After taking a shower at the club, then changing into my last clean pair of clothes, I grab my keys to head back to my place. I need more clothes, maybe grab something to eat.
Before I can make it out of my room, the door bursts open and Felix flies in.
“Uncle Frank knows!”
“Knows what?” There could be a dozen things he found out; I keep a lot of shit from him.
“One of the prospects said he ordered your men to kill a deputy. Who else could it be?”
“What!” All the blood in my body floods to my feet.
“That Gentry fucker must have sent those pictures to him, or called him. Something.”
I rub at the back of my neck, sweat building quickly on my forehead.
“Fuck.”
“He’s going to kill her, then you!”
“He won’t, Cross will. Where’s Cross?” If he’s with Uncle, then I know Jillian is safe.
“Um, with your uncle last time I saw him.”
“I’m going to go pay him a visit. See how much he knows.”
“That would be stupid. You need to run, Zevin!”
“Fuck that, I don’t run.” I slam my fist against my chest. If anyone’s running, it’s Frank. “This is my club, not his, and I’m about to fucking take it back.”
He scoffs. “You didn’t used to run, before you broke your brotherhood, you mean. You don’t run now, you’re committing suicide.”
“If I run, they’ll kill Jillian.”
“Oh, Jesus Christ. Who cares?”
“I care!” I get in his face, my chest puffing out in anger. I get he doesn’t understand Jillian and me—hell, I don’t understand it. But he better watch his fucking tone when it concerns her, and real fucking quick.
Looking down I see my rosary beads sitting in an open drawer. Stepping around Felix, I grab them. If I ever needed answers, needed a higher power, it’s now. If Uncle knows about me and her, we’ll both need a miracle to survive.
Placing them around my neck, they feel cold and foreign against my skin, but calm my racing heart.
“Do you love this, bitch?” Felix asks in disbelief.
That word ‘love’ seems simple compared to what I feel for Jillian. My love has turned into an obsession.
“I think so,” I answer honestly.
“Who the hell are you?” He shakes his head, his face contorted in disgust.
“I don’t know anymore.”
***
Heading up to the top floor where Uncle Frank is, Felix follows close behind me, whispering how stupid I am the whole time.
Entering his office, he’s standing behind his desk, a fat cigar in one hand and a rifle in the other.
“My favorite nephew. I’ve been looking for you!” He sing-songs loudly.
His dark hair is slicked back to the point it shines against the lights. His face is clean-shaven, his dark suit expensive-looking.
“I told your hood cat that your uncle was looking for you.” Cross sneers, eyeing Felix.
“Yeah, I’ve been busy.” I can’t read if they know anything about Jillian or not.
“This one’s loaded.” Uncle tosses a rifle my way. Catching it, I turn it in my hands.
“What’s this for?”
“We have a sheriff who’s gone rogue. He’s not accepting our money anymore, and is becoming a problem.”
I haven’t heard of any such thing. Bones said we were paid up on everything without mishap.
“What do you mean? Which of our men?” I ask suspiciously. I don’t trust Uncle Frank, not at all. Not after the way shit’s unraveled here recently.
“One of mine. You don’t know him.” He sets his cigar down, blowing out a puff of smoke.
“This certain sheriff has been getting on my last nerve for a while now. He’s a lesson, my boy, a lesson that needs to be taught tonight.”
I shake my head, giving the rifle back. I don’t want anything to do with his dealings, and I don’t want him in the club’s, either. This is a good as time as ever to make that clear.
“No, I don’t think so. And now that I’m here, I need to tell you something. Your casino and my club are two very different things, and we need to separate our dealings now.”
Felix tenses behind me; I don’t look, but I can sense it.
Uncle looks down, refusing to take the rifle from me.
“Is that right?” Grabbing his cigar, he takes a large puff off it. “I knew this day would come, the day you thought you were man enough to take over. I tell you what, you let me use your men one last time and it’s a deal. I need this done tonight, and don’t have enough men to do it.”
“I don’t know,” I respond, palming the rifle. A rifle will kill any law enforcement, even if they’re wearing a bulletproof vest.
“If it’s a no, then I assure you I will not be going anywhere.” His words come out threatening. Lifting my gaze from the gun to him, my fingers grip the trigger. I could end this right now. I could shoot him.
“I tell you what. You want to be a spoiled fucking brat, you and your vice president can walk, and I’ll make sure you remember it!” Cross threatens, aiming his gun right at us. I couldn’t kill my uncle right here if I wanted to; Cross would take me out.