Chapter 23

“Hard to miss it,” Luca said, and narrowed his eyes. “You and Tav get into it, did you?”

“He attacked me.”

“Yeah, he’ll do that.”

“You keep your fucking pet under control.”

Luca tightened his jaw and tilted his head back. Mamma’s trick. And it had the desired effect—Jack’s nostrils flared, and his stance widened at the snotty, condescending expression. “I don’t control Tav. If he lamped you one, maybe you need to keep your gobbing off under control, yeah?”

“I didn’t say shit nobody else ain’t thinking.”

“What did you say?” Luca sneered.

“Told him the truth,” Jack snarled, a lip curling up towards his nose. “Told him your kind need to stay away from me. S’all I fucking said.”

“My kind?”

Jack snorted.

“Like, Italians? Like, swimmers? Or like,” Luca hissed, lowering his voice, “faggots?”

Jack’s sneer rose again.

“You put that note in my locker.”

“Didn’t touch your fucking locker,” Jack spat, but Luca was a middle child, and knew a lad for a liar well enough.