Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Now it was just Romeo and the big man. He braced for what was to come next.
Standing at the end of the hospital bed, Magnum jerked his chin at it. “What’d you do to cause this shit, asshole?”
“Why do you always assume that I’m the asshole and it wasn’t some random attack?”
“Ain’t an assumption. Facts are fuckin’ facts.”
“Have you figured out who ambushed me, yet?”
“Not yet but bettin’ this has somethin’ to do with the woman I told you to stay the fuck away from.”
“Pretty fuckin’ bold assumption,” Romeo countered.
Magnum shook his head. “Know it ain’t Shade. He don’t get other fuckers to do his dirty work. He would’ve come silently in the middle of the night and left just as quietly after jammin’ his hand into your chest and yankin’ out your heart. Could still happen if you continue to diddle with Maddie.”
“About her…”
Magnum groaned and brushed an agitated hand back and forth over his bald head. “I gotta fuckin’ sit down for whatever the fuck’s gonna come outta your mouth next?”
If he did, Romeo figured the big man wouldn’t be sitting long. “So…”
“Christ,” Magnum muttered.
Maybe if Romeo gave his enforcer some background, he’d be able to find the assholes who put him in the hospital a lot faster.
“She has… had a dick boss that was constantly abusin’ her.” Magnum’s chest seemed to expand at that, so he quickly added, “Verbally. The fucker treats all his employees like shit. He seems to get a hard-on over making their work lives miserable. He made her work late for free, kept dockin’ her pay for made-up shit…”
“Quittin’ would easily solve that problem.”
“For most people, yeah.” He explained to Magnum about Maddie’s dream of working for the Steelers, or at least one of the Pittsburgh sports teams.
When he was done, Magnum said, “Mighta been told that was why she moved down here. Didn’t give much thought at the time ‘cause I really didn’t give a shit about the why, only the fact that she was in our area.”
“Yeah, so… Maybe you should know. Just in case…”
“In case of what?”
“Any further attacks,” Romeo finished reluctantly.
“Fuckin’ fuck. Knew you did somethin’ stupid. You make fuckin’ enemies with him?”
“Was only tryin’ to help the property of an ally.” Would Magnum buy it? The man wasn’t stupid.
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ. By doin’ what?”
“To help her out, had a word with her boss,” he answered.
“About?”
“Don’t matter what it was about.”
Magnum asked, “He do that to you?”
“Not him, but… Thinkin’ maybe he hired someone to fuck me up.” It was the only thing that sort of made sense. If this didn’t have to do with Roger Smith, then it had to be random.
Especially since he never fucked with married women or ones in relationships. It wasn’t worth it. Plenty of single women out there who wouldn’t turn him down when he turned up his charm.
“What gave you that clue?”
“Can’t think of anyone else who’d have it out for me.”
“So, what’d you do to him?”
“Like I said, had a word.”
Magnum cocked an eyebrow. “Did that ‘word’ also include hands?”
“For a second.” Or two.
Magnum dropped his head to stare at his boots for a moment while grinding his palm back and forth along the back of his neck. “So, you threatened her boss,” he concluded once he looked at Romeo again.
Was his jaw popping? Because it sure as fuck looked like his jaw was popping.
That usually wasn’t a good sign.
“Not quite. Just gave him a coupla suggestions.”
“Wanna tell me what those suggestions were?”
“One was stop bein’ a dick to his employees…”
“And?”
“And to put in a good word for Maddie with one of the teams so she could get her dream job.”
“Why the fuck would he do that?”
“‘Cause he got connections with the teams in the area. That’s the only fuckin’ reason she continued to put up with his bullshit and wouldn’t quit.”
“You fucked that up for her.”
Since that wasn’t formed as a question, Romeo should be offended. But, unfortunately, it was true. “Could say that since he fired her.”
“Then sent some goons to visit you.”
“Think so.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Magnum barked. “Shoulda left her alone. Shoulda stayed outta it. Shoulda listened to someone older and wiser than you.”
“Your opinion.”
“A damn good one. One fuckin’ day you’re gonna realize that you should take my opinions seriously.”
One day soon the big man would no longer be the club’s sergeant at arms and his opinion wouldn’t mean dick.
“So, what did chasin’ that pussy get you?” Magnum raised a finger as he counted off. “Risked our alliance.” He lifted a second finger. “Got the woman fired.” A third one rose. “Mighta fucked up her dream.” He dropped two of them but left his middle finger up. “Got your ass beat to fuck.”
“That about sums it up,” Romeo muttered. He reached for his water again but struggled to grab it. The fuck if he was asking for Magnum’s help. He’d die of thirst first.