* * *
Six hours later,my body is sore from dismantling, hauling, hammering, and welding, but I have another piece halfway finished.
“What’s that one going to be?” Elijah asks from the door.
I turn and flip up my welding mask. “A skyline.”
“Damn, that’s gonna be sweet. Big too. You gonna sell it in that fancy gallery?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Guess that means you’re gonna need a steady supply of new and interesting metal to keep up with demand.”
“Probably.”
“If you want to put out some cash, I can throw up an ad for scrap metal by the pound. Hundred bucks max per person. Might get you some interesting stuff. People around here could really use the money.”
It’s a smart idea, I decide, as I consider it. “I can lay out a grand for it, but nothing more than that right now.”
“I’ll set it up.”
I lean against the workbench. “Why are you helping me? I thought you’d start off with charging me some crazy rent to keep using this space. Wasn’t that your plan?”
He shrugs. “Maybe I decided having you come back around is payment enough for now.”
“Bullshit.”
“You’re still gonna help me chop cars if I need it.”
I groan. “I knew there was a catch.”
“What? You’re quick with a grinder, and sometimes I gotta move fast. You happen to be here, you throw in an extra pair of hands so we can get through it.”
“And if you get raided? You think I’m going down for it?”
Another shrug. “I ain’t gettin’ caught.”
“So you say.”
“So I know. I got people who’ll tip me off if things get hot.”
“I sure hope so.” I tug my gloves off finger by finger and toss them on the workbench before raising the subject that’s been eating at me all day. “You heard from Rafe?”
Elijah shakes his head. “Nope. Not at all. Thought you and him had a date tonight like you always do on your birthday.”
It doesn’t surprise me that Elijah knows about our long-standing tradition. “He’s MIA still. If he doesn’t show tonight, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
He grunts. “Seriously? You’re working for the man that everyone is terrified of, and you don’t know what to do if your brother doesn’t show?”
“I work for his wife.”
Elijah rolls his eyes. “Same difference. If I were you, if Rafe doesn’t show, I’d call in the cavalry, because you know that means shit is bad.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“Anytime you want more than the tip ...”
I flip my helmet down and turn my back on him. “Save it for someone who’ll give you a shot.”