Page 34 of Alonzo

“You don’t. That’s for sure. Because he’s not who he says he is, either.”

“Stay the fuck out of my life, Vann. No one asked you to play protector.”

“He’s been catfishing you for two years, Tara. He’s lying. Don’t you want to know that before you fuck everything up?”

“OK. I’m done here.”

I pick up my drink, down it in one gulp, slam the glass down on the table, and stand up. “Thanks for the drink. I can find my own way home.”

CHAPTER NINE - ALONZO

Jesse makes himself at home on my fishing boat, sitting lazily on one of the cockpit benches with his feet kicked up on the side deck. He gives Quint the GPS coordinates and eyes me from behind his mirrored sunglasses.

“So… Lonz.” I hate it when he calls me Lonz. “Seeing anyone?”

“Am I seeing anyone?”

“Yeah. You got a girl?”

“That’s not any of your business.”

“Well, it kinda is.”

“It’s absolutely not, Jesse. Trust me on this.”

“We are brothers now.”

“We are not brothers. I have my brothers, you have your brothers. But you and I are not brothers.”

“Come on. Why do you hate me? I’m only trying to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“I think you do.”

“I’m not sure where you got that impression, but you’re mistaken.”

He sits up, slides his sunglasses down his nose, and stares at me for a moment.

I wait him out and stare back.

“Miles told me.”

“Miles? Emma’s jet butler? He told you what?”

“He told me you were having trouble.”

“I’m not following.”

“In fact”—Jesse swings his legs down and plants his boat shoes on the deck—“he’s the reason I’m doing this.”

I’m so confused. “Miles is the reason we’re picking up Chek and creepy Wendy?”

Jesse points at me. “She is creepy, right?”

“So fucking creepy.”

“Like… when you look into her eyes, Alonzo? I can’t explain it.”