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Devan holds up a hand like a shield. “Your words, not mine.”
I pull off around the same place Gabriel parked last night, but this place doesn’t look any better with the weak sunlight shining through the sick, hazy clouds overhead. Before heading down to the Markee itself, we take a look around the area for any clues. Considering the number of people making their way down to this area last night there’s bound to be something.
“So the people I saw entered the building from both sides, but the largest group came from over there.” We carefully make our way over to trace the bad guys’ path. There’s a slight impression of footprints leading back to a set of tire tracks.
“People here clearly don’t care about being seen.” I crouch to study the tread. “They’re not doing shit to cover their tracks.”
“We’ll check the opposite direction as well.” Devan has his phone out and camera open, snapping photos of the tracks. “You take notes.”
I nod, reaching into the pocket of my jacket for my own notepad. My cell vibrates and a glance at the screen shows Taney’s name. Ignoring it for now, Devan and I start to move closer to the actual building where the deal went down.
“There were several groups but it seems a large bald man was in charge,” I remind him as we walk.
“You’ve never seen him before?”
My gut gives a single shift then settles. “He has one of those faces you want to forget but something about him is sticking at me. Like I’ve got a thorn in my paw.”
“Not why you’ve been weird today, then.”
I glance sideways at him. “I haven't been weird.” I’ve been totally weird. He’s right.
“You apologized and you’re actively being sweet,” Devan corrects. “Yes. You’re acting weird. Softer than your normal speed. Something melted you and I’m saying it’s a bad thing. I just want to know that you’re going to do this job. With me.”
I want to correct him yet something stills my tongue. He’s right again. I’ll be damned if I tell him the reason why, especially since the reason why makes me tremble in a bad way. The skin on the back of my neck prickles with the fine hairs standing at attention. I pause, taking a careful look around and seeing no one. Why do I feel there are eyes on me, then?
Devan must have the same sensation, and from the corner of my eye I watch him place a hand on his Glock and motion for me to quiet.
We’re just outside the entrance to Docks on Markee when we both notice the blood splatters in the dirt. And I nearly jump out of my skin when my phone erupts with another cheerful ding in notification that I have a text.
“Fuck it all,” I hiss out.
Devan sucks on his teeth and says, “Turn that damn thing off unless you want to get us killed, L. We don’t know who else might be here.”
I’m scrambling for the phone. “It’s Taney, sorry.”
“Well, tell her I said hi—but later.”
It’s not like Devan to go pale, but he’s as bloodless and guppy-mouthed as I’ve ever seen him, looking at the blood spatters.
I’m about to type out a message letting Taney know I’m fucking busy when Devan grabs me and shoves me in front of him. Holds me steady so that my gaze falls on the shoe lying in the dirt. But it’s not the shoe he wants me to see.
It’s the body, butchered and tucked into the shadows, his eyes still wide with fear and dark blood caked over his wounds.
NINETEEN
gabriel
Antoni stares at me,his lips pursed like he’s sucked on a lemon and actually enjoyed it on some level. His normal expression, I think, suppressing a groan at him being included in this meeting.
He’s nothing but a motherfucker and he enjoys being that way, enjoys knowing no one can stand him. It gives him sick pleasure to annoy the piss out of people as long as he’s in good with Broderick.
I’m not sure why he has to be here for this, in my boss’s office, but Antoni always likes to make himself available.
Hates being left out of the action.
Broderick Stevens is on speaker, claiming a last-minute emergency that kept him out of the office. There’s only me, Antoni, and a couple of goons who go by Bruiser and Howard.
Personally I’ve always liked Howard best.
