Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Hey, man. I was in the area and thought I’d stop by. I barely saw ya today at work.”
Archer got to his feet, opened the refrigerator, took out another beer and handed it to him. “Billy, I’m glad you’re here. Have a seat.”
Billy wrapped his paw around the Michelob then slumped on a chair at the table. He opened the beer and started chugging. Archer leaned back in his seat, studying the man. The air around them had gone chilly. Something didn’t feel right—in fact, something hadn’t felt right for weeks.
“Archer, I need to ask you something,” he began, leaning forward.
“Yeah? And what’s that?” Archer took a swig of his beer then set it down.
“I need you to be straight up with me. Look, me and the guys have noticed you actin’ different lately. We want to know if—”
“Acting different how?”
“Less focused. Distracted. You’ve been workin’ shorter hours, leavin’ fast. Talking less. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you still get the job done, but you seem to be somewhere else mentally. I’m worried about you.”
“Worried about me, huh?” Archer grinned as he brought the beer back to his lips.
“Yeah, this isn’t you. Something isn’t right. This is our job.” Billy threw up his hands. “We’ve all got a lot ridin’ on these shipments. I know you’re the boss, and you may think I have some nerve, but someone had to say something because we all care about you. I figure since I’m the closest to you, might as well be me.” Billy shrugged, then took another gulp of his beverage.
“Might as well be you… Well, isn’t that special?” Archer whispered back with a smile. They assessed one another for some time, while ‘Blessings,’ by Big Sean, was playing.
“Where’s the girl?”
“I don’t have any girls. I’ve got a woman though.”
“I knew it.” Billy shook his head, his mouth twisting, then his jaw clenched. “I knew you were fucking her!”
“What I do with her, or any other woman, is none of your fucking business.”
“She’s the reason you’ve lost focus and haven’t been around as much! She’s been nothin’ but trouble since she got here, and you’re letting her come between all of us! Why in the hell would you trust her?! You hate people like her! She’s a fuckin’ reporter! A media snitch! A rat! And it is my business because she’s the reason Tone is dead!”
“Tone got himself killed when he decided to try and stick his cock in her mouth.”
“Oh, who the fuck cares?! It wasn’t bad enough for you to kill him! You asked us to take care of her, and we did. He lost his life over trying to help you. That was a big ass mistake. You sold us out for a pigeon! An informant! She’s going to turn on you, too. Just mark my words. Get out while you still can, Archer. Before it’s too late.”
“I made a mistake. I broke my own rule, and that’s why you and I now have a problem.”
“What mistake was that? Fraternizing with the prisoners?”
“No… tellin’ my right hand what the left one is doing.”
“I just wanna know why, Archer? Why did it have to be her?! Of all the women you could’ve had, man, all the women that have come and gone, you decide to not only screw her, but keep her around! A photojournalist for a big ass paper in L.A.! This is no small potatoes. This bitch is famous! I found out all about her. She’s dangerous! She’s sneaky, too. Conniving.”
“Billy, you’re speaking of someone you don’t know. You have no idea what me and this lady have experienced. What we’ve discussed. Whatever you think you know about her, it’s wrong or doesn’t apply to this situation. I know her inside out. You only know of her, and I realize right here, right now, I don’t know you at all…”
“You… you have got to be fucking kidding me!” Billy slammed his beer down. “She doesn’t understand people like us, and if you think she’s gonna just walk out of here and not turn you in, turn me in, turn us all in, then you’re livin’ in La La Land. Not only would she get revenge for what you did to her, she’d be able to blast it in a damn paper! You’ve turned a blind eye all because you’ve gotten soft for her, thinkin’ with your dick. Is the pussy really that good?!”
Archer rocked back in his chair as Billy sat there and fell apart in front of him. So much emotion. So much passion for shit he couldn’t grasp or comprehend. Archer glared at him. Drinking. Smiling at the man.
“If you really think this is just about pussy, you’re even dumber than you look right now…You’re missing the big picture.”
“She’s a liability, and she’s going to scream our names from the highest mountaintop. She’s gonna squeal and ruin the company! Why can’t you see that? WHY?!”