Reverse Metamorphosis book one of the Irrevocable Change trilogy by R.E. Schobernd Read Free Book Online Page B

about. Three weeks
before Jimmy was killed some guy tried to bash my head in with a
brick. I‘d stopped for a beer at a bar this side of Zion and some
guy attacked me from behind. We fought in the parking lot and he
wound up with his head caved in. I was sick to my stomach about it,
but I got over it.”
    “Kid, tell me all about it, how you whacked
O’Neil. I want to know all the details about how the rotten bastard
got it.”
    Clay told Tony the whole story of how he had
stalked his target, with Tony stopping him frequently for
additional details. When Clay came to the part where he had burned
and then shot O’Neil, Tony closed his eyes and had him repeat it
three times, getting a perverse pleasure at hearing the
account.
    Tony’s only comment was “You should have let
the cocksucker burn.”
    After pulling a handkerchief from his right
back pocket Tony rubbed his eyes, and then stood up. Clay stood up
too, and unexpectedly Tony wrapped his arms around him and gave him
a big long hug. Softly the big man said “Thanks Clay, I owe you. If
there’s anything, and I do mean anything, you need or want you let
me know and I’ll make it happen. And if anybody ever gives you any
shit about anything, just come and see me.”
    Tony pushed Clay away abruptly, turned,
pulled his chair away from the table, sat down, and motioned for
Clay to set back down too. Tony leaned forward to refill their
drinks and then spoke.
    “I’m sure you knew Jimmy was planning to
start coming into the business and wanted to take over eventually.
I would have been proud to have him with me. He was smarter than
his old man, and would have done well for himself. I didn’t think
you had what it takes to be in this business, but I was wrong. You
surely don’t want to be a laborer all your life, so how about if I
start you out, and teach you how to run things?
    “I don’t really think I’m cut out for this. I
appreciate your offer; and I do fully understand what you’re
offering me. But I just don’t think it’s what I want. I’m not a
‘tough guy’ and frankly, I don’t want to spend my life trying to
keep guys like Joey in line.”
    “O.K. kid, but I think you’re making a
mistake and if you change your mind the offer will always be there.
I owe you big time and I hope you’ll let me repay you in some way.”
Then Tony added, “It took balls to do what you did, and I think
you’re tougher than you give yourself credit for.”
    “Tony, there’s also a problem with my
parents; if I openly went to work for you they would disown me. I
can't let it happen.”
    “Yeah I understand, your parents don’t have a
good word for me, do they?”
    “No, they never have, and likely never
will.”
    From that point, Clay stopped in to visit and
talk to Tony at least once a week, developing a closer
relationship. The two of them would often go upstairs to talk in
private and before long Clay knew all about Tony’s operation; more
than he wanted to know sometimes. He had knowledge of problems
needing to be dealt with and then knew how the problem had been
resolved. He had always known most of the men in the gang, but now
learned the strengths and weaknesses of each. Some of Tony’s men,
especially Joey Tadono and Donny Palmotto, took silent notice of
the close relationship they saw, but knew better than to question
it openly.
     
    Clay continued to live at home and interact
with family and friends. The union Business Agent had called him in
for a heart to heart talk about notification prior to walking off
jobs. The first time would be forgiven, but he was told it had
better not happen again. He had worked on construction steadily
since the O’Neil episode, except for the dead of winter, and was
having a good year financially.
    In the last year he had been assigned to work
as foreman on two large and long duration jobs. Both had gone into
overtime, bringing in extra money. He had continued stopping in to
visit with Tony at least once a week and