Page 79 of Driftwood Daffodil

I scanned the fresh wounds on Simon’s face then shifted my gaze to Atlee’s reflection, “Everything go okay?”

I assumed he was responsible for the bruises and cuts. That was until Darry grabbed the headrest of the passenger seat. His bloody knuckles caused my brow to rise.

“Simon wasn’t feeling very talkative,” Atlee threw his arm over Simon’s shoulders and pulled him closer so Darry could slide in and close the door. “But he’s okay now. Isn’t that right Buddy.”

Simon quickly blurted out, “I have until tomorrow.”

“Somehow I don’t think you’ll have my money tomorrow?” I said while staring at him in the rearview.

“I’ll have some of it.”

Always excuses with this fucking guy, “do we strike you at the kind of people who take payment plans?”

“N—”

Simon was cut off by Darry’s fist cracking off his nose. It wasn’t a soft hit. Based on the crunch that followed I’d say Simon’s nose was now broken. Which would explain the cry that Atlee quickly clamped his hand over.

I sighed, “was that necessary?”

Without missing a breath Darry stated, “yes.”

“Darry’s just pissed that he got scratched.” Atlee snickered when Darry shot him a dirty look. “Little bitch was feisty.”

“She’s lucky I didn’t punch her in the fucking face.” Darry grumbled under his breath.

Honestly, I was surprised that he didn’t hit her. Most men drew lines in the sand when it came to women. My father for example, when it came to the fairer sex he tried to make death quick and easy. There were always exceptions of course, but only after all other options had been exhausted. Hence our current job. Darry didn’t have any lines.

“Oh come on,” Atlee pushed Simon’s head back against the seat to look over at Darry. “She was kind of fuckable.”

“She’d be a lot more fuckable with a broken jaw.”

“That’s a waste,” Atlee snorted. “You can’t face fuck someone with a broken jaw.”

“Yes you can.” The glint in Darry’s eye sent a shiver up my spine.

There were some things I did not want to know about my friends. And his knowledge on the subject of broken face fucking was now at the top of the list. Besides, Simon was trying to say something.

“You mind,” I nodded at Atlee, then dropped my eyes down at the hand he had clamped over Simon’s mouth.

The instant he dropped his arm, Simon gasped. “Cindy didn’t know any better.”

Atlee’s brow arched. “That was Cindy?”

Who the fuck was Cindy and why were we wasting time talking about her?

I was about to change the subject when Atlee asked, “why doesn’t Nova like her?”

Did Nova like anyone other than that blonde pipsqueak she hung around with? Then again, if her dislike for this girl was big enough that Atlee knew about it, then it might not be a bad idea to find out a little more about Cindy.

My eyes locked on the church yard where Nova was giving me an evil stare… she was still trying to see past me. Rising up in her tiptoes to look over people. She should be careful. Curiosity killed the cat.

“I don’t know why.” Simon shrugged. “It’s some ongoing rival crap they’ve had since kindergarten.”

“Nah,” Atlee shook his head and said what I was thinking. “There’s more to it than that.”

The swallow Simon pushed down his throat said one thing to me. Guilt. I knew that look well. I tasted that bitter flavor every time I saw Darry’s face. Even now I could feel that heavy pit settling in my gut. My friend’s green eyes didn’t give me the comfort they used to. They reminded me of my betrayal.

That’s when it hit me.

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