“Remember, cameras everywhere,” he said. “So don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I laughed a little, and he disappeared. I wondered what he meant by that, but I leaned back against the lounger and closed my eyes, a stupid smile on my face. I knew I should’ve been more concerned, or maybe afraid, or even embarrassed that some random man in a security room might’ve watched that, but I couldn’t make myself care.
Of all that shit going on, that was the least important thing.
13
Ren
The sound of Amber’s moans echoing off the tile walls clung to my mind. I couldn’t get her taste from my lips, and the smell of chlorine and her taste stuck on the back of my tongue.
Goddamn, the girl made me want to live in that pool with her.
Pulling myself away from her was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I had a meeting with Joey that I couldn’t ignore. He sent me a message the night before, saying he had some news we had to discuss, and that meant shit with the Leones was heating up.
I slipped out a back door and hurried down the sidewalk. I figured their security would notice I was missing, but Vincent wouldn’t do shit about it, so long as Amber was still there.
It was early in the morning, and the rush-hour traffic was heavy. Folks in business suits, guys carrying briefcases, young professionals, old guys with thick backpacks, they all jammed themselves along, waiting at lights and crossing in huge flocks. I walked in the middle of them, losing myself in the crowd as best I could—just in case someone from the house decided to try to follow.
I grabbed a cab on Broad and took it down to South Philly. I met Joey in a little rundown corner shop that was half deli and half coffee spot. The big guy behind the counter in a hairnet and a white apron poured me a big mug and grunted what sounded like English, but I couldn’t be sure. I paid and sat down at a little wooden table jammed up next to a meat display while Joey leaned back, looking half-asleep in an oversized sweatshirt and a sideways flat-brimmed cap.
“What’s up, man?” he said as I sipped my coffee.
“Not much. All’s quiet on my end.”
“Yeah? Shit, that’s good.” He looked around like he was worried we’d be overheard, even though the place was empty, and the guys behind the counter were loudly discussing the Eagles while slicing meat into neat little stacks.
“Why’d you call me out here so early, man?”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, uh, you know. The usual shit.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Joey.”
“What, man?” He looked annoyed suddenly. “What do you want me involved in all this shit for, anyway? You know I got a business, right?”
“You’re a day trader.”
“I sell t-shirts, man. Got this guy that does this sick spray art shit and—” He stopped himself. “Whatever the fuck, it doesn’t matter. Look, man, this is a little much, is all I’m saying.”
I nodded, sipping my coffee again. It was surprisingly good, considering it’d been brewed by a bunch of guys that looked like they’d slaughtered the morning’s meat themselves.
“Something happened.”
“Nothing happened. The fuck?”
“You’re cursing a lot.”
He laughed. “You a fucking prude now? Don’t like curse words?”
“No, but you curse when you’re nervous.” I arched an eyebrow. “Why are you nervous?”
“I’m not fucking—” He took a deep breath. “I’m cool, okay?”
“Okay, great. So what happened, Joey? Why this meeting, then the change of heart?”
He looked around again and shifted back and forth in his seat. Something was bothering him, that much was obvious, but I didn’t know what. Joey was a small-time player, really on the periphery of things. I figured he’d be perfect to keep an eye on the war for me, since he was a known quantity, and always talking shit anyway. Nobody would bat an eye if Joey started asking around about the Leones’ business, since that was the kind of guy Joey was.
“I heard something,” he said finally. “All right? I just heard something, and I thought you should know about it.”
“What’d you hear?”
“I heard the Dusters were going to make a move.” He leaned toward me, eyes wide and sparkling. “I heard it was big.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Some guys, talking.”
“Guys talk all the time. Who’d you hear it from?”
He glanced toward the entrance. “I was in a bar, okay? Place where some Duster guys hang out.”
“Joey,” I said, voice warning.
“I know, it was stupid, all right? I was curious though. You got me fucking curious, and I tell you what, I can’t help myself when I’m curious.”
“What’s going to happen?”
“An attack. On the mansion. I don’t know when, and I don’t know how bad, but I know it’s gonna be big.”
I nodded slowly. “I have to admit, I don’t find that very likely.”