"One of the first rules is also not to screw over your business partners when you already have an established agreement," Dwayne says sagely, looking at Josh again. He pauses pointedly. "Especially when crashing a private deal."
Both the bodyguards are carrying, he has no doubt about that. Dwayne's suit is cut generously enough to cover the .45 under his arm, set for a left-handed draw, but there's still telltale lines. It's a big gun, even though he's a big man. He wouldn't be stupid enough to show up to a meet alone without it. Almost conversationally, he adds, "It's a rough business, kid. Trust me, getting your suits fitted with one of your legs is two inches shorter than the other for the rest of your life is not a smart career decision."
Fuck. The problem here isn't that the fat man can find another girl, it's that Dwayne doesn't want him to.
Okay. He's got this. The deal will go through. He brushes his jacket back pointedly. He'll deal with the kid, because otherwise, he'll be crawling home from an abandoned construction site on two shot-out kneecaps. It's a genteel threat, but still a threat, and at least he has a hotel room here where he can shake some sense into the little asshole or, if he's law enforcement, make some kind of case to cover things over. He doubts that's the case, though: he doesn't hear the telltale whine of a transmitter and this kid is too green to be undercover. And too damn noticeable: cops and feds are usually too smart to send someone that conspicuous into a deal like this.
So Dwayne lets his jacket gap open just enough to show the straps of his holster, casual without being threatening. This is the big leagues, kid. To the fat man, he says, "Far as I'm concerned, the deal still stands, and I apologize for the...inconvenience." He indicates Josh with the tilt of his head. "If you've got the payment on hand, then I'll handle the outstanding problems." His glance goes to the younger man. "Maybe we can work something out for another time, but I stick with my deals." One last shot at diplomacy...at gunpoint if necessary, but going with Dwayne is still a much better choice for the kid, whether he realizes it or not.
no subject
Both the bodyguards are carrying, he has no doubt about that. Dwayne's suit is cut generously enough to cover the .45 under his arm, set for a left-handed draw, but there's still telltale lines. It's a big gun, even though he's a big man. He wouldn't be stupid enough to show up to a meet alone without it. Almost conversationally, he adds, "It's a rough business, kid. Trust me, getting your suits fitted with one of your legs is two inches shorter than the other for the rest of your life is not a smart career decision."
Fuck. The problem here isn't that the fat man can find another girl, it's that Dwayne doesn't want him to.
Okay. He's got this. The deal will go through. He brushes his jacket back pointedly. He'll deal with the kid, because otherwise, he'll be crawling home from an abandoned construction site on two shot-out kneecaps. It's a genteel threat, but still a threat, and at least he has a hotel room here where he can shake some sense into the little asshole or, if he's law enforcement, make some kind of case to cover things over. He doubts that's the case, though: he doesn't hear the telltale whine of a transmitter and this kid is too green to be undercover. And too damn noticeable: cops and feds are usually too smart to send someone that conspicuous into a deal like this.
So Dwayne lets his jacket gap open just enough to show the straps of his holster, casual without being threatening. This is the big leagues, kid. To the fat man, he says, "Far as I'm concerned, the deal still stands, and I apologize for the...inconvenience." He indicates Josh with the tilt of his head. "If you've got the payment on hand, then I'll handle the outstanding problems." His glance goes to the younger man. "Maybe we can work something out for another time, but I stick with my deals." One last shot at diplomacy...at gunpoint if necessary, but going with Dwayne is still a much better choice for the kid, whether he realizes it or not.