I dropped the sheet and leaned against the wall. “Sorry, Anh. I’ll call you back. I have to go.” I disconnected, heart speeding up as I listened for Reece’s bike to slow. But he didn’t stop at my trailer. His bike rumbled past and I counted beats until he killed the engine at the dead end of the street.
What the hell was Reece Whelan doing? No one parked at the playground at the end of Sunny View Drive after dark, unless they had business there. And there were only two kinds of business in Sunny View. My mind spun with a sick curiosity. I’d watched men pick up rent-a-girls on the corner by the playground all my life. I was numb to it. But something inside me clenched when I pictured Reece with them. Or when I considered that the alternative might actually be worse.
What if he wasn’t here for the girls? He said he’d been sent to juvie because he’d been busted in a drug raid. How far could he fall if he thought he’d lost everything?
Make sure he stays in line.
Shit.
I pushed off the wall and threw open my bedroom door. The stale reek of Mona’s cigarettes assaulted me in the hall. I grabbed the metal bat and slid back the dead bolt, taking a last deep breath.
I kept to the shadows, careful to avoid the light sensors and trailers with barking dogs, and looped around the block, emerging behind the broken-down playground. Rancid trash gagged me as I crouched low behind a Dumpster and peered around it.
Reece stood near the metal frame of an old swing set. Three car doors slammed in quick succession. The interior lights of Lonny’s Lexus never came on, but the bleached spikes in his hair and white-blond goatee glowed under the dim light of a full moon when he stepped out. He was flanked by two figures, their faces concealed under hoodies.
Hair rose on my forearms. If this was just business as usual, why didn’t they meet at Lonny’s trailer, like he had with Oleksa? Why meet here, in the dark, with two of his thugs?
“You’re late,” Lonny growled.
“I’m here.” Reece shrugged, unconcerned. “Are we going to do this or not?”
Lonny nodded and the hooded figures stepped forward. Reece raised his arms, locking his fingers behind his head. He seemed relaxed, comfortable even, like he’d done it a million times before. Until one of them—the tall one wearing bulky high-tops with red laces—pushed back his hood and Reece stiffened.
Oleksa.
He smiled a rare, cold smile at Reece. Whispered something in his ear. Reece answered with a barely perceptible shake of his head. Oleksa frisked him down both legs, hands running over and inside his leather jacket, quick and sure as they’d been with the Rubik’s cube. Satisfied, he lifted Reece’s T-shirt, offering Lonny a view of his bare chest.
Shadows outlined the muscles of Reece’s abdomen. A nipple ring glinted from his right pectoral and a pendant hung to his sternum, hovering over a dark line that started at his navel and dipped into the top of his jeans.
Lonny nodded. Oleksa dropped the shirt and stepped back. Reece lowered his hands slowly, eyes never leaving Oleksa’s face.
“Excuse the formalities.” Lonny smoothed his goatee thoughtfully.
Reece pulled his shirt in place and rested his hands at his sides. “We’re cool.”
“I believe we’ve already agreed on the terms?”
Reece nodded, glancing cautiously at Oleksa before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small envelope. Oleksa grabbed it and thumbed through the contents. He signaled to Lonny with a jerk of his chin, then stuffed a bag into Reece’s pocket.
“It’s been a pleasure doing business.” Lonny turned, goons at his heels. “Let’s do it again soon.”
“Actually . . .” Reece’s voice was unwavering. “I was hoping you could help me out with one more thing.”
Lonny stopped, but didn’t turn. His tattooed fingers laced around the handle of his car. “And what might that be?”
“I’m looking for a little Special K.”
Tension crackled in Lonny’s pause. When he spoke, his voice was low, deadly. “You’re a good-looking guy, Whelan. All the girls are talking about you. Probably drop their panties just looking at you. I have a very hard time believing you need any . . . social lubricant.”
Reece shifted, darting glances at Oleksa. Lonny’s suspicion was almost tangible. Something between them had turned. Lonny tipped his head, studying him. “It’s an odd request from someone like you.” He shot Oleksa a look. “And it makes me a little uncomfortable.”
The goons lunged. I clung to the Dumpster as the stocky one bent Reece’s arms behind his back. Oleksa grabbed the bag from Reece’s pocket and tossed it to Lonny.
“Just because you’re not wearing a wire doesn’t mean I trust you.” Lonny stepped up in Reece’s face. “See, the cops have been sniffing around ever since Sleeping Beauty fell in the pool. They’re asking a lot of questions. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”