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Dan whistles low. “You got solid balls there, Abruzzi.”
“Oh, yeah. And I’m also a real stand-up fucking guy. Let’s cut the crap. I meant it. This is no man’s land here, and I don’t like Avah sitting in the car alone, even if it’s mine.” I look him up and down. “See the way I figure things, you’re not comfortable here, either. And you sure as shit don’t seem inclined to tell Morgan she might have someone stalking her.”
“Does she?”
“I think so, yeah. My bosses’ wives made friends with her and asked me to check on it.”
“And you helped yourself to some Avah?”
I give him a hard look. “No. I don’t fuck women who’ve been slipped roofies, but I like her, not gonna fucking lie. And this is off point.” I push a hand through my hair. “I’m betting the car we couldn’t trace is the one you were driving and had parked outside my place?”
His mouth goes hard. Yep, on that one.
“But I’m betting Morgan will be put in a tough spot, am I right? You know, if you tell him Avah might have someone a little too . . . interested, because of dealings with the Lowlanders?”
He doesn’t speak.
“I can’t protect her if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Fuck.” Dan closes his eyes a moment, and then he looks at me. “There’s a beef going way back between Morgan and the El Cabeza gang. They’ve got some connections that help the Lowlanders.”
“What’s the beef?”
“I don’t know. I’m not privy to everything. There are things Morgan’s done before he took over his area, could be big, could be small. He just sent me down to check on his kid and to poke around.”
I adjust who he is from right-hand man to something like a cross between that and enforcer. It makes sense. Morgan isn’t huge. He’s an important cog with nicely carved territory in San Diego, and half the fucking country uses Lowlander supplies and swaps favors with them. Fuck, even Leo.
But as we look at each other, there’s an understanding. He knows I’ll watch over Avah. “Okay,” I say, “but if you hear anything, let me know.”
He hands me a card, and it has a number on it. His, I’m betting. “You too.”
Then he checks his watch.
“Keep her away from unsavory places. I’m in town for a few days, but if she’s in good hands than that’ll make the boss happy and my job easier.”
“Meaning you don’t want these El Cabeza paying attention to her.”
“Call if there’s trouble.”
I turn and go back to my car.
Avah is fuming. I can feel the heat radiate as I open my door.
I get in, my brain totally on the conversation. I have a shit ton of questions I couldn’t ask, but I also don’t think he has the answers, and he’s not going to tell me what he’s here for, either. I wouldn’t. I’d keep it vaguer than he did, which tells me this El Cabeza lot isn’t good. And I’ve also never heard of them.
She hits me.
“Avah,” I say, “don’t test me.”
“Who are you? Are you a criminal?”
Fuck.
ChapterTen
AVAH
He doesn’t answer me, a muscle working in his jaw.
