“Thank you. I have to check in with the boss man and then I can let you know. How is the casino thing going?” She had picked up a few details about our investment through hanging out with me.
“It’s at a weird stage. There’s this other person or company trying to outbid us at the last minute. It’s one of those things we’re going to have to work through. I still think we can win it. We’ve been at it for so long now. We have to break through at some point.”
“I hope you win it and you beat them. Sounds annoying.”
“Me too,” I sighed hard. “I have some of my old army buddies coming in next week, so it’s going to be fun to take them to the casino.” I was guarding and protecting Delphia, but to watch out for her while they were here was going to be a little more difficult without telling them about us.
“Oh, cool.” She sounded distant. Her eyes showed a glint of despair when I told her my plans to ride with my boys.
“I’m still going to be around to drop you off and pick you up.” Although truthfully, I wasn’t entirely sure if that would be the case.
Delphia toyed with the cigarette cases on her table. “I can’t live with you all the time. I do have to go back home eventually, as scary as that is. I’m going to be okay.” It sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than me.
“You will be. I know it’s frustrating and scary, but this is my forte. Rocky’s scared about going to prison; that’s why he’s taunting you. Trust me, we’re going to get to him. Have you had any more phone calls come through?”
“The phone rang a few hours ago, but I let it ring out and it went to voicemail. When I played back the voicemail, it was a voice saying one word... Dead.” A deep tremble rippled in Delphia’s voice as she relayed the story to me.
I felt more anger. I truly didn’t know if I could keep my cool anymore. All I wanted to do was stomp the man into the ground. “Don’t let it get to you,” I commanded. “We will stop him. I promise.”
Delphia swept a hand through her tousled honey locks. “I’ll try not to.”
“I wish I could reach over that counter and hug you, but that’s for later. I’ll swing back tonight and pick you up. Let me know if you end up getting off early.”
“I will. Thanks for stopping by.”
I winked at her. “You’re welcome.” I wanted to annihilate Rocky for Angie. For Delphia. For the Rebel Saints and for anyone else who deserved the redemption. I rode out so I could get a hard workout in and flesh out the route I wanted to take the boys on.
By the time I finished my running workout and looking at the maps, I got the call to pick up Delphia.
“Hey I’m in luck. I’m off at nine. See you then?”
“For sure.” Even though she was due to finish at nine, I rode past her house to do a surveillance check. Her place looked clear as I briefly snuck a look down the side of her house on both sides. Scanning my vision out over the houses in her neighborhood, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual going on.
My mind drifted back to the boys coming the following week. I was going to have to sort that one out, and all of my thoughts were leading to the fact I might have to blow our keeping the relationship quiet in order to keep her safe.