I took a sip of my coffee, placed the cup down on the bar and pierced him with a look.
“Not today,” I said, leaving no room for argument.
He took a seat at the bar, leaning back against the stool as he crossed his arms against his chest.
“That’s not an option and you know that. He’s on the heels of his visit with Vic. We reschedule now and that’s giving him a chance to think. You don’t want him thinking, you don’t want him guessing or questioning why we’re suddenly in the drug business. If this shit is going to work, we need to move when we’re told to move and he’s pushing. You heard Vic with your own ears, he told Jimmy we’ve always been trying to move shit but Vic’s been a road block. Now that he’s playing the desperation card and crying poverty, it’s okay for us to supply their organization with the drugs, just as long as Grace keeps her house,” he stated, shaking his head. “He wants the meeting today; we need to oblige. So do you man, you take today because you need to and I’ll set the meet with Jimmy.”
Blackie knew the significance of today, been with me long enough to know this day was mine, the only day I’m not president of the Satan’s Knights. It’s a day when the rest of the world fades away and all that is left is my son.
I didn’t like him going into this shit with Jimmy without me. It was my duty to bring this bastard to his knees. And here Blackie was, sweeping in and cleaning up after me as he always did. But he was right, it was unethical to keep Jimmy waiting and a major mistake giving him an opportunity to second guess forming an alliance with us.
“Are you sure?” I questioned. “You’ve stayed out of any dealings I’ve had with Pastore, you don’t have Jimmy pegged which leaves you vulnerable. You like being one step ahead of everyone, like knowing what a person’s gonna do before he does it. You don’t have that advantage with Gold. He’s a sick fuck disguised as an eccentric joke,” I reminded him.
“I might not have him where I want him but there’s one advantage I have over him, over you, over everyone in this goddamn club. I know drugs, Man. I know their worth and their consequence. I know how to make them desirable and I know how to make them your enemy. I will have Jimmy Gold high on my promise before he or his streets are high on the product,” he said, his voice full of conviction.
There was a fire in his eyes, something rare for a man who walked through life like he was lost. Nailing Jimmy to the cross gave Blackie purpose.
I pushed my coffee aside and leaned over the bar to meet his gaze. “Keep it simple. Be safe, brother,” I chastised. “Need you breathing, remember that,” I added.
He shrugged his shoulders as if to say what he was about to do was no sweat off his back.
“Piece of cake,” he claimed.
I nodded and hoped like hell he was right.
“I’ve got someplace I need to be,” I said after a beat, lifting my eyes back to his.
“What about that?” He asked, tipping his chin toward the stairs.
“Yeah, about that…” I started. “Reina.” I threaded my hands through my hair, thinking of her waking up alone in my bed. “When she wakes up, take her over to Pipe’s lot and get her in a car,” I told him, watching as he raised an eyebrow at me. “Something safe. Tell Pipe I’ll square away with him tomorrow or the day after.”
“You want me to babysit your girl?” He asked incredulously. “Take her fucking car shopping? You really lost your mind this time, huh? No coming back from this shit,” he grunted.
“She deserves more,” I claimed.
“Then give it to her,” he said, surprising me. The shock must’ve taken presence over my features because he sighed and attempted to explain himself. “Instead of going off on your mission to hell, take her for the car. Honor your kid by enjoying life and not running from it.”
“Hard to enjoy life when you’re the reason your kid can’t blow out the candles on a birthday cake, Blackie,” I said hoarsely as I looked away. “Take care of Reina? Make sure she gets home safe.”
“And you? You going to stay safe?”
“All good, brother. All good.” I lied.
“Bullshit,” he countered, but didn’t press. “I’ll take her to the yard, get the wheels and send her on her merry way.”
“Then you’ll meet with Gold.”
“Then I’ll meet with Gold,” he confirmed.
I nodded in agreement. “She’s going to ask questions.”
“Not my place to answer them,” he assured me.
“Thank you.”
“You get your head right, Bulldog. Shit’s going to get heavy around here, going to need our leader,” he reiterated.
I walked around the bar, cupped his shoulder with my hand before I patted him on the back. I didn’t respond, not willing to lie to the man who cared about my sorry ass. “If Lacey comes around or calls…”
“Shit,” he mumbled. “Buying her an ice cream cone and pretending the world is a giant playground don’t work no more for her.”