Chapter 11
"Twelve bucks?" Cassian said, incredulous.
"For one drink?"
Junior shook his head. "Man, that's what you're hung up on?"
Cassian leaned back, arms crossed. "No, wait. Hold on."
"That bar," Cassian said slowly. "The bikers. That's why they were sniffing around for you you back at the hospital?"
Christian hesitated.
Junior exchanged a glance with Cassian. "Yeah. That checks."
Cassian nodded . "We were already halfway out. Figured you were safe. Then one of them walked in asking for you."
"Asking your name," Junior added. "Specifically."
Cassian picked up the thread. "Didn't like the— Vibe"
Junior nodded. "So we stuck around."
"Did you boys, do that in Room H back at that hospital" . Both cassian and junior nodded yes , as if they were kids proud of their skills
Christian stared at them for a moment longer than necessary.
Christian nodded. "That night I realized something was wrong. Emdy had used me used me to get info on Rinaldi "
"That room," he said finally. "That's where it really started."
Cassian waited.
"Apartment 477," Christian said. "Two months ago."
He leaned back, eyes unfocused now.
"Just… eyes. Everywhere I went. The same cars. The same pauses. People stopping conversations when I walked past."
Cassian didn't interrupt.
"I tried to shake it. Different routes. Different places. Didn't matter."
Christian exhaled through his nose.
"That's when the following started."
Junior's jaw tightened. "And the bikers?"
"Rinaldi's men," Christian said.
Cassian blinked. "Rinaldi?"
Christian looked at him.
"The governor," Cassian said slowly.
Then, quieter:
"The one who got shot."