Maya had the grace to look shamed, but Jake didn’t notice. His attention was on Sonny.
“It’s whatever.” Sonny pulled out his cell phone. “Bring the boy.” When he hung up, he said, “Fair warning. He’s low on energy. We took a good bit of blood.” He puffed himself up with his one-upmanship declaration. “Got to give the agents something.”
“What the fuck, Sonny?” Dylan blurted. “You better be lying.”
Sonny laughed. “You’re poisoned. That doesn’t bother you at all, does it?”
Dylan breathed hard. He was there for Nile.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Pryor led Toni out the side door. Her hands were tied, but the rope was slack. It made Dylan happy to see Pryor had gotten off much worse than him. Along with his fresh cut lip, his eye was black, his nose was swollen, and the side of his face was purple and blotched.
When they were close enough, Toni pulled free and ran to her family.
Before anyone could react, Sonny said, “Don’t look at me. You heard me ask for the boy. Even so, one for one. Come on over to the winning side, Jake.”
Tigris made a face. “You are as dumb as you act.”
Dylan put a hand on Jake’s arm. “Don’t,” he whispered.
Jake’s hesitancy prompted Maya. She went to Sonny. “You have a fixer?”
“Plenty,” Sonny pulled a tube of dark red blood from his pocket. “Thanks to Jordan, I had the good stuff earlier,” he explained. “Since I only popped into town to pick up a few things, I think I can afford to wait for the full recipe. But, I’m confident this will do the trick, regardless.”
Pryor showed them his half-full tube as well.
Maya helped herself to the offerings from both men.
Toni spoke up. “Nile said don’t take it. She told me, herself. Prince and Pryor didn’t listen.”
“Yes,” Sonny agreed. “She was a bit dramatic, wasn’t she?” His brows furrowed with exaggerated concern. “I wonder why she doesn’t want us well.” He cut his eyes to Dylan and grinned. “Maybe she just wanted me to get some of hers.”
Jake didn’t hold Dylan back, Jordan did. “Don’t be stupid. He’ll be dead soon.”
That made everyone pause.
Maya ignored them all. She took a healthy drink from Pryor’s tube and gave Sonny’s vial to her dad.
Toni shook her head. “Nile wouldn’t lie.”
“Shut up.” Maya rolled her eyes. “Nile lies. They all do.”
None of the Bishops defended Nile or corrected Maya.
Feeling as if some argument was settled, Sidney drank and shared with his wife. He commanded Toni to take part.
Smug, Maya brought the remains of her vial to Jake and Dylan.
“Jacob,” Dylan said. “Do not take that kid’s blood. I don’t care how confident she is or how desperate you feel. Don’t do it.” He willed him to understand. “Do you hear me? Don’t do it.”
“Knock it off, Dylan,” Maya snapped. “This is real, Jake, take it.” She thrust the tube forward.
Jake was caught. He didn’t want to choose between them.
“Jacob...” Maya pressed.
Jake took her offering. He got it to his lips before Dylan grabbed and flung it.
Droplets of blood like rain cascaded down. The vial landed on the other side of the rail, rolled down the embankment, cracked against a jagged rock, and stained the ground.
“Where is Nile!” Dylan shouted.
“And my grandson,” Ronald reminded them.
An answer didn’t come quick enough.
Dylan turned to the Bishops. “I understand it’s not my place, but he is my brother.”
“Go ahead and tell them,” Jordan said. “Knowing won’t change anything.”
Focusing his tension, his anger, on Jake and Sonny, Dylan said, “You think you know everything, but you don’t know shit. You make assumptions, call them facts, and think you’re God. You’ve done nothing but wreak havoc since we got here...both of you. People are going to die for it.” He waved a hand at the Harrisons. “You all are going to die for it.”
Toni cried.
“But, it’s not their fault.” Dylan pointed to the Bishops. “It’s yours.”
“You have a secret to share, out with it.” Sonny hated Dylan knowing something he didn’t.
“You think you won something, but you have blood on your hands. And, I’m not making a pun.” Dylan got in Sonny’s face. “You didn’t masterminded a coup, you imbecile. You, Maya’s family, you are screwed.” He moved over to Jake’s face. “You threw away an out and played yourself.”
Beyond the anger, the finality in Dylan’s tone alarmed Jake. His brother wasn’t flying off the handle; he thought it through. “How did we play ourselves?”
“Mackey’s blood isn’t an ingredient they use. Do you want to guess why?” He continued, “These people have been protecting their blood for generations, but they stood here and watched you, for fuck’s sake. You didn’t take anything; they let you have it. All the blood-thieves get to reap what they’ve sown.”
Tigris and Jordan exchanged a look. He told them everything they needed to know without telling them anything. Most importantly, he didn’t tell them they had an out. He protected Nile and kept her name and ability out of the conversation. They silently agreed; Dylan passed the test none of them knew he was taking. He was truthful and trustworthy, at least for today.
Sonny wasn’t that easily defeated. “I guess we’ll have to get Nile in the kitchen. Have her bake us up a batch of old fashion blood-cookies...like Mom used to make.”
Pryor’s head jerked. “Ummm...” He didn’t know who to say what to.
“What?” Prince and Pryor were low IQ goons, but Sonny paid them a lot. They were his goons now.
Pryor looked around, fearful of retribution. “Ummm... It was Prince. He called Eddie and told him we had the cure. JB and Eddie got here right before you told me to come out. The plan...the plan is...to take Nile and Mackey to JB’s. They’re rerouting the agents so we can make the deals. Most likely, Nile ain’t here.”
“Assholes,” Sonny said. The hicks were screwing everything up.
“I’m going to JB’s,” Ronald announced, “to watch him croak.” He walked away. Nick went with him.
“What do we do?” Sidney asked anybody who would answer.
“Nothing, while your blood petrifies,” Tigris said. “Go do it out of my face.” Talking to her family, she said, “I’ll get the truck.”
Ernest gave her his keys.
Jordan spoke to Sonny, but everyone could hear. “Here’s your recipe, fuckwit. You need me or Ernest in a good mood. I’m not in a good mood.”
Ernest added, “You kidnapped my little brother, you sick bastard.”
“I’m going to need my twin to make me happy. You better hope she’s still here.” Jordan held out a hand to Pryor, indicating he should lead the way.
Dylan said, “Congratulations, Sonny. You’re a murderer.” He followed Jordan and Ernest.