Kings of Midnight Read Online Free Page B

testified against you or your people,” Benny said. “I did what I had to do, nothing more.”
    â€œI know that. Got their money’s worth out of you though, didn’t they? Put you on the circuit.”
    â€œThey didn’t give me a choice. You think I wanted that?”
    â€œI don’t know what you wanted. Couldn’t any of us figure out what was in your head, everything we’d done for you.”
    â€œDone for me? You mean done to me?” Benny said. “With that crazy Jimmy Burke going around whacking everybody? I was next on his list. The feds played me the tapes to prove it.”
    â€œFreezing my nuts off out here,” Longo said. “Can’t we do this in the car?”
    â€œThe feds, they like to fuck with you,” Taliferro said. “That’s how they get into your head, make you do things you know are wrong.”
    â€œMaybe,” Benny said.
    â€œAnyway, they’re all gone now, that crew. Jimmy, Paulie, Tommy. All dead. Couple others went into the program. For all I know, they’re dead, too. If anybody wanted you, Benny, they’d have found you. The world’s not that big.”
    â€œWhat about Joey Dio? He’s still around.”
    â€œNot anymore,” Taliferro said. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. Come on, the kid’s right. It’s freezing out here. Get in.”
    â€œDo I have a choice?”
    â€œOf course,” Taliferro said. “You always got a choice.”
    *   *   *
    Longo drove, Taliferro riding shotgun. Benny sat behind, left arm across the seat back, trying to act casual. He’d refused to get in front.
    â€œSo,” Taliferro said. “Leonard?”
    â€œIt fits. I’m half Jewish, remember? Not that they can tell a Jew from an Italian out here anyway.”
    They were on a long straight road, dark fields on both sides. Benny caught a glimpse of the moon through the clouds.
    â€œAll this open space makes me nervous,” Taliferro said. “How’d you end up out here anyway?”
    â€œThey had me in a bunch of different places. When I signed out of the program, I decided to stay in Indiana. I like it here.”
    â€œThat’s hard to believe.” Taliferro turned toward him. “Things didn’t work out with the wife, eh?”
    â€œYou heard that, too?”
    â€œSome of it.”
    â€œShe’s gone now.”
    â€œI know. I was sorry to hear about that. You ever see your kids?”
    â€œWhy do you ask?”
    â€œJust curious.”
    â€œNot for a long time. They’re grown now. In college, I think. Hope.”
    A deer came out of the woods ahead of them, eyes flashing in the headlights. Longo hit the brakes hard, and they were all thrown forward for an instant, then back. The deer bounded across the road, disappeared into the trees on the other side.
    â€œSon of a bitch,” Longo said. “Sorry about that, skip. I didn’t see it.”
    â€œWe’re fine. Just take it easy.”
    They drove on.
    â€œWhere are we going?” Benny said.
    Taliferro looked back at him. “Your place.”
    Benny stiffened. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI told you it wasn’t hard to track you down, find where you live. You got a nice thing going there, huh? How old’s that girl? Twenty-five? Good for you.”
    Benny sat forward. “Wait a minute…”
    â€œRelax,” Taliferro said. “So I know a little bit about you. No big deal. You think I was going to drive all the way out here, not know what I was getting into?”
    â€œShe’s got nothing to do with what happened before.”
    â€œDid I say she did? But you’re like, what, sixty, sixty-one?”
    â€œSixty-two.”
    â€œAnd she’s twenty-five? When I heard that, I said ‘God bless America.’”
    â€œAnd pass the Viagra,” Longo said.
    â€œBe nice,” Taliferro said.