“And I paid you handsomely for that.” His fingers stopped drumming. “We’re even, in my opinion.”
“But we’re friends, aren’t we?”
He looked away for a second, clearly annoyed. “He said no, Damien. What do you expect me to do?”
“Just put me in a room with him. I can change his mind.”
He released a sarcastic chuckle. “Trust me, you can’t.”
“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”
“But I know what he’s capable of—and he’ll never agree.”
“How about you let me worry about that? Just tell me where he lives.”
His eyes turned cold. “Never.”
I didn’t understand why Conway was so loyal to him. “Just get me in a room with him. Let’s meet for dinner or something—”
“It’s not going to change anything.”
“You never know.”
He shook his head slightly. “There are a lot of other guys you can hire—”
“We both know he’s the best. I don’t want less than the best, not for this. There can’t be any mistakes.”
“Then why don’t you do it yourself?” he asked, grabbing his glass and taking a drink.
“Too complicated.” When I glanced at the girls, they were still absorbed in their conversation, talking about baby clothes and schools. “He has a special way of simplifying everything.”
Conway shook his head again, his eyes looking defeated. “He’s been out of the game awhile. He’s probably rusty anyway.”
I laughed because we both knew that was bullshit. “Conway, do this for me, and I’ll owe you one, alright? That could really help you down the road, redeemable at your convenience.”
He sighed loudly. “I don’t need help. But I suspect you aren’t going to let this go…”
“No.”
He crossed his arms over his chest for a long time and stared at me. “Fine. I’ll arrange a meeting.”
“Thank you—”
“But he’s going to say no. You’re wasting your time, Damien. And he’s gonna be in a bad mood because he has to meet you at all.”
“So, you’re going to tell him?”
He nodded. “I’m not gonna mislead him. He’ll meet you because I asked him to. But there’s nothing in this world that will convince him to say yes.”
“Why are you so close?” They had nothing in common. Conway designed and sold lingerie, and Bones killed people for money. They didn’t have the same interests…unless women counted.
Conway stared at me with his hard eyes but never answered. “I’ll get you the meeting.”
A few nights later, I sat alone in the bar.
It was half past two, and the bar stayed open just for me. A glass of scotch was in front of me, and Charlotte was waiting for me at home. She’d pissed me off, but then she dropped to her knees and sucked me off, so I let it go.
It was my second drink, and when I glanced at my watch and saw the time, I wondered if he was coming at all.
Then the front door opened.
It’d been years since I’d last seen Bones in the flesh. He was a large man covered in tattoos, the ink covering most of his fair skin. He had bright-colored eyes, but they were somehow demonic.
He looked the same.
He stopped in the doorway and stared at me, his gaze unforgiving and potently hostile. After a pause, he walked past the empty tables and approached me, wearing a gray t-shirt even though it was still cold outside.
His left hand had a tattooed wedding ring.
His presence was heavy, filling the air in the room with inherent danger. He didn’t need to say a word to issue a threat. He didn’t need to pull a gun to kill someone else. He had the spirit of an emperor, someone who ruled with an iron fist.
He left an empty stool between us when he sat down. He tapped his knuckles against the bar and spoke in a deep voice. “Scotch. On the rocks. Make it a double.”
The bartender gave him what he wanted without speaking. When we both had drinks, he excused himself to the back room, knowing this conversation was private. The bar wasn’t owned by either of us, but we ran it like it was.
Bones downed the whole thing in a single gulp before he wiped his lips with the back of his forearm. “No.”
“Bones—”
“The answer is no, asshole.” He pushed the empty glass away and stared me down, one arm resting on the granite surface. “It’s not about the money. It’s not about the connection. I’m out of the game, and I’m not coming back in for anything. You think getting Conway to stick his neck out for you impresses me? Bitch, nothing impresses me.” He turned the glass over and slammed it down, so it made a distinctive thud.
It looked like Conway was right. “The Skull King took my father—”
“That’s who you want me to kill?” he asked incredulously. “Even if I were in the game, I wouldn’t take the job.”
“Why?”
“I made a truce with them a few years ago. My hands are tied.”