Indebted (32 page)

There’s time to waste right now, and I have no clue what to do with it. The last thing I want is to go back and be in the middle of the fallout. Speaking of, I need a new full-featured cell. There are things I have to handle, and this little pay-as-you-go thing isn’t going to cut it. Yet another task on my list. Maybe this day isn’t going be as hard to plan as I thought.

Aaron and I about shit bricks when we walk past a placard saying “Ned’s Corner.” I mean, we know the movie was filmed here, but seeing it in real life, we are geeking out a little.

He grabs my arm, his hand shaking a bit with excitement. “We’ve got to get a new phone, or at least one of those disposable camera thingies. I want pictures! Chloe will never believe this. Do you realize how many times I’ve made her watch that movie with me?”

I can only imagine. I know I’ve already watched it six times at least. That poor woman has to have most of the dialogue memorized.

“Aaron, why didn’t you tell me you’ve been torturing her all these years? It explains so much of her attitude toward me and her thoughts on working someone over.” I smile mischievously at him and he rolls his eyes.

Chloe and I haven’t really talked much and it’s awkward when we’re in the same room, but both of us care for Aaron and do our best to not put him in the middle. Aaron has been focusing his energy on connecting with her on other things. He rarely mentions me to her and I’m fine with it as long as he can keep someone so important in his life.

“Chloe will get over it. She’s always been this way. When she sees a cause or whatever, she gets up on her soapbox, shouts, and preaches. Then something will happen to attract her attention elsewhere and her convictions will change. I love her dearly, but she’s a little flighty. Right now she’s in her ‘save Aaron from himself’ mode. Soon it will be the manatees or something. No worries.”

I’m a little surprised at his flippant thoughts of her. She seemed pretty serious to me. So serious, she didn’t even take into account that I’m three times bigger than her and carry a gun. A large part of me hopes he’s right, and I have no reason to doubt him. It’s sad to say, but I’d love for her to approve of me. I know how much Chloe means to Aaron. To think I’m causing a rift between such great friends tears me up inside.

Aaron draws me out of my thoughts. “Phil? Phil Conners? I thought that was you. Do you remember me? ’Cause, I sure as heck-fire remember you.”

Hearing him quote one of the many scenes with Ned makes me smile.

Without missing a beat, I reply, “Ned! Ned Ryerson?” Then play act punching him in the face.

Aaron is rolling now, and seeing him so relaxed does my heart good. A couple of people pass us while we do our little skit, shaking their heads disapprovingly. Oh well, fuck ’em. My man is having fun, and I’m willing to make an ass of myself anytime for that. Still smiling, we find the diner where Bill Murray’s classic scenes were filmed, a place called the Tip Top Diner.

Glancing over the one-paged menu, I choose to go with a simple eggs-and-bacon meal. “Aaron, have you decided on what you want yet? It’s not like there’s much to cipher through.”

He grins at me almost childishly, winks and answers, “Is it too late for flapjacks?”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “I don’t see any cops to ask. You want me to drive on the railroad tracks to find out?”

“Haha, smarty pants. Nope, but in honor of where we are, I think I will go with the flapjacks.”

When our breakfast arrives, we settle into a comfortable silence while we devour the homemade food. About halfway through, I decide to ask something that’s been nagging me since I found out he’d escaped.

“How, Aaron?”

Confused, Aaron asks, “‘How’ what? I need a little more info, big guy.”

I didn’t realize I’d blurted it until it was already out there. “Sorry, babe. How did you get away? Can you fill me in? Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful, but I can’t seem to wrap my head around it.”

Aaron snorts a little. “Yeah, I bet that is perplexing for you.”

He takes me step-by-step through what happened. With each new detail, I grow even more proud of him. When he tells me about the call he overheard, I’m concerned. It’d occurred to me that there could be someone else behind this. I had hoped it was Jeremy and the act of a stupid kid. Knowing there was a “wizard behind the curtain” didn’t sit well with me. There’s a list a mile long of people who would love to get a piece of me.

