(2012) Blood on Blood Read Online Free

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    I reached down and picked up the knife. There was a piece of me that wanted to jam the blade into Jiři’s chest and yell, “See? This is who the fuck I am!” But I didn’t. Maybe I wasn’t a cop anymore, but I didn’t want to spend the next fifty years on the run or in a prison cell, either.
    I closed the blade and tossed the knife to Eddie. He juggled twice but finally caught it.
    “Get up,” I told Hawk-face. “Get up and get the fuck out.”
    Hawk-face groaned but didn’t move. Jiři pulled his hands away from his face. They were covered in blood, but the bleeding from his nose had already stopped. He was warrior stock, this one. I think that if it weren’t for the fact that Hawk-face was clearly in charge, Jiři would’ve fought to the death. Because for guys like him, every fight is to the death.
    Reluctantly, Jiři seemed to accept that this  was over. He reached down and helped Hawk-face to his feet. His motions were gentle.
    “You broke my fucking rib, you cocksucker,” Hawk-face sputtered.
    I ignored his words. “Don’t come back,” I said. “We’ll go to the Irish for protection. Even if they’re not interested, the Polacks will be. Either one of them will do more than bust your ribs. They’ll kill you and your boss. So stay the fuck away.”
    Jiři helped Hawk-face toward the door. The smaller man sneered at me. “You might be right, you cop fuck. The micks can have this pile of shit place. But that doesn’t protect you . And I’ll see you again.”
    I didn’t answer. Jiři supported Hawk-face as they went out the door.
    “I’ll see you again, kunda ,” Hawk-face said as the door swung shut.
    When they were out of sight, I looked over at Eddie. He still seemed stunned.
    “You don’t have the Irish looking after this place?” I asked him.
    He shook himself from his reverie. “Course I do,” he snorted. He pulled a white towel from his apron and wiped the blood from his face.
    I sighed. If I’d known that, I would’ve let them take the money and leave. Eddie could report it to whoever he paid protection to and they’d deal with the Czechs. Now I had two more enemies in this world.
    Eddie pointed at my hands. “You need ice?”
    I glanced down at my knuckles and flexed both hands. They hurt a little but nothing serious. Most of my targets had been soft ones, and I landed them right.
    “No, I’m good.”
    Eddie nodded. He took a deep breath and let it out. “Jesus. Thanks, Mick.”
    “You’re welcome,” I said, though I didn’t feel it. I should’ve known he paid the Irish, but I guess you miss a few things when you’re on the grill and busy banging the waitress.
    That made me think of Connie. I turned toward the kitchen. She stood near the doorway, her cell phone perched in her hand. I could see the question on her face. Should she call 9-1-1? But it’d been over too fast.
    I looked back at Eddie and shrugged. “I’ll see you tomorrow, boss.”
    “Yeah,” Eddie said. “See you tomorrow.”
    I headed back toward the kitchen and the alley exit, because this time I wanted to walk past Connie. I wanted to smell her perfume. I wanted her to smell the sweat on me. Let her know some regret. Because I knew full well who was going to be looking for a job in a few days, and it wasn’t me.
    “Say hi to Steve for me, baby,” I said as I swept by her. I continued through the doors to the kitchen and out the alley exit before she could answer.
     

FIVE
    Jerzy
     
    As we’re weaving through the backroom and small kitchen on our way to Patrik’s office, I notice not too much has changed back here, either. Except the big bodies. Lots of muscle around every corner.
    Like the bar and main room out front, the hallways are long and low. The lighting is bad and if I hadn’t been here a million times, I’d be bumping into walls and corners.
    We make a left and down on the end of the hallway will be Patrik’s office, right across from the old man’s. The music is muffled