Page 28 of Nicoletta
“The very same.”
“And she was able to get both you and your mother to Mexico?”
“Right now, my mother is raising her consciousness on the Baja Coast at the Rancho la Puerta Spa.”
“And you came to Tijuana,” Bolt adds. “Picked up an outlaw biker, got down and dirty with him, then decided to plant the murder weapon on him.”
“Even though my mother denied stabbing Brad, at the time,I was convinced she was guilty, and I would’ve done anything to protect her.”
Bolt nods but doesn’t reply.
“My opinion changed the night my father tried to hold me prisoner after he got me released on bail.” I hang my head. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard his conversation through the door of his study.”
“Do you know who he was talking to?” Smoke asks.
“I have an idea it was his friend, Stuart Hinchman, and it was obvious they knew who murdered Brad. Tonight, those guys basically confirmed it was them who stabbed him.”
“My guess is they were just looking for a way to get rid of him,” Bolt adds.
“Everything that came after I left my father’s house that night was unplanned. I was as shocked as all of you when those guys started shooting at us out back.” I raise my head and meet Bolt’s eyes. “I know you don’t believe me, and there’s no reason you should, but I’m sorry, and I wish I had told you about the knife sooner.”
Bolt’s eyes soften for only a second, then he shifts his gaze to Smoke.
Smoke lets the moment drag out torturously slowly, stubbing out his cigarette, then folding his hands on the table.
Finally, he jerks his chin at Blood and Bolt, then nods to the door. I begin to stand with them, and he points at me.
“Sit.”
Like a trained dog, I snap back into the chair, eyes wide as I watch Bolt and Blood leave the room. Smoke manages and controls wild, threatening men, and they listen to him with no questions asked—so how does this land for me?
When the door eases shut behind them, he draws in a deep breath and exhales.
“I know a thing or two about being desperate and on therun,” Smoke begins. “I also know about survival, but what I absolutely hate is bullshit.”
“Everything I told you is the truth.”
“I know.” He clears his throat. “I also get why you lied, but it don’t change shit.”
“After tonight, there’s no going back to my father, or probably Los Angeles. You must understand that too.”
“Yeah, those guys looked as serious as a heart attack. They were more than willing to blow your brains all over that alley, but neither one of them will be in a position to bother you again.”
My eyes widen at Smoke’s pseudo admission.
I take a beat, then regroup. “You have my alliance from here on.”
“Hmmm.” He cocks his head like he’s actually thinking about it. “Maybe, maybe not.”
“Everything I told you about taking down and damaging the reputations of my father and his associates will work, but you need me to pull it off.” I pause for effect. “Unless you plan on storming Riviera Country Club, but I can assure you won’t get past the front gate.”
“Ya know, I’ve seen some fucked-up shit in my life. I mean bad shit, stuff nobody should ever see, but when I see rich, privileged assholes trying to make a buck off the backs of innocents,” Smoke slowly shakes his head, “I gotta tell you, it riles me up.”
His low, soft voice disguises what I’m sure are his real feelings on the subject.
“I’m ashamed to call him my father, but we can’t control our parentage.”
“Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth.” Smoke looks off, and I really don’t want to know what memories he’s conjuring.
