“I need to get my car fixed but I first need to go get some money. It’s not exactly as if Sasha pays top dollar.”
“Why not just buy a new car? You’ve got the money.”
“I don’t know what kind of reach Dante and his gang have. If I buy a new car then it is titled to me what if they can look that shit up and then see my name isn’t really Allie as I said it was? The old junker I’m driving is still titled to the old man I bought it from, I didn’t exactly take the Bill of Sale to the DMV. I’ll just wait until this is all over then I’ll get a better car.”
“I can loan you some if you need it,” Ridley offered.
I wondered if my face was as flushed as I felt, this woman was too much, I couldn’t get over her kindness, we were still basically strangers. “Thanks, but no. You’ve done enough for me. Just letting me stay here, I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Do you work tonight?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to be able to get your car fixed in time. Why don’t you take my Jeep, I can ride my bike.”
“Bike? It’s too hot to be out there peddling.”
Ridley let out a low chuckle. “No not a bicycle but a bike as in a Harley.”
“You have a motorcycle?”
Ridley nodded.
“Okay, besides teaching me to be a tattoo artist, sometime please teach me to ride,” I was practically begging.
“You’ve got it. So, about money, what are you going to do?”
“I’ve got some things that I can pawn. Do you know of any shops around here?” I lowered my fork to the paper napkin, and finished off my coffee.
“Queen’s Gold, if I was pawning something, that’s where I’d go. My cousin says that the woman, Coco, is fair and kind,” she said, with a shrug. “She’ll give you exactly what your item is worth.”
“Glad to hear it.” I rose from the table to help clean up the breakfast mess. “Thanks.”
“For what?” Ridley asked.
“For everything, for offering to help me.”
Ridley stood from the table, and reached for the white plate in my hand. “I’m always happy to help you. Besides, I don’t think that you’re the kind of person who would just take advantage of me.”
“Absolutely not,” I said, with a firm nod of my head. “And believe me, if you ever need anything at all, I am right here.”
“Noted.” Ridley dropped the dishes into the sink, and my pulse quickened at the sound of glass hitting metal. “The keys are in the bowl,” Ridley said, “just bring her back to me in one piece.”
“Okay.” I was grateful for her generosity. I beamed at her as I turned away to cross the plush carpet of the living room.
I pulled into the parking lot of Queen’s Gold pawnshop and slid my hand over the pocket of my jeans. My mother’s ring sat deep within, and a small wave of guilt washed over me. It was her engagement ring, it was the only thing that I had to prove that my father had cared about her if not about me—but I needed money. It wasn’t for forever. Once things were a little more settled, I could go back and get the ring back, and it would be like it was never gone in the first place.
I slid out of Ridley’s Jeep and crossed the sizzling pavement. It had rained some time during the night, and the early afternoon sun had turned the city into a furnace.
Queen’s Gold was way too close to Dante’s house for my liking. Although across the street from the Orange County Sheriff’s Station, the pawn shop obviously still had a lot of thieves. There were wrought iron bars covering the windows and door. I glanced up and to my left to see a surveillance camera before looking back to the front door.
My lips twitched into a smile as I read the sign stuck to the front door, Grow from the dirt they left you in. Coco sounded like my kind of woman that was pretty much my motto.
I opened the door of Queens Gold and smiled at the stocky woman who stood on either side of the floor room. She was not what I had imagined, she had to be close to seven feet tall. She seemed to fill up her surroundings.
“Hey.” I waved as the entrance bell dinged above me, and I strode past an impressive wall of firearms.
“Hello,” the woman said, her broad shoulders hunched forward as she began writing. “What can I do for you today?” She had an islander accent, I wasn’t sure from where, maybe the Cayman’s or Jamaica.
I leaned on the glass display cabinet as she continued to write.
“I’m not sure how this works, I want to pawn something.”
“Oh?” she asked. “And whatcha hoping to pawn?”
I slid my hand into my tight denim pocket, and pulled out a half carat diamond ring.
“Well now, what do we have here?” She furrowed her thick brows as she took the diamond ring into her beefy hands. “Did you steal it?”
“No, of course I didn’t steal it,” I said, offended, and had half of mind to reach across the counter and snatch it back.
“Don’t be cranky, I have to ask.” I nodded, relaxing some.
“It was my mother’s engagement ring.” I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat.
Coco held the diamond up to the light and opened a drawer as she rummaged around. “I’m surprised to see you here, Allie.”
