The Bad Boys and the Fighter

7

COLE

"Have you spoken to our contact about Daniel's release?"

Tyler interrupted the silence between him, Carlos, and I while we waited in the car outside of the warehouse for Ariel and Jeremiah to return, likely victoriously.

"Yeah. He's out." I glanced out the side mirror at the sleazy men in the parking lot.

They leaned up against cars, lighting up to calm their nerves. I wondered if they were the men betting on fights. Did they bet on or against Ariel and Jeremiah?

"Why didn't you say anything?" Carlos hissed. "We should be doing something, or telling someone."

I spun around in the passengers seat to face Carlos, who shrunk slightly at my sudden movement. "I didn't say anything to you guys because I thought Ariel needed to hear it first. Also, I did do something. Our contact in the Vipers will keep me updated with their land dispute with the Ghosts. We'll be able to tell if he'll come for her based on the progress of that."

"Why do you say that?" Tyler wondered aloud while mindlessly scrolling through his Twitter feed.

"Because if it's going well enough that the Ghosts need less of his help, he'll come up here. Yet on the other hand, if they start to lose an overwhelming amount of their people and resources, he'll come up here to take her money."

"So basically, what you're saying is that she's fine as long as the Ghosts don't lose or win their land battle?"

"Unfortunately, that is exactly what I'm saying."

"Fuck, here they come," Carlos blurted.

"I'm going to fucking explode," Ariel practically growled as she got in the car, Jeremiah in tow.

Jeremiah glanced up at us uneasily before indulging in Ariel's dramatics. "You're right it was bullshit."

"Not just bullshit, he was being sexist, Jeremiah. He's been here a week and he acts like he owns the goddamn place! It's fucked!"

"So, how was your night?" Carlos asked awkwardly. "I'll go first, mine was great."

"I don't want to talk about it," Ariel huffed.

I spun around and eyed her as Tyler started driving. Her eyes met mine for a brief second before quickly diverting themselves back to the paper sack in her hands.

"I made twelve grand, so my night was pretty good," Jeremiah offered meekly.

"Oh, so you finally paid off the bills, then?" Tyler wondered as he looked up at them through the rearview mirror.

He was quiet for a moment before responding, "Um, no. I'm pretty much up to date, except for a couple late car payments." His hands twisted in his lap uncomfortably. Money was a sensitive topic for him, more so since his mom bounced.

"Well, at least they're getting paid," Ariel threw out, causing a soft smile to emit from Jeremiah's

The hum of the radio filled the silence on the drive back to Ariel's loft. It seemed like all we did was sit in silence with each other.

When we arrived back to the loft, Jeremiah treaded upstairs while Carlos flopped on the couch. Tyler trailed Ariel to the kitchen, leaving me standing in the middle of the apartment alone. Carlos flipped on the television, allowing the sound of Survivor fill the silence that had erupted between us.

"What do you want me to make?" Ariel had asked Tyler, which just earned her a haphazard shrug. She glanced up at me expectantly.

"Uh...whatever's easiest, I guess," I muttered.