Still, I think this is closer to home than I would like to acknowledge. I am relieved I called and had the plans moved forward. There’s another reason I need to get my phone. I need to find out if things have gone down yet. My nerves are biting at me, but I refuse to let this peaceful time with Aaron be lost to me being stressed. Our lives are about to be turned upside down. I’m worried and hopeful at the same time, so I’m latching on to the last part with both hands

Eventually, we change the subject to lighter stuff, and the day wears on as we go through the process of getting each of us new cells and some much-needed clothes and supplies.
No fuckin’ way you’re being denied your boy again.

Leaving the store, Aaron glances at me expectantly.

“What?”

“Well, aren’t you going to check in on Tristan? Is it still too dangerous to? I’m dying to know how he’s faring.”

I’m itching to call too. I’m not sure if I should until I talk to my contact. I need to know things are completed. “Babe, I want nothin’ more than to call him right now, but I have to make another first.”

He appears disappointed yet understanding as we step off to the side for privacy. I hold my breath as I dial the number responsible for changing our future.

He picks up after several rings. “Gino, may I speak to Angelo, please?”

A short pause ensues, and then Angelo is on the other end. “Liam, my dear boy, how have you been? You missed all the fun.”

His Italian accent is thick, so thankfully it’s quiet and I can hear him clearly. I also hear Aaron gasp next to me.

Raising my finger in a “one second” gesture, I continue my conversation with a man who makes my skin crawl. “Angelo, let’s not act like best buds here. You know I can’t stand you, and you’re a means to an end for me. From what you said, does that mean you rolled out on Thomas?”

Angelo chuckles at my irritation and impatience as if I were a toy for his amusement. “Why yes, I did. Thanks to you, it was quite simple, really. I must say, Thomas makes the most delicious noises when in pain. Unfortunately, his stamina left something to be desired, and he died before I got the chance to revive him for a fourth time. It was a pity, really. It’s been so long since I’ve had such fun.”

Chills run down my spine at the pure delight this man’s voice carries at the memory of the torture he’d made Thomas endure. Even though I had no love for Thomas, I’m still horrified at the thought of what he must have gone through. Angelo’s reputation is ten times worse than Thomas’s.

“So, it’s finished, then? You’ve kept to your side of the agreement?”

“Liam, Liam, Liam, you’re like a dog with a bone, for God’s sake. Yes, I am in control, and our pact has now been completed. I do regret not getting to keep you, my boy. Your deviousness is something I would like to nurture. Alas, many things can be said about me, and most are true, but I am a man of my word. So, Liam, be happy with that. Enjoy your life and don’t take your second chance for granted.”

The last part of his statement strikes a chord in me. He almost sounded a bit sad.
Nah, that’s you getting sentimental again.
I hang up to see Aaron pacing back and forth, looking like he’s going to jump out of his skin at any moment.

“Aaron, you need to calm down. I’ll tell you everything.”

“Calm down? You’re talking on the phone to Angelo, the head of the Italian mob, and I’m supposed to chill and be Zen? I don’t fucking think so. I’ve heard about this guy. He’s nuts! I do read the paper and have access to the Internet you know. I want answers, and I want them now. How long has this been going on? Have you been lying to me? Where exactly does this leave us?”

Now I’m worried. I didn’t know what reaction I was going to get from Aaron, but this is nowhere near what I thought.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I launch into my explanation. “A couple months ago, I hit my limit, Aaron. When you were beaten, something snapped in me. I love you with everything I am, and the thought of you gettin’ hurt again about killed me. I talked to Tristan, trying to tell him I was done, that I couldn’t take the mob life anymore. I’d hoped he had a way for me to escape. All he did was reassert that there’s only one way out of the mob—death. Sure, you can turn state’s evidence and all, but you’re never really free, ya know? I didn’t want that life for you, and definitely not one where your man is a criminal ducking bullets.”

Aaron steps up and cups my cheek, looking worried. “What’d you do, baby? You never do anything half-assed, Liam. What’s this agreement I heard you mention?”

His voice is shaking, and my eyes close at the raw emotions I hear. Without even realizing it, I nuzzle into his palm.

“It’s nothin’ I couldn’t handle. Let’s head back to the motel and I’ll fill you in. I don’t think this is the best talk to have on the street.”

