“That’s your pride talking.”
“Fair enough. My pride has a say.”
“Okay, tell you what I learned from an applicant. The man was a stone-cold killer. Gangster of the highest order. I was best man at his wedding.”
I smiled, intrigued. “Wiki told me that. It was true?”
“Yes. Now, this applicant was no sage philosopher. But I never forgot something he told me. He said, ‘Decide what you want and do what gets it.’？” Dom nodded. “Nothing else matters. No rules, no laws. Not what you should want. Not being right. Not your pride.”
I thought a minute. “That’s sociopathic.”
Dom chuckled. “In the wrong hands, maybe. I take the truth where I find it, regardless of the wrapper. It’s not always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys.”
“Agree. We’re living that.”
“So here’s what, with Lucinda. Decide what you want. Decide what matters to you the most. Your pride—or your family.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Then it’s not, for you.” Dom shrugged. “But I see what you went through for Lucinda and Ethan. You risked your life. Hell, you’re risking your life tonight. If you forgive her, you get your family back.”
I couldn’t reply.
“She’ll never forget it, ever. In here, I never did.” Dom pointed to his chest. “And I never will.”
We both looked over when Tig clucked under his breath. “Dom?” he said, his tone incredulous. “You really believe that shit?”
Dom laughed. “I thought you were asleep.”
“No, I was just restin’ my eyes.”
“Me, too,” said Richardson.
“I heard every word,” added Skeet.
Dom laughed again, and so did I.
“Excellent,” I said, embarrassed. “To review, my wife cheated on me.”
“So what?” Tig shot back. “Jason. Do you love the woman, yes or no?”
I flashed on that kiss. Wow. “Yes.”
“Then you forgive her. That’s what love is. Forgiveness. Judgment belongs to God Almighty. Not you.”
Dom chuckled. “Okay, that works, too.”
“Amen,” said Richardson.
“Boom-shaka-laka!” added Skeet.
* * *
—
Only fifteen minutes later, we were on our feet. It was go-time. Without another word, Dom, Skeet, and Richardson started downstairs to take their positions.
Tig lingered behind, rubbing his knee. “Dom,” he called down, “I’ll be right there. My knee’s actin’ up. All that sittin’。”
“Okay,” Dom called back, heading downstairs, and Tig bent over the toolbox, took something out, and crossed to me.
“Jason?”
“Tig, thank you for what you’re—”
“Here.” Tig put something in my hand, and I looked down to find a gun, heavy and cold, its black metal barely visible in the darkness.
“Whoa,” I said, surprised.
“Dom doesn’t know. The other two do.” Tig kept his palm over mine, atop the gun. “Here’s the new plan. You don’t stay up here. You come downstairs. We do like Dom says, the three of us take them, nice and easy. If anything goes wrong, come out shootin’。 Not too early, not too late.”
“Okay.” My heart started to pound.
“You know I raised Dom. My late sister’s child. He’s not only my blood, he’s my heart. You dig? My heart.”
“I understand.”
“You were right, what you said before. This is your fight. If it comes down to you or Dom, I pick Dom. You do, too. It’s only right.” Tig held my hand on the gun. “Understood?”
“Understood,” I said, swallowing hard.
Tig patted my hand. “Good man.”
Chapter Sixty-Four
I hid downstairs behind the entrance door, looking through a patch of corroded metal to see outside. Dom was standing in front of the crane, next to the parked van. Tig, Richardson, and Skeet were out of sight behind the massive counterweight of the crane.
I heard a car pulling in on the left side of the building. Its high beams threw light on the back of the parking lot. Its big engine roared. Its tires rumbled on the gritty asphalt.
My heart thundered. My mouth went dry.
Dom stood ready, his hands on his hips.
A black Escalade turned around the building, its high beams sweeping the lot in a blinding arc. Its dark silhouette and chrome grille came into view, but I couldn’t see inside the car. I couldn’t tell who was in there or even how many.
The Escalade cruised to a stop, its high beams blasting Dom. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, which was the signal. Suddenly Tig, Richardson, and Skeet showed themselves, pointing guns at the Escalade.
“Come out with your hands up!” Dom hollered, aiming his gun. “Nice and slow!”
Three doors of the Escalade opened slowly. The driver’s door remained closed.
Two men emerged from the back of the Escalade, one on the left and another on the right. A man came out of the passenger seat. I couldn’t see their features, but they had on street clothes. They weren’t FBI.
Dom shouted, “Milo, out with your hands up!”
I kept my eyes glued to the Escalade’s driver’s side. I raised my weapon. I stayed put, sticking to Tig’s plan.
The driver’s side door opened.
I held my breath. My heart hammered. I didn’t know if I could restrain myself when I saw Milo. I had a loaded weapon.
The driver emerged, a bearded White man. Not Milo.
If Dom was surprised, it didn’t show. “Lie down!” he shouted. “Everybody, down on the ground!”
My mind raced through the possibilities. Milo could still be in the car. Or he hadn’t been in the car in the first place. I stayed put, gun at the ready.
Suddenly I heard another car on the left side of the building, moving fast. Smaller and lighter than the Escalade. Its engine made barely a sound. Its headlights were off, trying not to signal its arrival. I didn’t know if Dom and the others heard it over the Escalade’s big engine.
Milo had to be in the car, with more men.
I couldn’t wait another second.
I raced out the door.
And everything happened at once.
Chapter Sixty-Five
A dark sedan veered around the building, spraying gunfire. I was already in motion when Dom was hit. He fell to the ground, holding his arm.
I returned fire, aiming at the sedan in the dark. I ran to Dom and grabbed him by the other arm. He scrambled to his feet, holding his gun.
The men in the Escalade started shooting. Orange flame popped like firecrackers. Dom and I returned fire. Richardson went down, doubled over. Tig and Skeet grabbed him on the fly, blasting away as they dragged him behind the crane.
The dark sedan screeched to a halt. Milo flew from the driver’s seat.
“Milo, over here!” I shouted, showing myself by stepping away from the crane.
“Jason, no!” Dom shouted. “Get down!”
Milo’s head whipped around. He aimed at me and fired. I felt the percussive wave of a bullet whizzing past my temple. I returned fire, aiming in the dark.
Dom yanked me behind the crane. I kept firing around the side.