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The prospect has been hauling the groceries inside for the last fifteen minutes with no help, and my agitation grows as I’m made to wait.
“This is what you wanted, to see how he’d handle it,” Sparky reminds me, reading my mind or some shit.
So far, there’s been no repercussions. Maybe it looked like a brawl that more or less was ignored, but these days, we’re not so lucky. They fought in broad daylight in front of God knows how many witnesses. It’s one thing for the townspeople to assume we fight, but seeing it is a different matter.
Getting out of my seat, I head outside and spot Leo by his bike with the twins and Angel. JJ is nowhere to be seen, but it’s Leo I want to speak with.
“I heard what went down on the run into town, but I would’ve liked to have heard it from you.”
Leo grinds out his cigarette under his boot and walks toward me, while Angel and the twins back away.
“It was nothing, really. We were waiting on the prospect when they rolled up. This time, it was them who started it.” Grinning, he adds, “And we fucking finished it.”
The younger me feels pride. My boy is strong. But the older me, the me who’s seen the small stuff escalate into death, is tense. Maybe it’s another sign that it’s time I step down.
“Witnesses?”
“There were a few shoppers around, but none on the phone to the cops from what I saw. There’s only the one camera outside the store, and we were just out of view. I think we’re covered.”
“You think? But you don’t know for sure?”
“Dad—”
“I’m your president,” I bark. “I’m asking for the probability of reprisals from the town, the sheriff, and the Dead Rats. Just because you know you can take them doesn’t mean it’s a given, or that you’ll see it coming. As your dad, I love that you threw down and won this battle. But as your president, you’re not filling me with the confidence that you’re handling this the right way.”
“Do you see the cops banging down our doors?”
“Give it time.”
“Come on. You said you’d let me handle this, so let me.”
I bite down on my tongue too hard and taste blood.
“Do you have an inkling of what you’re going to do if the sheriff shows up?”
A smirk dances across his lips. I swear, it’s karma.
“Deny, deny, deny.”
Taking a deep breath, I remind myself I gave him this rope to see how he’d act and react.
“Time will tell…”
His phone rings. Taking it out of his pocket, he looks down at it and frowns. “It’s Darius from the Dog’s Blood Gang.”
“Answer it.”
I listen to the one-sided conversation, and as usual, it sounds like trouble that needs dealing with.
“I’ll call you back,” he says, ending the call.
“What’s up?”
“Darius says Effie’s men are rolling through the city, cleaning up the streets execution style, and they’re next on the list. He wants backup.”
Normally, this wouldn’t be our problem, but we made a deal to help us transition into Dog City. Allies are powerful in a war.
“What do you think I should do?” I ask.
