Bad Apple by Anthony Bruno Read Free Book Online

ticking. “Nothing special about Freshy. Except that he’s got a sister named Gina.”
    Gina? Tozzi fumbled the glass, but he managed to catch it before it hit the floor. His face was flushed.
    Bells was staring hard at Buddha, his eyes bulging. He looked the way Tozzi felt.
    Buddha’s sickly smile uncurled again. “You think I don’tknow nothing. Lemme tell you something, Bells. I know a lot. I know all about you and that broad. You’re like a fly around shit with her. You oughta be ashamed of yourself. That’s why your wife left you. Has to be.”
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with anything? What’s that got to do with this ?” Bells pointed down at the backpack.
    â€œEverything. You wanna get in that broad’s pants so bad, you’ll do anything. Like helping out her little brother, the fuck-up. Like getting him a nice big loan that he probably can’t handle. Like doing anything to be Mr. Nice Guy so you can impress the sister.”
    â€œYou’re crazy.”
    â€œOh, yeah?”
    â€œI’m telling you, you’re crazy.”
    â€œSo maybe I am crazy. So what? But I’m not crazy enough to give these two mooks any money. Tell ’em to go see somebody else. I don’t need their business. Okay?”
    â€œNo. It’s not okay.”
    Tozzi peered through the crack. The little capo was sitting up straight, his nostrils flared. Bells had finally pissed him off.
    But Bells didn’t back down. “Listen to me, my friend. No woman’s snatch is worth thirty-two grand. I don’t care who she is.”
    Buddha stared at Bells as he rolled the salt shaker between his palms. “You’re a pretty weird fuck, Bells. I wouldn’t put anything past you.”
    Bells grinned like a skull. “You’re losing it, Buddha. You know that? You’re losing it.”
    Buddha grinned back. “So why don’t you lend it to them?”
    â€œI don’t have it.”
    â€œBullshit, you don’t.”
    Bells shrugged. “Believe what you wanna believe. I don’t have cash like that to work with.”
    Buddha’s sick grin stretched a little wider. “Go ’head, lend it to them. I give you my blessing. You don’t have to cut me in or nothing.”
    Bells just stared at him.
    â€œWhat’sa matta, Bells? You don’t like that idea? How come? You can be the big cheese all by yourself. Freshy’ll kiss the ground you walk on. He’ll make sure his sister comes sits on your lap and tells you what she wants for Christmas.”
    Buddha’s shoulders bounced in a quiet laugh. Bells just stared at him and said nothing. He looked like he wanted to wipe the smile off Buddha’s face, and for a moment Tozzi thought he just might try it, despite Buddha’s four beef boys sitting on the other side of room.
    â€œWhat’sa matta, Bells? You look upset. You don’t like it when I start talking about your money, do you? My money, it’s okay to talk about. But when it’s your money, it’s different.”
    Bells didn’t say anything for a minute. It was as if he weren’t even listening. Then suddenly he smiled. “You do whatever makes you comfortable, Buddha. Nobody’s twisting your arm. All I gotta say is that from a business perspective, you’re being stupid. These two guys are clearing ten grand a week now selling porn. You give ’em the money they need, they’ll buy more equipment, hire more people, expand their distribution. They say they can triple what they’re making now if they can get their hands on some capital.”
    â€œGuys say a lot of things when they want money.”
    â€œI’m telling you, do what makes you comfortable. You don’t wanna give it to them, don’t. I just came to you first because I always do. We do good business together. But if you don’twanna do this one, I’ll just go look for someone