Page 12 of Judge

“I’ll see what information I can get out of his sister, but judging from her reaction tonight, she’s in the dark just as much as you.”

Moretti grins. “Who is the girl to you, anyway?”

I knew that was coming. “She’s no one. Just one of Tony’s girls.”

“Tony Romano. The caterer?”

I nod.

“Well, it sure as hell didn’t look like she was just a no-one to you.” Moretti cocks his head with a grin.

I keep my best poker face and answer, “I was just trying to diffuse the bomb you were going to set off out there. I have enough on my plate to deal with. By the way, I’ve got you a sixty-day extension on your building violations.”

“Thanks, Judge. I knew I could depend on you.” Moretti says, pouring two glasses of whiskey, he hands one to me. “How much do I owe you?”

I yank the check back from the table with a big grin. “This should cover it.”

Chapter Nine

Indie

“I’M SORRY, BOOGERS.” Austin grimaces as I wipe the dried blood from around his left eye. His defensive attitude seems to have faded and remorse has set in.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was just trying to help us. Look at this shithole we live in. You work so hard, and we get nowhere. For fuck’s sake, Indie, we have bars on our windows and doors. We may as well be living in a prison. I wanted to do something. I’m the man of the house and should be taking care of things. He lowers his head ashamed. “But all I have done is mess it up more.”

“Austin.” My anger dissipates and turns to sympathy. I let out a long exhale. He’s seventeen. He should be finishing school and heading off to college, carefree, and having the time of his life. Instead, he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I’ve been so wound up with my own burdens, I didn’t realize his. I feel responsible for this.

“How did you even get involved in this? What work have you been doing for that man?” I quiz my brother.

“Joe introduced me to some people who work at the club.” Austin rubs the back of his neck with his hand. “They clean money through there, and I got paid to deliver the money.”

I fucking knew it! I told him those Caponi boys were bad news.

“Ten thousand dollars,” I remind him. “You stole ten thousand dollars. What the hell did you do with it?”

“No. I only got just over a thousand of that, which I tried to give you, but...”

“Hang on a minute,” I interrupt him. “Who got the rest of it?” I clench my fist, becoming more and more frustrated and yet confused by the second.

“It was divided between me, Joe, and some of the guys.”

“What? What guys? Why didn’t you tell them that?” I shake my head at him. “Why didn’t you tell Moretti that you were not the only one?”

“I am not a rat, Indie. I would never snitch on them.”

“First off, who is them? And second, you’re telling me I’m going to be working for that prick of a man to pay off their debts? Oh no, Austin, you are going to march back down there with me and tell that man the truth.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Austin tries to get up from the sofa but winces and sits back down, holding his ribs. “If I do that, you may as well of let Moretti kill me. I’ll be as good as dead.”

“Who are they?” I ask again. “Who are these other guys.”

“I am not telling you. I know you. You always have to do the right thing. You would go straight back to the club and tell Moretti. I’m sorry, Indie. I’m sorry I’ve gotten you in this mess, but believe me, if I tell you, things will get much worse.”

I let out a long sigh, resting my head in my hands. I’m so damn mad I could strangle him. How could he be so stupid? Stealing from thugs and then thinking they wouldn’t notice. More than ever, it’s clear how immature and messed up Austin really is. Being angry with him right now would only make matters worse. I would push him away. I don’t think me telling Moretti would solve anything. Thoughts of someone else being beaten up make shivers run down my spine. I don’t want to be responsible for that, and I certainly don’t want Austin to get into any more trouble.

“Just promise me. No more. I’ll pay back the money, and then we’ll move to California, right near the beach, just like we dreamed about when we were kids. We’ll start fresh and leave this place and all its shit behind. What do you say?”

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