Page 52 of The Broker

Ares was an arms dealer and a friend… frenemy? Annoying acquaintance? Isaac wasn’t sure what the man was to Matteo. All he knew was that every time someone mentioned Ares’s name in the vicinity of Matteo, the man saw red and practically murdered whoever had dared to speak the devil’s name.

“Thanks, man,” Jared said, wiping the blood from his knuckles on the legs of his jeans.

It probably wasn’t a smart idea to walk through a prison with blood on your pants. But for some reason, Isaac wasn’t the least bit concerned. He had a feeling no one would touch them in this prison.

“Come on,Sally. Let’s get your boo-boo cleaned up,” the guard mocked Isaac’s uncle as he walked him toward the door. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll let Lester kiss it all better for you.” The guard gave a wink over at Isaac.

Isaac chuckled. It seemed that his uncle was being given the royal treatment here, in this place.

They both made their way to the opposite door before Isaac stopped one last time. He turned to face his mumbling uncle.

“You ever wonder why you’re still in here after all these years? It was a smuggling narcotic’s charge, correct?”

His uncle turned around, still clutching his bleeding nose.

That seemed to get the old bastard’s attention.

“It’s funny how your appeals for release keep getting extended.”

Uncle Jed’s eyes narrowed as he realized that perhaps his mysterious turn of unfortunate events wasn’t so random after all.

“Hope things don’t get too uncomfortable for you in here over the next few years.” The door behind Isaac buzzed, releasing the locking mechanism. “It was great seeing you, old man,” Isaac said, smiling before turning to exit the room.

18

JARED

Diesel insisted that they stay the night in Dublin. He had never been to Ireland, he claimed, yet somehow knew where all the best pubs were located. For a recovering addict, Jared wasn’t so sure if hitting the local pubs was such a great idea. But Malik didn’t seem to mind, and Isaac seemed a little withdrawn. Perhaps one night to get settled would do them all some good.

Jared poured himself another pint of beer as Diesel slipped back into the booth right next to him.

“Feel better?” Jared asked, picking up Diesel’s empty glass and refilling it.

“It’s amazing how good a piss feels when your tonsils are swimmin’.” Diesel’s choice of words was always colorful, especially when he’d been drinking.

“Where’s Isaac?” Jared asked, wondering why two men left for the loo, but only one returned.

“He said he’s going to clear his head for a bit.”

What? Why would the man go for a walk alone at this time of night?

Jared shook his head, annoyed. He knew that Isaac told Diesel and not him because Jared would have said no and sat on the guy if he tried to get up and leave.

“Relax. Give the guy some space to breathe,” Diesel commented, no doubt sensing Jared’s growing irritation. “You can’t keep your little bird caged up all the time, or it will never learn how to fly on its own.”

Not believing the words leaving the man’s mouth, Jared turned to face the guy.

“Since when did you become all philosophical and shit?”

Diesel shrugged and brought his beer to his lips and took a sip. “It was probably that professor who I blew in the bathroom earlier. Did you know that in ancient Greece, they used to believe that knowledge could be transferred to young men by swallowing older dude’s loads?”

Now he knew the man was joking. “No fucking way.”

“No, I’m serious. Saw it on the tele one night.”

Jared would have to look that one up later. When it came to Diesel, you always had to double-check facts and info. He always said things with such confidence, even though he was blowing shit out his ass. He would have made a great politician.

Propping his leg up on the bench in front of him, Diesel pushed his long hair back and flung his arm over his knee.

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