Lanzo’s also one of the most loyal men I’ve ever met and of everyone in our little group, he’s the one I know would take a bullet for me without hesitation. The others might complain about it first.
“Things didn’t work out,” I say evasively.
“Did she realize you’re a piece of shit and walk?” Lanzo leans closer, grinning. “Come on, you can tell me. Did she see all the skeletons in your closet and decide that being mobbed up isn’t all that great? Okay, based on the look on your face, that’s pretty much it. Want me to ruin their lives? Betcha I can get her father arrested again.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m sure he’s busy doing that himself.”
Lanzo shrugs as Evander comes over. “Hey, big guy, you drunk yet?”
Evander laughs, deep and booming, like distant drums. “I don’t get drunk. Not like you little boys.”
“This is the only guy in the world that could get away with calling us little boys,” Gareth mutters, which is a good point.
“You know, Evander, I hear your family’s been doing some big things up in Chicago,” I say and give him a sly smile. “Keep it up and I might even want to get into business with you.”
Evander slaps my back and slams his glass into mine as he throws his drink down his throat and shouts at the bartender for more alcohol. “Where the fuck are the women?” he says and his voice echoes all through the club. “Come on, I want something pretty on my arm and a nice pair of lips around my cock before this night’s over.”
“Evander’s in a mood,” Lanzo says, eyes shining. “I like it.”
“Well, shit, I’d better make sure he doesn’t kill someone,” Ford says, grinning from ear to ear. The prospect of watching Evander tear this place to pieces is too tempting for the poor bastards. We’ll probably get thrown out—again—but they won’t revoke our membership. They never do. Like Ford said, the Oak is eternal. Once you’re in, you’re in.
Gareth sighs and goes with them. “I have a feeling these idiots are going to need a good lawyer before the night’s over.” Lanzo stays behind with me and we remain at the bar together, not saying much of anything, only watching as Evander finds the smallest girl in the entire place and dances with her. The height difference is hilarious and crazy, but she seems into him and I kind of think he’ll get that blowjob sooner rather than later.
“I really am sorry about how shit worked out,” Lanzo says and glances at me. He sounds pensive, which is unlike him. “With the girl, I mean.”
“We don’t have to talk about it.” Which is a nice way of sayingfuck off, please.
“She’s a good one, you know. I mean, based on the research I did, anyway. And I did a real deep dive on her.” He whistles and shakes his head. “Seriously, she’s the squeakiest clean of the squeaky clean, never seen anything like it before.”
I glance away, down the bar toward where that redhead’s still making eyes at me, but the lustful stare slides off my shoulders like water. She’s a fucking pro and she knows what she’s doing but I can’t seem to care, even knowing I could take her home and have her right now if I wanted. It means absolutely nothing.
And she’s nother.
“You’re right, Brice is a good one,” I say after another pause.
“I saw what you did a few days back. Do the others know?”
I freeze and slowly look at him. A dozen thoughts roll through my mind. I’ve done a lot of things lately. “You saw what, exactly?”
“An extremely big wire transfer moved from your account into an account owned by Stephen Panagos. I’m guessing you paid Brice’s Dad’s bill? Got to say, for a guy that got dumped, that sort of reeks of desperation.”
I take a breath to keep myself from starting something I’ll regret. “Shut the fuck up, Lanzo.”
He grins at me. “Just saying. Does she know you did it?”
“I promised her grandpa I’d pay them and I keep my word.”
“Getting dumped probably exonerates you from keeping those promises, you know.”
“I don’t give a shit. They needed help and I gave it, that’s all.”
“Right, totally normal to pay a big chunk of money to a rival gang.” He pushes himself from the bar and finishes his drink. “I’m not judging, by the way. I’ve done way stupider shit in my time. All I’m saying is Gareth told me you’re deep in denial about the whole thing, and I think you should look real closely at your actions if you actually think you’re not stupidly in love with that girl.”
“Getting relationship advice from you is like getting advice on how to stop swimming from a shark.”
He shrugs and runs a hand through his hair. “Ah, well, you’re right, what the fuck do I know? Just saying, paying her father’s debts isn’t exactly what you’d do if you really were over her.”
“I appreciate the insight, and also, still fuck off.”