“Stop calling me Conner. I’m sticking with Creed.”
He frowned. “Darwin’s not going to like it.”
“Fuck Darwin.”
“Always an option, I suppose.” Lou’s frown deepened. “What about Tara’s people—aren’t you afraid they’ll come after Kathleen?”
“Why should they? We’re not together anymore.”
“What if Kathleen finds out Donovan Creed is still walking around?”
“There’s no reason for that to happen. If it does, I’m just another guy with the same name. Other than size, as long as I wear phony contacts, there’s no way to recognize me.”
“I have to confess, I hated the name Conner Payne.”
“Keep the ID’s, though, in case I want to use the name on a job.”
“What about Joe Leslie?”
“We’ll keep that one alive as well.”
“I’ll tell Darwin,” he said. He started to leave.
“Lou—wait up a minute.”
He stopped and turned.
I said, “There’s something I want from Darwin. It’s important.”
He cocked his head in an
I said, “This face job I got, it’s amazing, yes?”
“It’s a work of art,” he said.
“I want Addie to get one. And I want all the charred skin removed from her body as well.”
Lou said, “No way. Darwin would never authorize that.”
“Tell him I’ll pay every dime.”
“Donovan, look at me. To do what they did for you? That would cost millions.”
“I’ll pay every dime.”
“I don’t know…”
“It’s a deal breaker,” I said.
He paused a bit, thinking it through. “You’ll pay up front?”
“Whatever it costs.”
“I’ll set it up.”
“What about Darwin?”
“Better he finds out after we start, than before.”
I grinned at my friend. “Thanks, Lou.”
Chapter 50
I caught him at 38th and Walnut.
Augustus Quinn—pro that he is—picked up the tail immediately, slammed on the brakes, and threw his car into reverse, trying to hit me. I slipped lanes and passed him, then jerked my car into reverse and pulled alongside
