Page 105 of Brick Wall
Dammit. I‘ve been dodging his calls and messages for weeks. He’s been asking to meet up and Griggs has been doing the same, but I’ve made it my personal mission to ignore them in the hope that they’ll go away.
Curtis: You ready to talk yet?
JT: Can’t. I’m at practice.
Curtis: Really? Because it looks to like you’re standing in your own goddamn kitchen eating a turkey sandwich.
Before I can stop myself, I glance at the window. My phone dings with an incoming text as a chill runs up my spine.
Curtis: I’ll be right up to chat. I’m guessing the missus is asleep, so we’ll have to be quiet.
JT: We don’t have to be anything. I have nothing to say to you.
Curtis: You think it’s your turn to fucking talk? Of course you do. The whole goddamn world revolves around Jax Norris, so why should this be any different?
My phone rings and I’m half tempted to toss it into the trash, but ignoring the problem hasn’t worked yet. I walk to the far edge of the apartment, right by the door, partially so I don’t wake Maggie, and partially so I can keep an eye on Curtis.
My cousin’s voice rings out over the line. “You and I have something to talk about, Jax. You know where The Fifth Wheel is? Meet me there in half an hour. It’ll be good for us to catch up.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I release my breath. “I’m not fucking meeting you, Curtis. I?—
“Remember what Aunt Connie used to say to you when you were being a little bitch and wouldn’t get in the shower or eat your vegetables? ‘We can do this the easy way or the hard way.’ I always liked Aunt Connie.
I don’t bring up the fact that Aunt Connie is currently doing time in the same facility as my dad for identity theft. It’s no wonder Curtis admires her.
“We’re not gonna do this at all, Curt?—”
“The hard way, huh? Fine by me. I’ll be right there. Apartment 314 C, right? Open the door in two minutes so I don’t have to knock and wake up your girlfriend. Little Mama needs all the sleep she can get right now.
A chill runs down my spine at his words. He fucking knows where we live. Of course, he does.
“Stunned you stupid, did I? Never was that hard, but shit you made it easy. Tracking you was no problem. I’ve got fucking video of you and your girl coming and going, but the bun in the oven was news to me. Figured you were into fat chicks or something. Never realized exactly what those giant sweatshirts were concealing until you fucking announced it like a goddamn pussy after your win in Allentown. We were watching the game, you know how we’re all your biggest fans, of course. Deuce was about to switch the TV off when I saw you put your hand on her belly.Holy shit, I thought. My luck sure is changing. “
As my cousin rambles on, I clench and release my fists. I’m so goddamn stupid, prattling on to Maggie about being proud of my family. Some fucking boyfriend and father I am—I should have been protecting them and instead, I was feeding them to this goddamn asshole.
“The Fifth Wheel in twenty. I’ll be there.”
“Fucking right you will. And I know exactly what you’re thinking, Jax. Bring all the muscle you want, asshole. I’ll just add their names to the list.
I’m tempted to text the guys right now to ask for advice or maybe even backup. But my cousin plays dirty, and he’s had more than a year inside to think of a thousand ways to fuck with me. There’s no way I’m letting him fuck with my friends, or my family.
Grabbing my keys, I tap out a quick text to Maggie letting her know I’m getting some extra practice in before the tournament this weekend. I hit Send without looking because the lie makes me sick. I hate it, but it’s a necessary part of keeping my cousin the hell away from my girl and our baby.
The Fifth Wheel is a shithole, and this is coming from someone who lived in a place that actually crumbled to the ground.
The interior is dark and poorly lit, but that’s probably a good thing. I doubt I’d want to see this place with the lights on.
It takes me less than ten seconds to spot Curtis over by the pool tables. His hair is dark like mine, his eyes the same hazel. He’s stockier and more compact than I am, but that’s not the only difference. There’s a hardness to him, a mean streak that’s been sharpened in prison. His eyes cut through me like I’m just one more obstacle to take down.
I shake off the fear that’s been choking me since I took his call half an hour ago, and stride across the room with all the confidence I can manufacture.
“Look who it is,” he croons. “The golden boy of Grand Plains. The savior of the Norris family. The only one of us worth a good goddamn.”
“Cut the shit, Curt,” I say, leaning against an empty pool table. “I’m here, so start talking.”
“You’ve got a set of balls, I’ll give you that,” he laughs, shaking his head slightly before his voice turns cold. “You’re not calling the shots. You’re not in charge. We’re gonna talk and you’re gonna listen.”
That’s when I notice Griggs beside him. The guy’s so fucking creepy he blended in with the scenery.
