“By the same token, do you think I’d actually tell you my real name, just because you asked nicely?”
“I think you have a lot of incentive to try to stay on my good side,” I said, as I put the car in gear and began to drive down the alley. “Telling me your real name would prove you’re willing to cooperate.”
“Pass.”
“Suit yourself.”
We drove in silence for a minute or two, until he blurted, “Fine. It’s Sullivan.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Why don’t you believe me this time?”
“Because you gave it up way too easily.”
Jack tried to cross his arms over his chest, but he only half-succeeded, since his right wrist was chained to the door. “Oh, you’re right. My bad. You’ll only believe what comes out of my mouth after you’ve been beating me for an hour or two.”
That definitely wasn’t the plan, but I decided to remain silent and let him stew. After another minute, he asked, “Where are you taking me? Some undisclosed location, where no one will hear me scream?”
“Undisclosed location? Where’d you get that, some cheesy detective novel?”
“Probably. Really though, where are you taking me?”
“My apartment.”
He tried to let it go, but after a pause he asked, “Why do you insist on calling it that, when it’s clearly a townhouse?”
“Do you really think arguing with me is the way to go here?”
“I’m just saying.”
My phone beeped, and I pulled it from my pocket. The text from my brother said:I thought you should know two guys smashed up Mom’s bar and told her it was a message to you. She’s fine, we’re both in my apartment.
I muttered, “Fucking hell,” and pulled to the curb.
“What’s wrong?”
I ignored Jack and called my brother. When he answered, the first thing I said was, “Is Mom really okay?”
“Yeah, she’s just a little shaken up.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“Two thugs came into her bar with baseball bats this evening and started breaking things. They said, ‘This is for your boy Adriano. Tell him Mario Greco says hello.’ One of Mom’s customers called the police, and the men ran off when they heard the sirens. As far as I know, they haven’t been caught yet.”
“Please tell Mom I’m sorry that happened, and I’ll be there in the morning. This might sound paranoid, but don’t open the door for anyone, and don’t go anywhere tonight.”
“Will do, but are you sure coming here is a good idea? You left to keep yourself safe, and the situation clearly hasn’t gotten any better.”
“I don’t care what happens to me. I just need to make sure you two are safe, and I can’t do that from San Francisco.”
“Maybe Mom should come and stay with you instead,” he said, “just until things calm down a bit.”
“You can pitch that idea to her, but watch, she’ll refuse to leave. You know how stubborn she is. In fact, I don’t even know if I can stop her from opening up the bar tomorrow and acting like it’s business as usual.”
My brother sighed and muttered, “You’re right.”
“I’d better go, so I can grab a few things and get on the road. Call me if you need anything, and I’ll see you in the morning.”