digits.
“Is this real?” I gaped at the post-it. “I’m not gonna get Chuck E. Cheese or something, am I?”
She laughed. “That Myles… he’s a riot, isn’t he?”
“Riot. Yeah, that’s exactly the word I was thinking of,” I deadpanned.
She bit back more laughter. “Yeah, this one’s real. Use it.”
I stuck the post-it to my dashboard, wondering when she’d written it. A grin tugged at my lips. “Yes ma’am.”
She opened her door, and then turned to say good-bye. “I am really glad you guys showed up. Surprised, but glad. Myles needs good men in his life. He’s probably the biggest punk on the planet, but I seriously love that kid. Thank you.”
Then she climbed out of the Hummer and headed toward the door. As I watched her go, I thought about what she’d said. If Markie could find it in her heart to love a smart-ass little punk like Myles, maybe there was room in her heart for someone like me after all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Angel
SUNDAY WAS THE twins’ birthday, so the family rented out Adventure Canyon and spent the day riding water rides and shooting electronic guns at “bad guys.” The festivities at the park lasted into the early evening, and then we moved the party to my father’s house and sent the kids to bed so the adults could swap stories by the fire pit in the back yard. By the time Bones and I made it home, it was almost eleven and too late to call Markie.
I made use of her phone number throughout the rest of the week, though. Tech had my team out on installs and I managed to text Markie periodically throughout
the days, asking what she was up to and whether or not Myles had robbed a bank or conned some little old lady out of her social security yet. Markie always texted back, giving me details about her day and telling me funny stories about the people she encountered. The way she genuinely cared about people was refreshing. I started looking forward to the buzz of my incoming messages, knowing they’d make me smile. I wanted to get back to the orphanage and visit her, and maybe even have another go at Myles on the court, but my busy schedule didn’t allow for it.
On Wednesday, Father called me and Bones into his office to discuss a deal he wanted me in on. He needed me to head to San Diego Thursday and make an offer on some “fallen off a truck” swag. This was a first for me, so he detailed the negotiation tactics and gave me a maximum offer amount. The way he spoke about it, dealing with his associates in San Diego would be a lot like haggling with street vendors in Tijuana.
“Give them twenty-four hours to make a decision,” Father added. “They’ll stall, trying to squeeze us for more. You stay in San Diego until the deal is finalized, then I’ll send a driver to pick up the goods.”
I nodded while cringing inside. It had been almost a week since I’d seen Markie and now I was going to be stuck in San Diego for the weekend.
“What’s your issue?” Bones asked once we were on the road. “We’re getting a free weekend in San Diego, a break from the grind. We’ll relax on the sand, maybe hit the race track. The Chargers are hosting the Chiefs this weekend. I bet I could score us a couple of tickets.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, we’ll have more than enough down time for all of that.”
“That’s what you’re worried about? Down time? Shit, Angel, you work too much. Take a weekend and enjoy yourself. My boy Tony works as a bouncer at this club in downtown SD, and he’s always bragging about the girls. We can go check it out and…”
Bones droned on, but I was done listening to him. The only girl I wanted to see this weekend would be here in Vegas.
Unless…
Bones was driving the Hummer, so I sent a quick text to Markie, asking if she was available for a phone call.
Making Angel (Mariani Crime Family #1) Page 12