Redemption(99)

Silence. I wondered whether I had pushed him too far. If he hurt Jeremy, Tyler would never ever forgive me. I wasn’t sure she ever would anyway.

“Fine. I will agree to that deal. Bring me you and only you. I have a tap on your phone, so I know if you’ve called anyone. And don’t have anyone tail you, Dean, because I will know this, too. If you do all this, you have my word that Jeremy will be delivered safely back to his mother. I will text you the instructions.”

After I hung up, I got up, threw a couple of bills on the table, and ran to the pay phone. I dialed Jimmy’s number and he answered on the first ring.

“He’s been in touch.”

Jimmy sighed. “What do you need me to do?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers. “I gather the police are with you?”

He went silent for a moment. “Yes.”

“And Tyler?”

He sighed again. “I think you can imagine how she is.”

I knew he was being cryptic for Tyler’s sake, but she had to know. “Tell her something for me. Tell her that I promise with everything in me, I will get our son back. I’m on my way there now. He told me he is tracking my phone and that he’ll know if someone is tailing me.”

Jimmy breathed heavily. “You got what you need, and you know what to do. Whereabouts are you?”

“I’m at the Half Moon diner on Sterling Avenue. I’ll be leaving from here.”

“Good. Just leave the breadcrumbs and I’ll come find you. I have your back, Dean. Always will.”

I closed my eyes and prayed that everything would be okay. “Thanks, Jimmy. I just want you to promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“I don’t want anything done until I know Jeremy is safely back with Tyler. Do you hear me, Jimmy? Promise me.”

“I promise.”

I inhaled sharply. “Thanks. Wish me luck.” I huffed out a laugh.

“You don’t need it. You’re Dean fucking Scozzari. You do what you always do best.”

I couldn’t help my smile but, deep down, I knew this was only going to end badly. Above all else, I just wanted to know that Jeremy and Tyler were safe. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Jimmy. I know I keep asking, but I need you to promise me one last thing.”

“Name it.”

“If anything happens to me, make sure Tyler and Jeremy are looked after.”

“Oh, man, don’t talk like that. You’ll get through this. It will all be okay. Don’t fucking talk like you’re never coming out of this.”

I gritted my teeth. “It may come to that, Jimmy. I’ve got to be fucking realistic here. Pinzano doesn’t want to meet, have tea, and discuss the fucking weather. He wants me dead. We both know that there is a very good chance I won’t come out of this alive.”

I heard Jimmy curse under his breath. “Okay, Dean. I hear you, and I promise you anything you need, but you got to promise me something in return.”

I smiled. “What’s that?”

I heard a muffling sound, then he whispered, “Don’t you dare give in. If you get a chance, rip that fucker’s heart out and feed it to the next starving animal you see.”

I laughed a little. “I never need to promise that, Jimmy. It fucking goes without saying.”

He sighed. “Good. Now go get your son, and I’ll see you soon, butthead.”

“Not if I see you first, cocksucker.”

I hung up and quickly raced out to my rental car. I had everything I needed with me now and, luckily for me, it had gotten dark. It made doing what I needed to do and getting away with it that much easier. I had to be careful, though. I had to make sure no one was watching.

As I got into the car, I took out my phone and, sure enough, there was a text containing instructions on where to go. I made a mental note, put the phone on the dashboard, and fired up the engine.

As I drove towards the exit, I made my first mark. It was a fucking tragedy, messing the car up like this, but it had to be done. I didn’t fucking care how much this would cost me in the end. I had to make sure Jeremy was safe.

I took a right at the exit and drove about a mile before turning left at the junction. Again, I made sure I left my mark before turning.

The whole journey there, I gripped onto the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles started turning white.

The journey took about a half-hour. On the last turn, I disposed of the evidence and drove another half-mile down a long, dirt road. I was in the middle of a forest in the middle of nowhere. I could hardly expect anything different.

Once I got to a big house at the end of the road, I was met by two men with guns. I switched off my car. One opened the door with one hand whilst training his gun on me with the other. Both were wary. I guess my reputation preceded me.