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“It’s fair,” Xavier murmured, then cleared his throat again. “He’s a lawyer from New Orleans.”
Carlos blinked. “The old man’s lawyer?”
Xavier nodded. “I only talked to him once. When he read me Rocky’s will.”
“On the phone?” Carlos asked.
“Yeah. I’ve never met him. He sent the inheritance money to a UPS mailbox that Rocky set up for me in Baton Rouge.”
That made Carlos scowl, but his next question was interrupted by Manny.
“Who is Rocky?” Manny asked sharply.
Xavier closed his eyes. “He was a good man. Saved my life in Katrina. But I’m not going to tell you any more, so don’t ask. If you know, it’ll put you in danger, too.”
Carlos closed his hand over Xavier’s forearm. “What happened, X?”
Xavier shook his head. “I’ve put you in enough danger. If you know, you’ll be targeted, too.”
“I already am,” Carlos hissed. “My backpack with all my books is back at your house. My books have my name in them. He’ll come after me, too. And my mama.”
“And your brother,” Manny added dryly, but his voice shook, and Xavier knew he was rattled, too. Of course he was. Because none of them was stupid.
“I saw a murder,” Xavier said. “And that’s all I know.”
“Holy shit,” Carlos breathed. “For real?”
“Yes,” Xavier snapped. “I wouldn’t lie about that.”
“Ooookay,” Manny said. “That changes things.”
Xavier nodded miserably. “You can let me out anytime.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Manny shook his head. “I’m not letting you out. But I think the lawyer needs to tell us—me and Carlos—how to stay safe, too. Will he do that?”
“I think so.” Xavier didn’t know for sure.
“I’m going with you,” Carlos stated. “No way am I letting you get into a car with some strange man from New Orleans. I might never see you again.”
Manny rounded a corner, and Xavier stiffened. “This isn’t the way to your apartment.”
Manny shrugged. “I’m doing a roundabout route. I want to be sure we’re not being followed.”
“Fuckin’ A, man,” Carlos said, sounding impressed.
“You’re not the only one who watches those cop shows,” his brother said, amused.
Xavier’s temper bubbled. “This isn’t a game. I could be getting you killed.”
“We know it’s not a game,” Carlos soothed, patting his arm. “It’s how we release pressure. We make jokes. You know that.”
Xavier did. He really did, but he didn’t feel like jokes at the moment. “I don’t want you hurt. Either of you. Not on my account.”
“Then let’s not get caught,” Manny said with another shrug. Xavier buried his face in his hands. And started to laugh.
Then he started to cry.
Carlos rubbed his back the rest of the circuitous way to Manny’s apartment.
