Read Never Play Another Man's Game for Free Online

said.
    I said nothing while Rick got off the ground using the Passat’s hood for support. He called me an asshole and then limped towards the Malibu.
    â€œThe other car,” Ruby said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œGet in his car. I’ll sit in the back so you can stretch your legs.”
    â€œAre you fucking serious? I’m really hurt.”
    Ruby nodded and opened the passenger door. Rick limped back to the VW; this time, each step was followed by a sharp intake of breath just in case we didn’t realize he was hurt. Rick got in without looking at me. When the door closed, Ruby said, “Was that really necessary?”
    â€œYou kept telling me how much I’m like my uncle. How would he have dealt with that?”
    Ruby looked at the hood and then at the pavement. There was no blood or missing teeth anywhere.
    â€œMaybe you’re not so much like him.”
    â€œGet in the car,” I said.
    I opened the door and got behind the wheel. Ruby got in behind her kid and then slid over so that she was behind my seat because Rick had moved his seat as far back as it would go. He had pulled his pant legs up so he could inspect his knees. He did a lot of prodding and wincing.
    â€œComfortable?”
    â€œFuck you.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit,” I said as I exited the parking lot. “Tell me where I’m going.”
    â€œThe truck starts on the Stoney Creek Mountain and does its regular route filling grocery store ATM s. The guys skip their lunch and then go to Walmarts all over the city to set up their bank machines for the weekend.”
    â€œThey do this every day?”
    â€œThey do stuff for banks and other businesses too, but Monday and Friday is always ATM s.”
    â€œAnd Friday is the best day?”
    â€œThere’s no guarantee on what they’re carrying other days. The Friday route is for sure double the usual. My leg really hurts. I think I cracked something. Ma, do you have any Tylenol?”
    Ruby said, “Let me check, baby.”
    â€œWho’s feeding you this?”
    â€œNone of your business, that’s who.” Rick took some pills from his mom and said, “What no water?”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œYou know I hate dry swallowing pills. They get stuck in my throat every time.”
    â€œSorry, honey.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Rick cock his head back to propel the pills down his throat. A second later, he said, “See? Great! The goddamn things are stuck. I told you this would happen, Ma. I told you.”
    â€œRick, how do you know about the trucks?”
    â€œWhat did I say?”
    â€œIt’s a friend he went to high school with. He does the mechanical work on all of the trucks.”
    â€œMa!”
    â€œThis guy know what Rick plans to do with the information he gave him?”
    â€œDon’t talk about me like I’m not here. My buddy was out for drinks with his co-workers in Hess Village. He bumped into me and some people I was partying with and we hung out for a while. He got super shitfaced and started talking business in the john. I heard him when I was in the stall taking a shit.”
    I looked at Ruby in the rear-view mirror. “It just keeps getting better and better,” I said.
    â€œWhat the fuck does that mean?”
    â€œIt means I should have killed you with the car and put you out of your misery.”
    â€œMa-aa!” The word came out whiny like he was complaining I wouldn’t share.
    â€œI’ve seen the route, Wilson. It’s better than it sounds.”
    â€œUh hunh.”
    â€œIt is, asshole,” Rick said. “You’ll see.”
    Rick guided me to the parking lot of a huge grocery store. The Market was part of a chain that had sprouted locations across southern Ontario over the last few years. I pulled into a spot that gave us a clear view of the main entrance. I cracked the windows and killed the engine.
    â€œWhat the hell, man?