(2012) Blood on Blood Read Online Free Page B

figure if he’s thinking I’m going to pull something, or he’s the one that’s gonna make a move. I watch his eyes close. The eyes are always where everything happens first. He’s definitely thinking on something.
    “I’m just cash strapped right now and I need to see some other people, too. See if I can get whole on some past services. It ain’t just you. I’m back up and full throttle but I need something to get - ”
    He holds his hand up and stops me. This time the smile looks better. He turns back to the credenza and unlocks the bottom cabinet.
    I’m really watching now. I mean I like the guy and all, always have, but I trust no one. No one.
    I see a glimpse of gray metal with a matte finish over his shoulder but he’s blocking most of my vision. He’s all hunched over and I slide my hand inside my leather coat ever so easy.
    Then he clacks open the safe he’s been dialing the combination to and I feel like an ass. But I leave my hand hooked on my belt buckle, nice and casual. I’ve seen more guns in safes than money.
    Turning around now, Patrik’s holding three neatly banded bundles of money. New bills, crisp bills and they ain’t ones neither.
    “Jerzy, you hurt my feelings. You don’t ever have to talk to me like some stranger, like some muscle just coming in cold off the street. You’re fucking family.”
    “Hey, I know, I just – “
    “I remember it well. We owed you eight or so for the misunderstanding you cleared up with the big Rosyjski. The Russians are such dogs, always have been, always will be. He has never fully recovered, by the way.”
    He places one of the three stacks on the desk and slides it over to me.
    “Ambrose forgets everything but I remember it all.”
    That was bullshit, but hey, I wasn’t lying when I said I needed the money and I was strapped. I wasn’t gonna stand up for the old man now. I look at the money, nod at him and smile, but I make no move for it. I don’t want to look too damn needy. I can actually smell that green, though.
    “There’s a bit more than eight there, Jerzy. Not only for helping with that monkey ass Russian but the shit you had to go through in Joliet. Drink?”
    “ Tak .”
    When Polacks drink vodka, they speak more Polish. It’s just the way it is. I s’pose it’s that way with all breeds, huh?
    As he pours us two more, he looks over at me and smiles. This time I got no warning bells ringing in my head. He’s the old Patrik again.
    We clink, we drink.
    “Now, even more important, is the biggest thing you ever did for us. You did it on your own, without us really asking, but that doesn’t really matter. It meant everything to us.”
    I understand the other two bundles now and whoa, it’s all I can do not to sing along with the bad music thumping away out front.
    “Jerzy, this thing you did will never be known to anybody but us but it will surely never be forgotten.”
    “The lousy fuck had it coming, Patrik. Believe me, it was my pleasure. Biggest waste of skin I’ve ever known. I never expected nothin’ and still don’t. I considered it a privilege to do it.”
    We are both starting to slur a little at this point and damn if it don’t feel good. I got some money again, half drunk and if I’m right about this, just about to be getting a whole lot more money.
    “Regardless, I want you to have this.” He slides the other two bundles over.
    “Can’t take that.”
    “The fuck you can’t.” He smiles a little lopsided and takes another drink.
    “Patrik, if Bogdan Skansi was standing right here I’d do it all over again…and I…I would pay you .” I laugh loud for effect only. I ain’t that drunk but damn, this is fun.
    “You know I can’t make you take it. You’d kick my ass.” Patrik shrugged. “I’m gonna leave it right there and before you go tonight, you’ll have it in your pocket.”
    I laugh and drain my glass. I’m letting it drop right the fuck there. No use pushing my luck and being too damn proud and