Page 74 of Bulletproof

He said nothing, just glared at me.

I turned to Calhoun. “You’re Jace’s friend, right?”

“Yes.”

“You should take his ass to the hospital.” I turned to look at Cristo and said, “Unless, of course, you’re planning to take us both out back and put bullets in our heads.”

His eyes were flat, cold, and hard.

“You could send wrapped fish to my brother.”

“Fuck you!”

“No, fuck you!” I roared back.

It was a juvenile exchange that dissipated the last bit of fear from the table.

“I’ll drive you to the hospital,” Eddie offered Sam, getting up and coming around the table, reaching for him.

Sam’s eyes met mine. “We’ll wait until Jory here leaves too.”

“Let’s all get the hell out,” I announced, striding toward the front door, yelling to everyone I passed that it was time to go.

Everyone saw me, looking at me with wide, horrified eyes. I was causing a huge scene, and everyone wanted me to get out.

“Jory!”

But I didn’t stop. I would never stop again for Cristo Liron.

Outside on the curb, I shivered in the cold night air.

“Jory.”

I turned and looked at Eddie as he was walking Sam, with Agent Calhoun on the other side, toward the car I had ridden over in.

“I can take you home, Jory.”

“Hell no.” I shook my head. “I’m not going home. I’m gonna go visit my friend Joe.”

He looked confused because it was such a random statement. “Okay.”

“You take care, and thanks,” I said, turning away, not trusting myself to look at Sam.

“Jory!”

I looked back at Eddie.

“I’m so sorry for everything.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“You gotta not be around for a while, Jory. Get out of town until he cools down.”

“He had a meltdown in there,” I told him. “What’s the cooling off period on that?”

He just looked at me, and I turned away.

“Grab him!” Someone yelled behind me.