Page 16 of Gray Area

My father shakes his head. “Always good to see you, Tony, but no, this is business.”

Perez cocks his head to the side. “Business? Jude, you and I separated our business long ago.”

The fact that they ever had business together is news to me, but still I just stand there stone-faced, taking everything in.

“Yeah, we did, but there were two numb-nuts working at my place Tuesday night, who were pretty shady. After some discussion, they eventually claimed to be employed by you.”

“Eventually?”

“We had to have someintensediscussions.”

“Why is that?”

“Because at first they said they worked for Vavito, but my Axel was able to finesse more information from one of them who said that they were placed there by your organization, and told to pin it on Vavito.”

I watch as Antonio Perez’s jaw tenses, but seemingly as soon as it appears, it disappears. He is good at covering his emotions, but this must take him by surprise for him to let his guard down for even a second.

“And a few days before that, Cruz came to speak to Declan—”

“You’ve seen Eddie?” Perez asks, cutting my father off. There is emotion in his voice now, and he is leaning forward, bracing himself on the desk.

His response gives my father pause. “Declan did, yes,” my father says, nodding his head toward me.

Perez fixes his gaze to mine. “Where is he?”

“He was waiting for me after my night class at BCC,” I tell him. His question is confusing to me. In fact, I am surprised that Eddie isn’t here tonight, nearly crawling up Perez’s ass.

Perez studies me. “How did he look?” he asks, his tone no longer businesslike in nature.

“Look?” I ask, completely perplexed.

“Yes, was he, uh, disheveled or, or injured?” Perez asks, concern all over his face.

“No,” I reply. “He was in perfect health when he got there, driving a white Mercedes with way too many lights on the outside and wearing about twelve chains around his neck.”

“What did he say?”

I exchange a look with my father. “He told me he heard that we were allowing product to be sold in our places.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I told him that is not true.”

Perez stands suddenly, the movement having me reach quickly for my gun, but I don’t pull it out. He starts pacing behind hisdesk, shoving his hands in his pockets, then pulling them back out.

“Did he say or do anything else?” he asks, not looking at me, just continuing to pace.

“He pulled a gun on me…” I say, “to my back.”

The information stops Tony in his place, and he looks over at me. “And then what?”

“My brother Axel took him down. The last time I saw him, he was on the ground next to his running pimp ride.”

Perez shakes his head and resumes his pacing.

“What’s this about, Tony?” Dad asks.

Perez lets out a heavy breath, his shoulders seeming to sag with the weight of whatever it is that is causing this sudden change in his character. “You and I, Jude, we made an understanding a long time ago, and I want you to know that I would never ever go back on my word. Nor would anyone who works for me or any of my family. I want to make sure you understand that.”

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