Jack’s brows twitched together in a brief frown, but it faded quickly on a nod. “So, what can I do ya for?”
Nicky leaned forward, definitely all business now. “I need to find the Pigg brothers.”
Jack’s face twisted. “Those fuckin’ guys,” he grunted. “Why the hell would you want to find them?”
“I think they’re doing a job somewhere here in town, and I need to know where.”
Jack shook his head and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers over his abdomen. “Let’s say I know where they are. What then?”
Nicky shrugged. “Then I go have a chat with them. See what they have to say.”
“Come on, Nicky,” Jack drawled. “You and I both know how your ‘chats’ go. Hell, you shot up three of my guards, and I’m a friend.”
“Just flesh wounds,” Nicky argued. “They’re all Tales. They’ve probably already healed.”
“Not the point, Nicky, and you know it.” Jack turned to me. “Talk some sense into him, Trish. The Piggs were indicted for fraud and sued for all kinds of shoddy building. But you think it made a dent in their wallets? They made their real money in the Here and Now working as cleanup men for criminals who could pay their fee. If there’s a body someone doesn’t want to be found, the Piggs know how to get rid of it. God knows how many people are buried in concrete around town.”
“And you’re worried about Nicky?” I asked, not bothering to disguise my doubt. I’d seen Nicky in action. I had no doubt that he could handle three brothers whose claim to fame in Make Believe had been building shitty houses and getting sideways with Seth Wolf. Sure, Seth was a werewolf, but Nicky was still a force to be reckoned with. No matter how I looked at it, I just couldn’t share Jack’s concern.
“Just tell me where I can find them,” Nicky said. “And I’ll take my chances.”
Jack sighed. “It’s your own necks, I guess. Last I heard, they were doing a job out in Oak Park. I’ll have Ethan look up the address for you. Just promise me you won’t get yourself killed, you stubborn asshole. It’d seriously piss me off.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“I didn’t know you had a godson,” I said as we pulled into a half-built office complex in the suburbs where the Piggs had currently set up shop.
Nicky grunted but was smiling. “Jack and I used to hang out together in Make Believe. He was my partner in crime, literally and figuratively. Then he went and settled down with Vera.” He chuckled. “I never figured Jack for a family man. When he came over about twenty years ago, he had a rough time finding good work. Then Ethan was born and Jack had even more of a reason to find something that would help him feed his family. He started doing all kinds of bullshit jobs for some pretty shady characters; damned near got himself killed pissing off the wrong people. I tried to get him to work for me and told him he could do whatever he wanted on the side for some extra money so long as it didn’t get him in trouble with the Ordinaries or the FMA. But he thought there’d be more money in his own freelancing. Some friend I am, huh? I should’ve just made the stupid ass go straight and get a real job to keep him out of trouble.”
“He could’ve taken you up on your offer,” I pointed out. “You can’t blame yourself for someone else’s bad decisions.”
He grunted again. “Nah, I could’ve pushed harder, insisted he get out of street scams and other shit. But I didn’t want to lose his friendship. When it came down to it, I guess I was a little envious of what he did have. A wife. Family. I wanted that, wanted to be near that. I just didn’t know it.”
I blinked at him, startled by the revelation. It had never occurred to me that Nicky had wanted to have a family. I don’t know why it surprised me. When I thought about what I’d seen that day in the clearing when I’d looked into his eyes, I realized that I should’ve known all along that a man with such an amazing capacity to love would make an incredible husband and father. I’d seen a hint of what could be when he’d interacted with his godson. And suddenly I wanted that, too. I wanted that with Nicky.
He pulled the Escalade around to the side of a building where it was less likely to be seen and started to get out when I grabbed his hand. He gave me a quizzical look. “What’s doin’, doll? You okay?”
I pulled him to me and kissed him. “I love you,” I whispered. “I thought I saw everything there was to see about you when I caught a glimpse of your soul, but it was only that—just a glimpse. There is so much more to love than I’d ever imagined.”
Nicky’s lips claimed mine in a kiss that could’ve easily led to one seriously hot interlude, but he pulled away with a groan. “We should probably get this over with,” he mumbled. “But, just so you know, when I get you home, I’m gonna show you just how many ways I love you.”
I had to force down my happiness, bury it deep, as we walked toward the building where the Piggs had set up their on-site office. Calling it a trailer would be a misnomer. It looked more like a three-bedroom ranch on wheels. There was even latticework all around the bottom, hiding the open space beneath the trailer, giving it a very homey touch. The place was huge. Great for them, not so great for us. Too many places to hide weapons. Or henchmen. I didn’t like it at all.
And there’d be no kicking in the door, either. The steps leading up to the door were narrow metal pieces of shit that looked like it’d be a miracle if they didn’t buckle as we climbed them.
“Well, here we go,” Nicky mumbled. “Just stay close to me. I don’t trust these fuckers any farther than I can throw ’em.”
But before we’d even reached the steps, the door slammed open and a rotund man with slicked-back black hair, a rather porcine nose, and the stub of a cigar between his teeth waddled down the stairs at what apparently was a jog, opening his arms wide.
“Nicky Blue, you motherfucker!” he called, chuckling so hard his belly bounced. “How the hell are ya?”
Nicky looked more than a little mystified when the guy wrapped his thick arms around him in a hug. “I’m good, I’m good,” Nicky gasped, stepping out of the guy’s hold. “It’s been a long time, Orvall.”
“Damn right it has!” Orvall snatched his cigar out of his mouth and gestured toward me. “And who is this beautiful young lady you’ve brought to see us, my friend? If I was twenty years younger and about a hundred pounds lighter, you’d be in trouble, boy. I was a charmer back in the day.”
“I’m Trish Muffet,” I said, extending a hand.
Orvall gripped it in his plump fist and gave it a firm shake, chuckling again. “Well, I’ll be damned—you got yourself a girl from the FMA, Nicky? You got some brass balls, my friend, I’ll give you that!” He turned back to their office and motioned for us to follow. “Come on, come on! We’re just cookin’ up some brats and sauerkraut! Come eat! You two look like you’re wastin’ away to nothin’.”
Bemused by the surprisingly warm welcome, I glanced at Nicky as we followed, but he seemed just as baffled as I was. He obviously hadn’t expected it either. “What the hell?” I mouthed.
But he just shrugged. And checked to make sure his gun was still at the small of his back.
When we walked inside, two other men just as rotund as Orvall turned away from the stove and raised their arms, crying out in unison, “Hey! Nicky!”
Not only were the Piggs brothers, they were triplets. Identical triplets.
Nicky nodded hesitantly. “Irwin. Merv.”
“Grab a beer!” one of them said, gesturing toward the fridge.
“Ice cold!” said the other.
Nicky eyed them warily, pulling me a little behind him. “I’m grateful for your hospitality,” he said, his business grin curling his lips, “but I have to say, boys, it’s rather unexpected.”