Game Of Bliss

(42)

"It's not deep, it's minuscule... a slight graze if you will," Malachi states, "now focus on the fucking road, I'd rather not crash into a tree."

"Why did you do that?" Tommy sighs.

"I already told you... if I left, if I let you die, I'd have to deal with an angry Florence, I don't want to deal with an angry Florence," Malachi replies, "it was me or you. And I think we can both agree I'm a lot more capable at handling myself."

"So I have to deal with an angry Florence because you got stabbed?" Tommy says.

"And you tricked me into coming to London," Malachi shrugs, "also, you should be fucking thanking me, I'm diminishing Sabinis men like they're nothing, 11 altogether, that should make it easier for you."

"Imagine what it would be like if you actively went out to diminish them, imagine how easy that would make it for me," Tommy remarks.

"Really? That's what you want to talk about right now?" Malachi says, "I am not your personal killing machine."

"That's not what I mean," Tommy sighs, "I mean people are less likely to die with you on their side, that's what you want, right?"

"It's that sort of manipulation that makes you difficult to like," Malachi replies.

"I'm not manipulating, I'm making a valid argument," Tommy states.

"You know exactly what you're doing," Malachi says, "and I've already told you no."

"Today really seemed like you mean it," Tommy remarks sarcastically, "not sacrificing your life for me?"

"How many times? This wasn't for you!" Malachi exclaims, before resting his head back against the seat and groaning.

"You said it was a slight graze," Tommy says.

"It may have been a light impalement, same thing really," Malachi replies.

"It is not the same thing," Tommy responds.

"The difference doesn't matter, I'm fine," Malachi says, and Tommy scoffs, "if your fine would you mind not bleeding out on the seats, I don't want to have to get them re-upholstered."

"You wouldn't have to... it's not your car," Malachi replies, "I'm the one who bought it."

"Oh yeah, then bleed out all you want, waste your own money," Tommy says.

"This is going to be a long fucking journey," Malachi groans, rolling his eyes.

-

The two men had been sat in silence for an hour. Malachi noticed Tommy kept glancing over at him, but he wasn't going to break the silence. If Tommy wanted to say something to him, he'd have to start the conversation, Malachi wasn't going to do it for him.

"How?" Tommy asks.

"How what?" Malachi responds.

"What do I have to do to make sure I don't lose them and how do I do it?" Tommy questions, staring straight ahead at the road, both hands on the steering wheel.

"I don't know," Malachi sighs.

"What would you do if it was Betty?" Tommy inquires, and Malachi shrugs, "I wouldn't have to do anything, I'd never fuck up this bad."

"So you want me to fix it but can't tell me how?" Tommy replies.

"Can't solve all your problems for you," Malachi responds, "and no, I don't want you to. I want you to want to."

"I do want to," Tommy states.

"That's a good starting point," Malachi replies.

There was another moment of silence before Tommy speaks, "I'm sorry about Reuben."