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“I need to get ready,” I said, kissing her one more time. “We’re leaving in ten.”
“Come get me when it’s time.”
“I will.” I didn’t want to let her go, but I knew I had to. I peeled myself away and turned to the door, refusing to look back as I left and headed to my room.
* * *
The Glenside Pub was quiet, just like last time. I drove past twice to make sure there weren’t any obvious Healy goons set up in ambush and couldn’t find anything. I knew Don Valentino’s guys were somewhere nearby, but I hadn’t been in touch with them, and so couldn’t coordinate.
This was a fucked-up mess. Coming here last minute was bad enough, but I should’ve checked in with the squad the Don sent over so everyone understood the plan. Instead, we were going in blind, and probably winging it.
What a goddamn mess.
“You sure you’re okay?” Sam asked as I pulled the truck over and parked. “You’re on edge.”
“I just don’t like this. It’s not how I wanted this to go down at all.”
“I know, but we’re here and I believe in you. Let’s finish this.”
I squeezed her hand then got out of the truck. She followed and we walked down toward the pub together. Town was quiet, only a couple young guys walking up the hill toward the college, and that didn’t do much to help calm my nerves. It was like everyone knew something bad was about to happen, like some old Western showdown shootout, and everyone got away to avoid the bloodshed. I halfway expected a tumbleweed to roll down the street.
The Pub itself was empty. The bartender looked bored, cleaning glasses and watching the Phillies on TV. I stooped in under the hanging signs and spotted Colm sitting on the opposite side again with Shaun, but this time at a booth.
Sam kept close as I walked toward them. The bartender barely paid any attention as I stopped at the edge of the table and looked down at Colm’s smiling face.
There were no other Healy guys inside, at least as far as I could tell. They could’ve been in the back, but I didn’t think so. My own guys were likely outside still, and maybe they thought the plan was to ambush Colm on the way out, but as soon as I looked into the man’s eyes, at that stupid grinning face that caused so much pain and suffering, I knew I wouldn’t let it get that far.
“Take a seat,” Colm said. “Let’s have a talk.”
I nodded and gestured for Sam to get in first. She hesitated, then slid in opposite Shaun. He glared at her, lips curled back in a sneer, like he was disgusted by her presence. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the kid genuinely hated her.
Good actor. Or this was a trap and we were fucked.
“I’m glad you came,” I said. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
Colm drummed his fingers on the table. “I wasn’t sure I would either, but here I am.”
“Did Shaun tell you about our offer?”
“The boy mentioned it.” Colm glanced at him. “Although I’m wondering how you even spoke.”
“Nessa,” I said, nodding at Sam. “We used her to relay information.” Better to tell a half-truth than an outright lie. It was totally plausible that Nessa would act as a messenger for us.
“Of course,” Colm said. “That girl’s always willing to help a friend. Isn’t that right, Sam? Your best friend’s so kind.”
Sam shifted in her seat and didn’t meet Colm’s gaze. Her nerves were like high-voltage wires, electric and buzzing. If this weren’t an inherently stressful situation, it would’ve been suspicious.
“We had no way to contact you directly, so we went to Shaun instead. He made it seem like he could get a message to you.”
“And you’re lucky I did,” Shaun said angrily.
Colm put a hand on his shoulder. “The boy did the right thing, coming to me directly. I know it’s not easy.”
Shaun looked away, scowling at the wall.
“We want to make this deal happen,” I said. “The Don’s willing to make concessions, which is more than you can say.”
“Concessions?” Colm barked a laugh. “Your Don’s giving me what’s owed, is all. You can’t sit there and act as though you haven’t had a part in this war.”
“I’m well aware of what we’ve done. But we both know the Healy family hasn’t been forthcoming about negotiations. We’ve tried, again and again, and you keep pushing us off with unreasonable demands.”
“Unreasonable to you,” Colm said, leaning forward. He showed his teeth like a dog. “And yet here you are anyway.”
“We’ll pay,” I said, shifting slightly. I felt the gun tucked into my waistband, pointing down at my crotch, which wasn’t the best place for it but couldn’t be helped, and moved slow, as slow as I could. I got my hand around the grip and held it there, waiting. “We’ll even give you some turf. But in exchange, you’ll stay where you belong, and you won’t bother our guys anymore. And we want free passage through West Philly.” That last point was an improvisation but I couldn’t let Colm suspect that we were giving too much away.
