Arlo was the nicest evil fucker I knew and I’d met plenty of them. Guys like him hid their black hearts deep behind their Southern charm. I’d end up just as rotten inside one day if I hadn't met Harlow.
We stopped halfway to Memphis and ate dinner at a BBQ place with a sign of a pig eating ribs. Lenny and the other muscle sat at a table nearby while I joined the Memphis big dogs.
“What’s your verdict?” Arlo asked me after we ordered more food than an entire El Salvadorian village ate in a day.
“Dutch has a natural leadership vibe about him. He thinks about things. Watches people. Sizes up situations. Cowboy has a big mouth and acts like a playboy, but he puts it in neutral when it’s time to work. As for Shadow, I don’t think he said more than one word to me the whole time. He’s big and young and follows orders. I don’t know if you need more from him than that.”
“The twins?”
“Idiot frat boys with some growing up to do, but they aren’t running anything yet. The good news is they’re focused when they need to be. The better news is they’re no Cain and Abel. They have a natural alpha beta relationship, so you won’t have infighting. When their dad is ready to retire, those boys will be grown up.”
“And Cooper Johansson?”
I didn't hesitate, knowing Arlo might be suspicious of my loyalties when it came to Harlow's friends.
“Already ready to go. Kirk and his old timers are still around, giving advice. Cooper is smart to be building a younger crew though. Guys with allegiance to him and who will still be around for the next few decades. Tucker is an idiot, but he’s scary too. I saw the way locals are around him. If he moves too quickly, they flinch. He plays the crazy loose cannon to his brother’s smooth operator. Tucker knows his place too, so no brother battles later to cause you troubles. I’d say they’re solid as hell and you shouldn’t worry about them.”
Scratching at the back of his bald head, Arlo nodded. “I’m not getting any younger and these shifting dynasties unsettle me. I want consistency, so I'm relieved to hear the Reapers are solid. Maybe Dutch and his boys can fix my problems in Devil’s Hollow. I’m not looking for mess. I don’t want cops or turf wars. I want quiet so I can retire.”
I leaned back and remained silent until our food arrived. Knowing Arlo, he wanted to think about what I’d told him before digesting more information. A man like him sat in an office in Memphis and worried about thousands of moving parts all over his territory. With one rogue, idiot, or betrayal, his power could come tumbling down. Sometimes, problems needed to be cleaned up by a guy like me. Other times, men like Arlo spent their youths in luxury, yet their golden years in prison. He was hoping to avoid that trend.
“Didn’t expect to see you hooking up with a local girl,” Arlo said, signaling he was ready to chat again.
“It happens. Not often, but I guess I’m mellowing in my old age.”
Arlo grinned at the age thing. “Are you planning to pull the retirement move again and head out to some Latin American village to feed orphans?”
Cutting my steak, I shook my head. “I’m retiring for real this time. No more vacations.”
“Sure.”
“I’m starting a private security firm. Even have a few people I’ve met over the last few years who want to work for me.”
Arlo said nothing for a long time. I ignored his silence and ate my food.
“What about the orphan kids?” he asked rather than focusing on his own needs. We both knew he didn't care about orphans, only if I'd be around to help him.
“I’ll do pro bono jobs to help out widows and abused women running from asshole spouses. Heartwarming shit,” I said then added what he wanted to hear, “I’ll still be around to help out old friends too. I no longer want to spend all my time making people disappear. The sheen worn off that rose long ago.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said, returning to his food. “Do you know where you’ll base this company?”
Playing things close to the vest, I lied, “Not yet. I’ll want to talk to those people to see where they’ll be comfortable setting up shop.”
“A man needs to build a life for himself. Good to see you finally got that memo.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, smirking.
“I’m fond of you is all.”
“I know. What I don’t know is how much you’ll miss Lenny?”
Arlo didn’t even look at me before answering. “No one will miss Lenny. A life wasted right there.”
I gave him a little head nod then tried my clumpy potatoes. Harlow said her mom made the best mashed potatoes. She also said her personal recipe included cheddar cheese. Ellsberg didn’t do much for me, yet acted as home to the person I needed to walk away from the darkness.
Chapter Thirty Five ~ Harlow