The Heart System

Chapter 764: Chapter 764

I pulled into the gas station and parked near the entrance. Sundays were always Tuck’s shift, so unless he’d done something stupid again, he should’ve been here.

I got out, crossed the forecourt, and headed inside. The automatic doors slid open, and I immediately spotted him behind the counter. He looked up when he heard the doors, but neither of us said a word. The fresh black eye around his left eye stood out immediately. Somebody had gotten to him before I had.

I stopped just inside the entrance, then slowly walked over to the counter and rested both hands on it. Instead of looking at him, I looked at the cigarette display behind him.

Tuck followed my gaze.

Without saying anything, he reached behind him, grabbed the brand I always smoked, and tossed the packet onto the counter. I caught it, pulled out my card, and paid. As soon as the payment went through, I ripped the packet open, slipped one cigarette between my lips, then pulled another one out and held it toward him.

He looked at it for a second before taking it.

Still without saying anything, he walked out from behind the counter. I followed him outside, lit my cigarette first, then leaned over and lit his. We stood against the wall for a while, quietly smoking as customers came and went around the pumps. Neither of us seemed interested in speaking first.

"So," I finally said, "where were you last night?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

He glanced at me before taking another drag. "Why? You my daddy, Evan?"

"I can be if you want."

He stared at me with a straight face for a few seconds, then shook his head with a small smile. I couldn’t help smiling too.

"You’re going to apologize tonight," I said. "Then we’re getting Mel back."

"You bought me some extra time, huh?" He blew the smoke into the air. "Whatever, man. I ain’t apologizing."

I leaned back against the wall and rubbed my forehead.

"Are you actually an idiot, T? You were ready to get yourself killed yesterday, and I didn’t even notice."

"Whatever."

"Quit saying whatever."

He shrugged. "What do you want me to say? ’Oh, Mr. Marlowe, you’re right. You’re right, sir. I shall swallow my fucking pride and apologize.’"

"Yes, you moron!"

He didn’t answer. He just kept staring across the street while the cigarette slowly burned between his fingers.

I let out a long breath and took another drag. "Fuck, Tuck."

"Yeah, you can rhyme."

"You’re still joking?" I asked, looking straight at him. "Your sister’s been kidnapped. Kidnapped, T. She’s practically a niece to me. I know you care about her, so stop pretending you don’t."

He finally turned toward me. "I don’t care about her? Man, fuck you."

"Then start acting like it."

"I am acting like it. They gave me two choices, and I made one."

"You chose to let yourself get killed instead of saying ’I’m sorry.’ I... I just... man... I don’t... I honestly can’t find the words for how stupid that is."

"Whatever."

I pointed my cigarette at him.

"If you say ’whatever’ one more time, I swear I’ll blow us both up with this cigarette. We’re standing in the middle of a gas station, so don’t push me."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Shut up."

Damn, Honeyed Words weren’t even showing up. He had to be way too deep in his own head. He was so stubborn that my current skill didn’t stand a chance. This was something I had to deal with the old-fashioned way.

"Tuck," I said. "You’re not thinking clearly. That much is obvious."

"Oh, I can think clearly."

"You keep saying you left that gang life behind," I replied. "But you’re still thinking like some idiot mob boss. You’re refusing to apologize because Murad, Tariq or whatever the fuck betrayed you? That happened years ago. That’s the old you talking."

"Look..."

"No. You don’t get to dodge this." I shook my head. "You left the streets, but you never left the rules you made for yourself."

"Evan..."

He exhaled and took another drag from his cigarette. He paced a few steps away, stopped, then turned back toward me. He rubbed the back of his head, searching for something to say. The problem was that there weren’t any words that could justify this.

"She’s your sister," I continued. "She’s paying the price for your pride. Do you have any idea how terrified she is?"

"You saw her?"

"I went to King’s house," I answered. "Yes, I saw her. She’s alive. She’s safe. And she’s scared out of her mind, you idiot."

"God..."

"We’re going back there," I said. "You’re going to apologize, we’re bringing Mel home, and then we’re sitting in your living room with a couple of cold beers while she plays on her Xbox."

"I sold the Xbox."

"Tuck, that isn’t the... ugh, fuck. Then I’ll buy her a new one on the way home." I flicked my cigarette onto the ground and crushed it beneath my boot. "Come on."

He let out a long groan and shook his head.

"Move."

"I won’t." He folded his arms. "I’m not doing it."

I rubbed the back of my head and looked toward the pumps as another customer pulled in to fill up. This idiot was unbelievable. All he had to do was say two simple words, and he was acting like it would kill him.

After a long silence, Tuck finally sighed.

"Fine," he muttered. "Fuck. Fine. We’ll go. We will fucking go. Fuck. FUCK!"

I let out a relieved breath. "Good. You finally came to your senses. Now let’s get moving."

"I still have my shift."

"Forget the shift. Call someone to cover for you."

"Alright... uh, alright. Give me a minute."

"I’ll wait in the car," I said as I headed across the forecourt. "Don’t keep me waiting."

"I won’t."

I unlocked the car, climbed inside, and watched Tuck pull out his phone. He stood beside the entrance to the market, talking to someone while occasionally rubbing his forehead.

So this was really happening. It took enough arguing to wear both of us out, but the stubborn bastard had finally given in.

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