Page 5 of Faded Rhythm

AJ’s tough. Took a round to the knee and walked that shit off like a twisted ankle. He’s the only person on God’s green earth who knows what I used to be. And what I’ve become. He calls a few times a month to make sure I haven’t gone off the deep end.

“Target still alive?” he asks.

“For now.”

“That’s a long ass delay for a trigger man. You gettin’ old, brother.”

“Nah. It’s complicated.”

AJ snorts. “Aren’t they all?”

“Not like this.” I pull off three cars behind Sable. “I wanna know more, that’s all.”

He’s quiet for a beat, and then, “Should I be worried?”

I hate that he asked that, mostly because I don’t know how to answer.

“I wanna know what I’m walking into,” I say. “The client has money stashed, burner phones, off shore accounts. I found all that shit on my own. But nowshe’ssniffing around.”

“You think she knows?”

“Nah. Not yet.”

“Then why’s she digging?”

I think about that. “Women’s intuition, I guess.”

AJ exhales slowly, and I brace for it.

“You sound like you’re already compromised.”

I also hate the way he said that.Alreadycompromised. As if me fucking up is a foregone conclusion.

“It’s all good,” I say. “This shit ends tonight.”

It’s quiet for a moment.

“You sure?”

“Gotta be.”

Because the longer I wait, the harder it will be. Every time I watch her tuck her daughters into their car seats, or leave her yoga class, or carry groceries into her house, the job gets heavier. The lines blur.

That’s dangerous. For me, and for her.

“Alright,” AJ sighs. “Don’t second guess yourself when the barrel’s hot. She might look good, but she’s still a target.”

I never said a damn thing about her looks, but brothers don’t have to say shit. They just know you. Annoyingly well.

“10-4,” I joke. “Talk soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tonight’s the night.

It has to be.

“Bout motherfuckin’ time.”

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