“Relax, Max. I’ve got this under control. I’ve got key people helping me.”
“Great. Now we’re paying people off to look the other way.”
“As far as they know, you have nothing to do with this. It’s all on me.”
“I can’t ask you to do that, Vlad.”
“You didn’t. It’s my way of thanking you for everything you’ve done for me, Cuz. I owe you a lot.”
I sat down and pulled my hands through my hair.
“You don’t owe me a thing, Vlad. You’re family. I love you.”
“Well, there you have it. Family. We’ve got this. Now, get up, quit crying like a girl, and let’s drink.”
* * *
I could tell the minute I stepped into the house that something was wrong. Angel’s eyes were puffy like she’d been crying, and Josie wouldn’t look me in the eye for very long.
“Hey, guys,” I said when I found the two in the living room.
“Hi, Babe,” Angel said and attempted a smile.
“Hi, Max.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I’m gonna go, Angel. Always good to see you, handsome,” Josie said and kissed me on the cheek before she headed for the front door. “Call me later, Angel.”
“Okay, thanks, Josie,” Angel answered.
“What’s going on, Angel? Did you and Josie have a fight?”
“No, we didn’t.”
“Then what’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We have to talk. Please, sit down.”
My stomach dropped. Fuck! She must have found out about the drugs. Who would have told her? Whoever blabbed was a dead man!
I sat down next to Angel on the sofa and braced myself for the ‘I’m leaving you’ speech.
“I’m so sorry, Max. I don’t know how this happened. I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. I’d never…”
“What? You’re scaring me, Angel. What the hell is going on?”
She looked up at me with tears in her beautiful eyes.
“I’m pregnant.”
It took a while for the words to travel from my ears to the part of my brain that processes information.
“Please, say something, Max.”
I closed my mouth, suddenly aware that my lips had been agape.
“Pregnant?”