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I wanted to dispute him, but Kellan was right. Eddie was a big eater, a big drinker, and not all that enthused about physical fitness. I wasn’t sure if the man had ever seen the inside of a gym even once in his life.
“OK,” Kellan said. “I know we ought to wait until we know more, but we also need to start getting our heads around what’s going to happen if Eddie’s out of commission. Con, you’re the second in command. If Eddie’s not in the picture…”
He trailed off, not needing to finish his sentence. I was still processing the news, but it didn’t look like this was boding well for my plans to get out of the business anytime soon. If Eddie was gone, that meant I’d be thrust into the leadership role.
“There’s the cartel, too,” I said, setting aside the subject of me being on top. “The plan is for a partnership, but if they get a whiff of weakness at the top of our organization, they might just decide that a takeover would suit their needs a bit better.”
“Whatever’s going on,” Kellan said, “Things aren’t going to be the same. We need to get ready.”
I nodded, my eyes on the road. The sky was still gray, the brief let up of the rain ending, big, fat droplets appearing on the windshield.
“Think I know what happened,” I said. “With Eddie.”
“What’s that?”
I told him about the bedroom, about the whips and restraints and messy bed. Kellan’s eyes lit up as I let him in on the goss.
“You’re kidding,” he said. “Our man Eddie was… tied up?”
“That’s what it was looking like to me.”
Kellan chuckled. “God, the old man would have us strung up for talking about him like this.” He reached over and smacked my arm. “Aye, and you know what’s more? We don’t have to tell him the bad news. That little shite who left the door open might get a stay of execution for this one.”
There was something else to our banter that neither of us wanted to say out loud. It might be chaotic for Eddie to die or step aside, but there was no doubt it would be for the best. That is, if I could take advantage of it to get out of the Mob.
We pulled in front of the hospital a short drive later, parking and hurrying into the ER.
“You have to let me see him!” Moche’s high-pitched, fear-filled voice managed to carry over the commotion of the ER.
Kellan and I made our way around the corner to where she stood, two exhausted looking doctors in front of her as she stamped her foot.
“He is my husband!” she shouted, all the authority of a Mob boss’s wife behind her words. “I demand to see him now!”
“Miss, we know that he’s your husband,” said one of the doctors in as calm a tone as one could manage. “But he’s suffered a major heart attack and is in surgery as we speak.”
“When we know anything, you’ll be the first we tell.”
Moche opened her mouth once more but seemed to sense that there’d be no demanding her way into what she wanted. Instead, she slumped her shoulders and let her head hang down. The female doctor placed her hand on Moche’s shoulder in a comforting manner before the pair of them turned to leave her alone.
“Moche,” I said, Kellan and I making our way over.
She turned, her blue eyes lighting up as she spotted us.
“Oh, boys!” she rushed over and gave each of us a tight hug, covering our faces with big kisses from her giant lips. “I am so happy to see you both.”
“Got your clothes here,” I said, handing over the small bag I’d packed.
“And you don’t need to worry about the kids,” Kellan said. “They’re inside and taken care of.”
She took the bag, sadness falling over her pretty features.
“They say that he had a massive heart attack. They don’t know how bad it is going to be, or if… or if…” she paused, tears forming in her eyes. “Or if he’s even going to make it!”
She began wailing, opening her arms and pulling me against her one more time. I’d never been comfortable with that sort of open emotion so not knowing what else to do, I patted her on the back.
“Eddie’s tough as they come,” I said. “He’s going to be fine.”
She sniffed, letting go of me and stepping back.
