Page 81 of Bourbon Truths
“Great, thanks for asking. You should see the size of her tits. Doc says I can’t go at her right now, but shit is she making it hard on me.”
Jett laughed shortly. “Listen to the doc. You don’t want to do any permanent damage.”
“You know I will,” Vinny replied. “I think we’re done here. Are you going to collect the mess?”
“Yeah, unfortunately. Maybe next year, you don’t show up.”
“He pays me too well to let that happen. Sorry, man.”
“I would pay you more not to do it.”
Silence filled the alleyway as I assumed Vinny thought about Jett’s offer. If I hadn’t been in so much pain and my voice might reach them, I would have protested but there was no use.
“You make a compelling offer, Mr. Colby, but I couldn’t do that to Mr. Haywood. I see an empty man inside him, a hurting man. I know what this kind pain can do to him. I know it helps him forget. I don’t want to take that away from him. He needs this.”
Vinny was my kind of people.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe I can convince you another time.”
“Don’t count on it.”
Vinny stepped over me, giving me one last kick to the hip. “Until next year, Mr. Haywood. Take care of yourself.”
Vinny and his nephews retreated, leaving me aching on the ground of New Orleans.
Jett crouched next to me and turned me so he could see my face. “Fucking hell,” he muttered. “Why do you do this, Kace?”
I rolled to my stomach and pressed my hands against the ground to lift myself up. I stayed there on my hands and knees for a bit, trying to catch my breath and watching the blood drip from my face with my one good eye.
Small crimson droplets flooded into a puddle seeping into the cobblestone, soaking the streets with yet another sin that would be washed away later.
I coughed a few times. The feeling of glass shards ripped through my lungs, and I knew they’d broken at least a few of my ribs. It would be a long recovery with no painkillers. I looked forward to it.
“Take me home,” I muttered, allowing Jett to grab my arm and help me up.
“Why, Kace?” he asked again, lifting my arm over his shoulders to help me walk. I had tunnel vision, only able to see a few feet in front of me.
“It’s too much,” I said, coughing again.
“What is?” Jett asked, bringing me around the corner to an idling car. Before Jett helped me into the vehicle, he made me look at him and answer his question.
“The memory, Jett. The memory is too fucking much.”
He understood and helped me into the car, where towels and ice were waiting for me.
I knew my best friend loathed this day. I knew he hated seeing me like this, and I knew he hated the fact that he couldn’t alter my decision-making process on this day.
Jett was a man who strived to save lives. This was one fucking life he wouldn’t be able to save, no matter how hard he tried.
Chapter Twenty-Four
My Present…
I rolled to my side and looked at the clock just before it started ringing, letting me know it was time to get up. Every last inch of my body burned as I threw the covers off me.
There was a lack of energy in my body and an abundance of pain throbbing down every inch of my frame.
Shower. I needed a hot shower.
