“They’re all dead,” Larkin said. “He was a good solider.”
“Fuck you,” Clinton said, getting in his face.
I moved without thinking. I grabbed Clinton’s shoulder and slugged him in the jaw so hard that his head rocketed backward. He stumbled and dropped to the ground.
Something tackled me then. It was Burke, the little ball of strength. He took both of us down to the ground, and he began to rain blows down at me. I blocked as many of them as I could, but he had blindsided me.
Noble and Ford pulled him off me a second later, holding him back.
“Calm down, fellas,” Larkin said. “We won this today.”
“Bastard,” Clinton said, though his jaw sounded broken. “That bastard killed Lavoy.”
“What’s that now?” Larkin asked.
“I saw it. I saw him. He shot Lavoy.”
I stared at Clinton as the man struggled to his feet.
“I didn’t shoot your friend,” I said.
“You fucking did,” Clinton said, moving toward me.
“Careful,” Larkin warned, “or I’ll let Clutch finish the job.”
I grinned as Clinton stopped.
Burke, meanwhile, calmed down. Ford let him go, and he stepped toward Clinton. “Are you sure?” Burke asked.
“I saw it,” he said again. “I saw him do it.”
Burke looked at me. “Did you?”
“No,” I said.
Burke shook his head. “Fuck this, Larkin. Fuck you.”
“Calm down, Burke,” Larkin said. “The boy said he didn’t do it, so he didn’t. You see the way we were set up? Clinton probably thought it was Clutch since Lavoy was so close to him.”
“It was him,” Clinton said again.
“Talk again and I’ll fucking kill you,” Ford growled at the man, shutting him up.
Burke shook his head again. “I didn’t like this from the fucking start. You had no goddamn plan. The only reason this worked at all was because of me.”
“This happened last minute,” Larkin said, getting that dangerous look in his eye. “If you’re accusing me, say it.”
Burke looked like he wanted to speak, but he bit his tongue instead.
“Guys,” Dow called out. We all looked toward him. He was holding up a bag, a huge grin on his face. “Check this shit out.”
We walked over and gathered around. Inside the bag Dow was holding was a bunch of heroine, the pure shit we hadn’t been able to get ahold of since the war had started.
In the other bags was cash. Lots of fucking cash.
Dow was grinning hugely. “Big fucking score,” he said, laughing.
Burke nodded, but his face remained dark.
“Load it up,” Larkin said. Dow and Noble grabbed the bags and began walking back toward our bikes. They were parked a good ways away, covered in brush.
Larkin looked at Burke. “Get your boy under control,” he warned.
“I’m not sure I want to.”
“You think accusing us of killing your guy is a good idea?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “But if you did it, you’ll pay.”
Larkin got in Burke’s face. “Listen to me, you little twat. We worked hard to set this up, and some dumb fucking monkey isn’t going to ruin it for us. You think we’d risk all this killing just one of your fucking dumb goons?”
Burke didn’t back down. “I don’t know what you’re capable of, Larkin, but none of this was my idea.”
“True. It was your fucking president’s, so respect his commands and stop being a stupid cunt.”
Burke stared down Larkin for a second and then stepped away. He looked at me. “Better watch yourself, Clutch.”
I smiled sweetly at him. “You know where to find me, cocksucker.”
He walked away, back toward the bikes. Clinton followed him, and I gave Clinton a little wave.
Ford and Larkin walked over to me.
“Don’t antagonize them,” Larkin said.
“Fuck it,” Ford broke in. “Fuck them. I never liked this.”
Larkin looked at me. “Did you do it? Tell me honest.”
“I didn’t,” I said. “The guy was practically across from me. If a stray shot hit him, it was a real mistake.” I paused and shook my head. “But it didn’t. I’m a good shot.”
“I know,” Larkin said. “Come on.” He headed back toward the bikes.
Ford clapped my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “We’ll work it out.”
“I’m not worried. I’m annoyed.”
Ford laughed. “Yeah, that’s typical of you. Quick to get pissed, but you never know what’s good for you.”