Opening my eyes, I see Aaron wants to ask more, but nods. The trip to the motel is quiet and very tense. When we get inside, Aaron is on me, and not in the way I usually want him to be.

“I’ve waited long enough, so quit stalling and spill. What happened?”

I do exactly that, without holding back. It’s the least I can do.

“So, I’d been getting some calls from Angelo’s lackeys for a while, sayin’ he wanted to talk to me. I always told them to fuck off, but then the idea struck me that maybe this could be my out. It was a huge gamble, but I was desperate. We set up a time to meet when he was going to be in the US. It was nerve-wrackin’ trying to get there without anyone knowing or following. I had to put all my skills to good use. Once I was finally there, Angelo filled me in on how he was looking to take over Thomas’s territory. He’d been impressed with the tight hold the Irishmen had on things and for how long, and thought it’d be a good place to start his ‘expansion in the US market.’”

Aaron is still, and I can tell he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. He’s tense and gripping the covers of the bed tightly as he sits on it.

“Angelo wanted me to infiltrate the Eversons and funnel back information to him. I’d asked him why me, and he said I was close to the head of the snake, thanks to John, my father. He said it was no secret I hated both Thomas and my father, so I was the perfect selection. It made sense, but I didn’t understand why they gave me any choice. He said he finds most people work better under the right motivation. Why torture someone when you can have them do something for you willingly? So, he simply asked me what I wanted. The only thing that came to mind was our freedom, so that’s what I asked for. I wanted nothing to do with his organization or any other client affiliate. While I was at it, I asked for certain people’s freedom as well. Anyone who wanted out would have that choice.”

Aaron seems somewhat eased. I don’t know exactly what he was expecting, but I’m glad to see the relief on his face. “So, you’ve been giving out information this entire time. How long has this been going on?”

“Not that long, a couple of months. He wanted files on the financials, strategies Thomas used, and the number of men under his control. It was hard sneaking them out to him under everyone’s noses. I was so stressed the entire time, thinking someone was going to catch on. I never thought I would get away with it.”

“Liam, you were in so much danger, and you never once told me anything about it. I understand we made an agreement about your work and you not being able to tell me anything. I wish I could have been there for you. I thought you were acting a little off, but I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination. Now I know the truth.”

“Yeah, it was difficult for me to keep this from you and Tristan. He has no clue either. I’m hoping he will take this out, and keep Addison and the baby safe from all this insanity.”

“Lee, I think he might. He was talking to me that night, before the door was burst open, about all the danger Addison and the baby would be in. He said it was different when it was him and Addison, but now that there was a baby involved, he didn’t like the thought of an innocent being in harm’s way at all.”

This brings a small smile to my face. The thought of Tristan being away from all the hateful, horrible things we have to do on a daily basis leaves me almost sighing in relief. All I want for him, the same as for Aaron and myself, is a real life, with happiness and a future.

“So, what’s going down right now that we are all the way in Pennsylvania, and you don’t want to go back? I distinctly get the feeling that you’re in no rush to return to Chicago.”

“I’m in a rush, alright. I can’t because there’s no point. Angelo wants to handle this himself and I’m more than happy to let him. It’s better for me to stay out of the way and let things happen, as they should. Plus, I get the bonus of not having you in any danger.”

All I really want to do is go home. I’m so concerned about Tristan’s health—I want to see him and make sure Addison isn’t stressing and hurting the baby. Everything’s so out of my control and I can’t change that. It’s driving me insane, but again, I’m stuck, and I have to make the best of the situation.

I’m so lost in my thoughts, I’m surprised when Aaron wraps his arms around me. That one simple move soothes me, and I feel myself relax into him.

He murmurs against my chest, “Does this mean when we get back, we can have a normal life? Like, no bodyguards and not being gone all day? You won’t be at Thomas’s disposal anymore?”

My chest twinges with sadness. Is this how it’s been for him?

“Babe, is this how you think of our life? Why would you even stay with me?”

Glancing up at me, he answers softly, “It isn’t just that. I’ll admit it’s not the easiest, but it’s worth it to be with the man I love. I can’t imagine being without you, Liam Sandoval. Thugs surrounding us or not, I think your heart is quite a catch, baby.”