Smash_ A Stepbrother MMA Romance(123)
“We’re cool, right?” he asked.
“Depends.”
“Depends on what? I thought we were cool?”
I leaned forward and every ounce of emotional weight I had been carrying on my back ever since my mother was diagnosed suddenly felt like it was about to spill out of my mouth. I wanted to vomit it all over him until he understood the deep, fetid shithole that I had found myself in.
“I want out.”
He laughed. “Is that it?”
“That’s it.”
He looked confused. “You owe them some money, but you’re almost square. Just a few more runs and you’re done.”
I sighed and leaned back, shaking my head. Thom didn’t get it and probably never would. “Do you really think they’re going to let me walk?”
“Why wouldn’t they? That’s the deal.”
“Thom, you realize that I know everything about their distribution and smuggling network, right?”
“Yeah, of course you do. But you’re cool. They know that.”
“Fuck, Thom,” I said. “Are you seriously that naïve?”
He was silent for almost a minute as I stared at him. “What do you want from me?” he asked finally.
“I need out of this. It was never supposed to be long term.”
“I didn’t force you to get involved with these guys, Climber. You can’t expect me to take this shit on for you.”
“I know that. And I’m happy you helped me.” I looked around his place, frowning. “But look at the way you live.”
He laughed. “What’s wrong with this, man? This is fucking freedom.”
“This is fucking squalor.”
“So it’s a little messy.”
“How much do they pay you?”
He smirked. “It’s impolite to talk about money.”
“Seriously, man. This place is an absolute fucking dump. If they paid you what you were worth, you wouldn’t have to live here.”
“Maybe I like it here.”
“Nobody fucking likes this. People stay in shitholes because they have to.”
“It doesn’t matter what they pay me. I got side games going on. I’m hustling on my own, doing good for myself.”
“Meanwhile, you’re also taking on a lot of the risk if this smuggling business ever blows up.” I paused, letting that sink in. “And it will eventually. This can’t last forever.”
“And why would it?” He got a serious look on his face.
“I’m not threatening your operation. I’m saying that you’re not appreciated by your bosses and you don’t even realize it.”
He sighed, relaxing. “Let’s say for a second that you’re right, that maybe I’ve been thinking that same thing lately. What could I even do about it? These guys are serious shit, man. You don’t just ask for a raise.”
“You said there’s been a lot of changes going down lately.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Serious shakeup of the organization, but I’m not getting any real details.”
“Okay. So that means they’re vulnerable right now.”
“Vulnerable to what?”
I shook my head, frustrated. I had a plan in mind, but it was too soon to try to convince him of it. There were too many variables floating around, and if I tipped my hand and he decided to rat me out, everything would come toppling down around me. I needed to get him interested, but without divulging my real intentions.
“I have some ideas, but you have to trust me.”
“There’s not a lot of trust around these days, Climber.” He looked at my gun pointedly.
I picked it up from the counter. He stiffened in response. I ignored him and proceeded to open the chamber and dump out the bullets. “Better?” I asked.
“Fuck, don’t do that. I nearly shit myself.”
I laughed. “Relax. I’m on your side.”
“I don’t even know what side I’m on.”
“You’re on whatever side takes care of you.”
“And you think that’s what you can do.”
I clenched my jaw. “Fuck, Thom, look at this place. Look at your fucking life. They own you, man, and if they ever get caught, they’re going to rat on you so fast you’ll be getting ass fucked in jail before you can sneeze.”
“That’s not true,” he said softly. “I’ve been around a while. I brought you in.”
“All the more reason you shouldn’t be living like this.”
He bit his lip thoughtfully. “These are serious guys,” he said at last.
“I know. So am I.”
“If I were interested, not saying I am, but if I were, I’m not dying for this.”