Page 37 of Time Served in New York
“I’m packing a gun too. Preacher insisted,” Blue said with a nonchalant shrug before she turned to go back to the bench.
“Oh my God, why didn’t I stay at the hotel?” Bernadette hissed.
Maylee patted Bernadette on the arm and whispered, “You’ll get used to them over time, babe. I promise.”
I laughed when Bernadette replied, “That’s what scares me.”
“Okay, here’s the plan,” Paula said firmly. “Blue, you’re gonna go find one of the Ares guys and hand over your gun. Then we’ll catch the subway and see what sorts of wild shit we can find. If all else fails, we’ll go to Coney Island, and you can walk down the street clinking bottles together calling for the Warriors to come out and play.”
“But if we’re gonna do that, don’t Ineedthe gun?” Blue argued.
“Absolutely fucking not,” I snapped, knowing there was no way we’d be in danger with my brothers’ men following us all over town. “You will not get into a shootout on the fucking subway!”
“All of you are no fun at all,” Blue grumbled.
“Fine. I’ve got a challenge for you,” I said with a wicked grin. “If you can make it all the way around the rink -without falling or holding onto the rail- I’ll let you carry your gun on the subway.”
“Do I have to do that too?”
“Are you serious right now, Brea?” Paula shrieked.
“Oh my God,” Matalie said as she leaned forward against the barrier and rested her head on her folded arms. “Two felons carrying guns they’re not even supposed to have, looking for crimes on the street so they can go vigilante on some unsuspecting mugger. It’s like a really bad B-movie plot. I can’t think of a single defense that would hold up in a court of law, even if Iwerelicensed to practice here.”
“Yes, Brea, you have to do that too,” I said with a pointed look. “Anyone else carrying illegal weapons I should know about?”
Jenn slowly raised her hand, and I heard Blue laugh before she said, “I’m not a felon. Does that count for anything?”
“Nope,” I snapped.
“Okay then,” Jenn said with a shrug. “My ass isnotgoing out there, so I’ll give my gun up to one of the guys willingly.”
“I’m carrying Enzo’s switchblade, and I think that might be illegal.”
“Knives don’t count, Maylee,” Paula assured her. “If they did, my ass would be out there on the ice trying to make it around without embarrassing myself too.”
“Lace up, bitch. Looks like we’re going skating!”
“I don’t know,” Brea hedged as she looked from Blue out over the ice. “That thing is really big around, and it’s gonna hurt . . .”
“That’s what she said!” Paula, Bernadette, Matalie, Jenn, and Maylee said in unison.
“You don’t have a single hair on your ass if you don’t take the challenge Frankie threw out,” Blue said as she tightened her skates again.
“I’d like to think she doesn’t have a hair on her ass anyway,” Jenn chimed in. “Just saying.”
“I don’t know . . .”
“I triple dog dare you, Brea,” Blue said as she slowly nodded and stared at our friend. “Triple dog.”
“What are we, 10?” Brea snapped.
“Chickenshit,” Paula teased.
Pandora grinned at Brea. “You’re gonna back down fromthat? Really?”
“So we’re all 10-year-olds now. Great,” Bernadette mumbled.
“Either take the challenge or give up the guns,” Maylee reminded them. “It’s up to you.”
