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Santiago’s eyes went wide as two full moons. “You broke hisjaw?”
“No, not his jaw. But—”
In a flurry of movement, Santiago rushed around the room to close the blinds. The window-view of the gym disappeared in an instant.
“Ifshefound you in less than twenty-four hours,” he hissed, “how long do you think it’ll be before—”
“Brynne.”
The guys spun on me curiously. Their expressions would’ve been the same if I’d spoken a foreign language.
“My name’s Brynne Fletcher,” I said matter-of-factly. “Notshe.”
I folded my arms across my chest, summoning a courage I didn’t fully feel.
“And the twin’s name was Aimon,” I paused, my mouth twisting. “Or at least I think it was him. He and Javi look so damn alike it’s impossible to tell. It also doesn’t help that they dress the same, or maybe their mother still dresses them, or—”
“They dress the same intentionally,” Santiago interjected, “so no one can tell them apart. Not their enemies, not the police. Not even their crew.”
“Well I was tailing him all night,” I went on. “Aimon, I mean. He must’ve picked up on it, because the second I followed him into that alley—”
“You weretailinghim?” Silas asked incredulously.
I nodded, holding my ground.
“That’s the stupidest fucking thing I ever—”
“They were the last people to see my brother alive!” I shouted, suddenly angry. “I need to find him. I need to know where he is. And those two—”
“Those are two of the most dangerously-connected men in all of Oakland,” Santiago snapped.
I shrugged. “So?”
“So look at what just happened to you!” exclaimed Silas. “Or whatalmosthappened to you.”
“And that’s why I’m here,” I shot back. “I came to you because I need help. I obviously can’t do this alone. Evan’s been gone for almost two weeks now, and the last I’d heard he was running with Aimon and Javi.”
“Your brother sounds like a real piece of work,” Santiago grunted.
“He’s not,” I countered quickly. “He’s a good kid. Got mixed up with the wrong crowd, that’s all. And… well…”
I lowered my gaze involuntarily. I didn’t have to look up to know that they already knew.
“Drugs.”
I nodded somberly. It had been a recent development.
“What kind?” asked Silas.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Heroin. Meth. Whatever he could get his hands on, really.” I sighed as the bad memories threatened to flood my brain. Somehow I pushed them back. “Evan showed up on my doorstep six months ago, homeless and strung out. I took him in, trying to get him clean.”
“And it didn’t take,” guessed Santiago.
“It took,” I said defensively. “A few times, anyway. The last time was the best, actually. He had a job. A good one, too. But it paid like shit, and then someone from the Lozano’s crew offered him something that paid more. Alotmore. And Evan… well…”
“We get it.”
The room fell silent, save for the hiss of leather as Santiago fell heavily back into his chair. He folded his tremendous arms behind his head and closed his eyes.
