Page 125 of Destroyer
“You lay a finger on my woman, I chop it off,” Tank said. “You eye-fuck her, I gouge out your orbs.”
“Jesus,” Sin murmured.
“Whoa, yeah.” Rocco glanced at Tank’s massive arms pressing against his black leather jacket. “Chill, my man. Just like to check, and check again. You gotta be persistent in life, right?”
Sydney leaned over. “Yo, I’m not interested.Stopcheckin’.”
“I need to talk to that guy,” Tank said.
“Yeah, so I don’t keep no contact list or nothin’.” Rocco chugged down more beer. “They find me. We set up a time. We meet. They either buy rifles, or they don’t.”
“Show me his phone number,” Sin said.
“I don’t keep ‘em, you know. I ain’t got no names in my burner neither. I’m like vape, man. I’m there, then, poof, I’m gone.” He shot Sydney another gold-filled grin.
Rocco showed Sin, then Tank how he had no numbers in his phone. “I erase ‘em.”
Tank and Sin continued to pepper Rocco with questions, but he stayed vague. Beyond confirming one of Haqazzii’s men had bought the illegal firearms, they’d learned nothing more. No names, no phone numbers.
One big fat nada.
Rocco finished his drink, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and pushed out of the booth. “You got a real nice place, Mr. Santini, and a super fine lady. You musta done somethin’ right.” He sauntered toward the front.
“He was useless,” Sin said before downing the shot of bourbon. “I’ll put a tail on him to see if he’s telling the truth.”
“I’m gonna make sure he’s gone.” Tank pushed out of the booth.
“I’m taking off,” Sin said.
Tank regarded Sydney.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I got two pieces on me, and I’m staying right here.”
“Nice work today,” Sin said to her.
Tank pointed a finger at her. “Do. Not. Move.”
The love that passed between them was palpable. She felt it, she could see it in his eyes. When her lips curved up, he smiled back.
I’m falling in love…
Is it too soon to tell him?
TEDDY
Teddy and Sinheaded toward the front of the restaurant. Once outside, Teddy spotted Rocco in the parking lot smoking a cigarette while talking on his phone.
“He reeks of trouble,” Sin said.
“I appreciate your doing this,” Teddy said.
Sin shook Teddy’s hand before pulling out his phone. “I’m here to help. You’ve got a mountain to climb…” —he flashed his movie-star smile— “but you’re a Santini. You’ll get it done.”
With that, Sin strode into the parking lot, his phone pressed to his ear.
The front door of the restaurant opened, four men stepped outside. Teddy scanned their faces, then circled back to the one he recognized.
When the man caught his gaze, he grinned.
