Page 58 of Carnage
Ghost laughs. “None taken. This is beyond my skill set.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I say, spearing a piece of cantaloupe. “And I’m happy to help with cooking as long as I’m here.”
“Are you leaving?” Phantom asks.
“At some point.”
Colson winks at me like he knows something I don’t. Flustered, I bow my head and focus on breakfast.
“Good segue,” Carnage says. “Any ideas on how to handle a kidnapping exchange?”
“Exchange?” Wraith asks. “What does that mean?”
“Leon thinks I’m going to meet up with him tonight to give Rue back. He said he’s bringing money and two men for a trade. He offered drugs too, but I declined.”
“Motherfucker,” Whisper mumbles.
“He’s got business at those Lake Breeze apartments,” Shadow adds. “Rue’s heard him.”
“Do we think it’s another trafficking ring?” Stealth asks. He really lives up to his name. You almost forget he’s in the room until he speaks.
“Could be,” Carnage says. “He has access to people, at least.”
“I never heard specifics like that,” I say. “It seemed like mostly drug deals. He does a lot of business at Redlight, but he’s mentioned those apartments a few times. I don’t know the details though.”
“It’s a start,” Whisper says.
“Obviously, I’m not giving Rue back to him. So I’m trying to think about how to give him the sense I am going to so I can get any innocents away before I take care of business.” His tone is deeper and darker than normal.
Okay, there’s that weird flutter in my stomach again.
“I have an idea,” Stealth says. “One of us can take Rue’s spot while the rest of us hide in the shadows and work to get any bystanders or victims out of the way. It has to be synchronized, so when we make a move, it all happens at once.”
Carnage nods, thinking it over while taking another bite of quiche. “Leon’s mine though.”
“Of course,bror,” Wraith says.
Another man enters the room, still looking half-asleep. He’s got dark hair and I think I remember someone telling me he’s the hockey player’s brother. Boone?
“Smells good,” he mumbles, sliding into a chair.
“You’re lucky there’s still some left.” Wraith smiles warmly at him.
“Late night, Brother?” Pax asks.
“Went down a rabbit hole,” Boone says. “Reading up about that shamrock gang.”
“Shamrock gang?” Shadow asks. “What’s that?”
Whisper grunts, so Carnage gestures for him to explain it to Shadow. “We stopped a hate crime last night. The victim toldus it was a gang thing and that all the members had shamrock tattoos.”
“Irish, then?”
“Probably. Fighting with the Italians. Pretty standard Mafia shit, if you ask me.”
“Exactly,” Boone says. “It’s not a street gang. Well, it is, but they’re jockeying for more. They’re organizing. According to some police reports I found, the hate crime stuff is part of their initiation.”
“So they’re homophobic assholes too,” Specter says through gritted teeth while Colson rubs his hand to soothe him.
