Andrew watches as a busboy takes a metal tray and smacks Neil in the head, knocking him to the floor. From the uneasy look in the man's eye, he hadn't wanted to do that, but it seems maybe Neil found a way to make him do it.
"Oh, he really is an enigma," Andrew comments with a smirk, following Kevin and Nicky over to Neil.
"What the hell, man?" Kevin demands, pulling the busboy away from an unconscious Neil.
"He paid me to do it," the busboy says frantically, his eyes wide. "I've got a kid on the way. I need the money..."
"Be gone," Andrew says, waving the man away. The guy takes the dismissal gratefully and hurries away.
"Is he dead?" Nicky asks worriedly.
"No," Kevin replies, fingers lingering under Neil's nose. "He's breathing."
"Go get Aaron," Andrew says, looking over Nicky. "It's time to leave."
Nicky nods, hurrying into the crowd. A few people have noticed them and Andrew gestures at Kevin to grab Neil. The last thing they need is someone to call the cops.
Kevin nods, scooping Neil up into his arms, and follows Andrew out of the club. Once outside, Kevin stands on the curb, cradling Neil against his chest, and watches as Andrew jogs towards the parking lot to get the car.
When he returns, Aaron and Nicky have joined them. Aaron stands on his toes, looking over Neil's head, rolling his eyes as Kevin explains what happened.
"He's an idiot," Aaron says sharply, prodding at Neil's slowly rising bump. "That's gonna bruise tomorrow."
"Oh well," Andrew replies, lighting a cigarette and waiting impatiently for the others to get into the car. "Evidently, he can't handle a little cracker dust." He then honks the horn when the others aren't moving fast enough, kicking them into gear.
Neil ends up between Nicky and Aaron, his body pressing into Nicky's side. Andrew doesn't like how Nicky is holding him, but he doesn't say anything right now. He'll have a chat with his cousin later.
As he drives back to the house in Columbia, Andrew looks into the rearview mirror at Neil's unconscious face. He wonders what Neil is hiding. He wonders why he has a binder full of money and enough information about Kevin and Riko to get him put on a watch list. He wants to crack Neil's head open like an egg and study him, find out his secrets, but right now, he should really concentrate on the road.
As he looks away, Andrew can't help being intrigued. Neil Josten is a puzzle he needs to solve.
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