Page 97 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“That is not the important part of what I just said, you goddamn idiot.”

Cross shrugged.

Zeke shook his head. “You know what, nah, you go get your stupid ass shot. She better be worth that kind of trouble, Cross.”

“She definitely is.”

“I’ll take your word for it, but the fear would be enough to keep me from even getting hard.”

“Nobody said I was fucking her,” Cross pointed out. “You assumed.”

Zeke nodded once. “Then you are dumb because you are seriously drawing the short stick here, man. You’re not even getting laid for this.”

“Don’t need to.”

“The very least you could do is get a taste of the thing that’s about to put you six feet under,” Zeke muttered to himself.

“Never said I didn’t get a taste. I said I wasn’t fucking her, and that’s none of your business to begin with.”

With that, Cross climbed out of the Camaro and slammed the door behind him. Zeke got out of the vehicle right after, laid his arms on the roof, and stared at Cross, silently stewing.

“What the hell do you want to say now?” he asked his friend.

“Pretty sure you’re supposed to be shadowing Dad all weekend. Calisto is trying to keep you under control, remember?”

Yeah, shit.

So much for that.

“About that,” Cross said.

Zeke raised is brow. “I ain’t helping you to get killed.”

“Nobody said you had to help. You could just look away later when I snatch your Camaro keys, or something.”

“You don’t have your license. You have a permit and a few weeks left before you get your license.”

“Doesn’t stop you from asking me to drive when you’re drunk and need a ride home, man.”

“Yeah, because you have a licensed driver in the car, and you have your permit.”

“Didn’t stop you before I had my permit.”

Zeke sighed. “Please don’t drag me into your stupid mess, Cross. I don’t want to get my ass killed because you’ve got your dick in a knot over that Marcello girl.”

“She has a name.”

“Yes, and when I use it, the more I feel like I’m summoning her insane fucking father.”

Cross made a noise under his breath. “Dante isn’t so bad—it’s just me that he hates.”

“I wonder why,” Zeke said, the sarcasm oozing.

“So, I’ll snatch the keys, and you’ll look away, right?” Cross asked, turning on his heels and heading for the pizza joint where Wolf was waiting for them.

“I fucking hate you.”

“You’ll make an excuse to Wolf, too.”