“Jesus, will you pipe down? You’re one of us, mate. That means we help each other out. Doesn’t mean we have to braid each other’s hair, and girl talk.”
“You can be a bit of a dick, you know.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it’s been said. Okay… since we’re clearly going to talk it out. What the fuck did you do to make Seb lose it? I mean, I know he seems like a loose cannon, but generally he doesn’t attack his own guys.”
I stared at him incredulously. “I don’t think I’m one of his guys, Marco. That’s the difference here. I’m just some hired hand, who they are massively overpaying by the way, and it’s fucking unnerving, because why… what do they want for all that extra money?”
He frowned, watching Lenore take a bend, and following a moment later.
“Adam, if you weren’t one of their guys, you wouldn’t be on the inside. You’ve been to their house. You’re one of us. You just need to watch your mouth around them.”
“Believe it or not, it wasn’t that.”
He slowed up as he approached my street.
“Okay, I’m listening. Did you lie to them? That’s a big fucking deal with these guys.”
Fuck. I’m so dead. I am so fucking dead.
I shrugged, and winced. “About what? No… I accidentally upset Cass.”
He slowed, and turned to stare at me, his eyes wide. “You did what?”
I watched him put the handbrake on, and slip the gear into neutral, all without looking, because he was still staring at me.
I held up my hands. “I was talking to her, and… well, she ended up crying…”
Marco ran a hand over his face. “Fucking hell, Adam. What’s the matter with you? Of all the years I’ve known them, there’s only one thing they’ve ever cared about more than absolutely fucking everything… and that’s Cass. I mean, they’re devoted. In love, if such a thing exists with them. In that case, I’d say you’re lucky to be alive. Fuck me.” He climbed out of the car, and came around to my side, helping me out of the car, and leading me to my door, with my arm slung awkwardly over his shoulder.
Lenore stepped up to help, and he practically growled at her to stay back. She giggled.
“In that case, give me your keys, Adam. I’ll let us in.” I did it, because what the fuck choice did I have? Moving the arm on that side hurt like a bitch, because the cracked ribs were on my right, of course, and Marco was on my left side.
He practically dragged me into the house, and deposited me on the sofa.
“You got someone you can call?”
I stared at him. “Of course I fucking haven’t. You know I’m divorced.”
He glanced at Lenore who was raising an eyebrow. “How about your ‘little angel’, or, you know… is she still at school?”
I groaned. “For fuck’s sake. It’s just a name. Will you please fuck off now?”
Marco scowled at me. “You’re fucking welcome. And, you know, try not to make Cass cry again, if you want to survive next time.”
Lenore gasped, glaring at me. “You made Cass cry? What the fuck did you do that for?”
I closed my eyes. “Please just go. Thank you and goodnight.”
I heard them leave, and sighed heavily. I really needed her here. My little angel. The person I now realised I would likely end up dying for.