“Because he was her brother.”
“You don’t have to emphasize that, Jason. I know how important family is.”
“Yeah but you always had a problem with her brother.”
“Have. I have a problem with him. I tolerate him.” Justin turns to his nephew. “Max, ‘the gambler’ as you call him, is a seedy bottom feeder. Name is Franklin. But he’s old South, walks with a Tennessee Williams cane and wants nothing more than to keep going about his business behind closed doors. I gave him a pass in exchange for a favor. He’s not doing the world any real harm because the people who sidle up to his tables are there by choice, and usually have huge cash. But they’re dark people. So let me think about what to do with this particular situation.”
The famous face walks away, head low.
Max reaches for me and I walk to slide my hand in his as we stare at each other. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop.” He frowns but then those green eyes I’ve missed so much light up. “Uncle Justin, what if you offered him an exchange again?”
“What are you thinking?”
“Look, he wants to stay underground, right? But this guy Paul, he’s the one threatening Natalie. He’s got a real power trip going on, but the real power is this Franklin guy, right? What about giving Paul up in exchange for Natalie’s freedom and silence?”
I hurry to object, “Max!”
“I’m not saying offer up Paul to get slaughtered. I mean, have Paul take the legal hit. Put him in jail, fully exonerating the gambler. I mean…Franklin.”
Jason Cocker says, “It doesn’t work like that, son. If Paul goes to jail, he won’t last long.”
Justin agrees, “Franklin will have a hit on him in no time.”
“Then what do we do?” Max demands, losing patience. “I don’t want to set someone up to be murdered, but we have to make sure Natalie’s safe!”
The twins nod, chewing their lips like I’ve seen Max do so many times.
“What about,” I begin, “We just tell Paul I won’t ever say anything?”
They shake their heads like that would never work, and go back to thinking. Justin finally raises his eyes with an idea glinting. “Maybe I make that part of the deal. That he can’t kill this asshole.”
Jason asks him, “You think he’ll go for it, Justin? You met the guy.”
“I’ll make sure he knows he’s next in jail if that happens. Paul stays alive for as long as his jail sentence, and Franklin and the people who work for him will remain free. For now.”
Everyone exchanges glances, because it sounds good. I hold Mary’s eyes, silently thanking her. She gives me an I’m-here-for-you-look and asks Max, “What now?”
Justin answers her, “Leave this to us.”
Max cups my chin and kisses my forehead out of respect to me, our company, and the severity of the circumstances. “I’ll come back here for you.” He glances to Mary and Alan. “You’ll watch over her while we take care of this?”
“Yes.” “Of course.”
Max follows his father and uncle to the door. Before they disappear, the three of them nod to the three of us. Alan locks it and exhales, “Must be hard to be superhuman.”
Rolling her eyes, Mary heads for the liquor cabinet. “I need some wine. That was too intense for me.”
CHAPTER 33
M AX
F rom the passenger seat of Uncle Justin’s Audi, Dad watches his brother hang up and says, “I forget how important you used to be.”
“Used to be?”
“Yeah, you’re old now.”
“You’re no spring chicken.”
“My whole life you’ve reminded me you’re two minutes older, so now I get to hold that over your head, Grandpa.”
Justin laughs, “Fuck off,” and locks eyes with me through his rearview mirror. “Do me a favor and never let your dad forget this favor I’m doing for you!”
“I won’t.”
“Where do you hide when you don’t want to be found?” Justin asks, driving toward an industrial part of town. “Where they already found you once before.”
My dad says, “That’s what your friend said? The game is in the same place again?”
“Yep. Genius really. Let a couple years go by and hideout until the search goes cold. Not that I sent anyone looking for him, but I’m sure he disappeared for a while. Found another place to set up the tables.”
As we drive over, Dad bends to lock eyes with me in the backseat. “Natalie seems like a nice girl.”
My eyebrows twitch. “You expect heavy makeup and no clothes.”
Uncle Justin mutters with humor, “Reminds me of the old days.”
Not paying attention, my father tells me, “I didn’t know what to expect. Men have done some pretty stupid shit for women.”
Since I’ve been neck deep in the story of his terrible love affair I nod, and don’t rub it in.
After awhile of silent driving I confess, volume low, “Dad, I never realized how much the support of a good woman adds to a man’s life.”
He and his brother exchange a knowing look, but don’t say anything as the Audi slows in front of an old warehouse that appears abandoned.
Justin warns us, “Don’t let this fool you. If my detective friend at the precinct says they’re here, then they’re here.”
“If Detectives know where they are, why not bust them?”
“They’ll just move. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” To Dad he says, “Jason, let me lead on this.”
“Are you kidding? You think I’d try to do the talking? What would I say, You guys want me to play you some music?”
Justin chuckles, “Only you could make me laugh at a time like this.”
We get out of the car. If I were still Hunter’s size, they wouldn’t let me come along. But I’m a big guy, just like they are. We’re not as naturally bulked up as Uncle Jake, Jeremy or Jaxson. And nobody is as ripped as Uncle Jett, but he trains every day to be that strong. Still, my dad and his twin brother can throw a punch. I’ve seen ‘em do it. I’m no slouch, myself.
Confident as a
