Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises by Stacy Woodson

Author:Stacy Woodson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books

I leave the restaurant with Andre. It’s late. I’m guessing eleven p.m. I would check, but my phone is back at the church.

Outside, the street is nearly empty. But this time I’m not anxious about riding with The Giant. Right now, I’m worth more to Nick alive than dead.

On the drive, I start to question Nick’s story about Carmelo—whether or not it’s legit. He seemed sincere. But then again, most people do when they’re angling for something they want.

I reach up, click on the dome light, open the trifold, run my hand along the seams. There’s nothing raised, nothing unusual, nothing that will get me stopped when I go through prison security. I wonder if there is something special about it. Or if it’s simply a signaling device from Nick.

I put the trifold aside, turn off the light, and think about what he wants me to do.

I imagine getting caught again, going back to jail—the small walls, the isolation. There’s my brother, too. If I fail, he will be a permanent resident of Lake Michigan.

And it’s too much—even for me.

My chest goes tight.

I can barely breathe.

I grope for the door, roll down the window, suck in a breath.

Then another—in-out-in.

I go on like this until my breathing finally steadies.

I lean back in my seat. Run through Nick’s plan again. Even if I execute it successfully, there are no guarantees when Nick gets what he wants that he won’t kill us both.

And then, there’s the baby…

Screw this.

It’s not worth the risk. There’s too much to lose.

Tommy needs to take Arlene and go into hiding.

My minister network can help. We protect human trafficking victims, victims of abuse. But then I realize this is a bad idea. When Tommy disappears, Nick will suspect I’m helping him. And this will be the first place he looks.

Which leaves my brother with only one option—

He needs to go to the Feds.

Offer inside information on Nick’s juice business, his illegal gambling ring, in exchange for WITSEC—not only for him but for Arlene and the baby.

I hate cops almost as much as I hate snitches. But this is about survival. And Tommy’s chances are better with the government than they are with me.

Andre rolls up my window from the driver’s seat, and it startles me. Then, I notice the dilapidated buildings, the busted-out streetlights outside, and I realize we are in my neighborhood.

He dumps me off in front of the church.

I make my way to the basement to find my phone so I can tell Tommy that he needs to go to the Feds. There are more missed calls.

All from Tommy.

There’s a voicemail, too. I play the message.

“Where the hell are you, Viv? I need to know what happened with Paulie.” The sound of cellophane. The flick of a lighter. I hear Tommy exhale. “I know this is going to sound weird, but I think someone is tailing me.” He takes another drag from his cigarette, exhales again. Seconds pass, like he’s thinking. “It’s probably nothing. Just anxiety. Wish you’d answer your phone.

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