“Allie?” I asked, and my body tensed at the false name. “How do you know my name?”
Coco pulled out a magnifying glass and peered into the diamond. “I know everything that goes on in this area.”
“Is that so?” Okay, this woman was scaring me. My mind could have gone in a million different directions but instead it went right to Dante, obviously he had this woman in his pocket, kind of like Sasha.
“I know that people are watching you,” she added to prove her point. “I also know that you are not right with the world.”
“Huh? What do you mean? Who’s watching me?”
“One question as a time.” The woman let out a small chuckle that sounded more like a rumble. “You’re not who you pretend to be. You are always watching your back which tells old Coco that you a nervous thing. You be careful, I notice it that means others may start to notice it.”
“Okay, I’ll be careful. How about the other, who’s watching me?” My heart beat faster and the smell of something cooking filled my lungs. It had a slight curry smell.
“Lots of people.” And then nodded toward the bracelet on my wrist.
I closed my fingers around the silver bangle, and wondered how much Detective Getty could hear right now.
“Girl who plays with fire…”
I interrupted Coco, “Get’s burned, I know.”
“No. Girl who plays with fire must first learn how to fight the fire,” Coco warned.
“I’m learning as I go along,” I said although it sounded more like a question.
“Don’t,” Coco barked. “Learn first. Fire takes on many forms, don’t think it is always a flame.”
I tried to take in her words but in all honesty, I was lost. Fire takes on many forms. Did she mean not to trust anyone or who I thought was the fire is really someone else? Fuck.
Coco lowered my mom’s engagement ring to the glass counter.
“That’s the plan,” I said. “How much would you give me for the ring? I’m just pawning it—I want to get it back eventually.”
“Good girl. How does three thousand sound?”
Kobe
I clutched the dingy dishcloth in my hand and scrubbed along the worn bar top at Sasha’s. Her bar was especially grimy with the overwhelming scent of ashtrays and stale beer from the bottles that littered the tables. I didn’t know what had happened here, but for whatever reason, it was shittier than usual.
“You work hard, girl,” Sasha said as she took a long slow drag from her cigarette and blew the smoke into my face.
I resisted the urge to cough as I swiped the smoke from around me.
“You remind me of myself twenty years ago,” she continued, and I began to scrub hard at the Sharpie marks some jerk had left on t
he bar top. “I might have to give you a raise, you know.”
“A raise?” I asked and grimaced at the way my boot stuck to something sticky on the wooden floors. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.” I didn’t bother to look at her since it was probably a joke of some kind.
“Well, you’d be the first I’ve given in seven years,” she said, and the bell rang signifying a new customer had entered the building.
“How much more are you going to pay me?” I asked, and my stomach churned as Dante came into view. God, I hated that man.
“I was thinking of bumping you up to twelve dollars an hour,” she said and glanced over her shoulder at the slimy gang leader who spoke quickly with Crow.
“I’ll take it.”
It was quite a jump from the eight she currently paid me.
“Good, I try to be generous now and again, just to keep in good favor with the man upstairs.” She pointed her cigarette skyward before flicking it into the overflowing ashtray.
“I didn’t realize you were a religious woman,” I said as Dante drew closer, his lips pressed in an irritated line.
“I’m not, but it’s better to play it safe. And about the raise, you earned it. You ain’t stupid, and you work harder than almost anyone here.”
“Almost?” I asked as I dropped the dishcloth into the bucket of dirty water. It landed with a splash that dampened the floor around it.
“Yeah, the only one who works harder than you around here is Missy,” she said, and a slow smiled spread across her splotchy face.
“Missy?” I scowled and was surprised at the irritation in my own voice for having been one upped by the blonde.
“How does she work harder than me?” I asked, and folded my arms across my chest as other members turned to face us, eager for a confrontation.
“The girl brought in five grand this week.” She examined the orange glow at the end of her cigarette.
“Five grand?” I gaped.
“Yep.”
“How the hell did she do that?” I demanded as I looked around the filthy establishment.
“She has been working hard upstairs,” she said, and my eyes rose to the ceiling.
“No, you’re not saying.” I closed my eyes as I realized that the creaking sound that I’d been hearing above me for the last couple hours had nothing to do with settling wood or the wind brushing against the tin roof. “I didn’t realize that you had already started your...” I trailed off, unsure how to say it in the most respectful way.
“Whorehouse?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah, we’ll go with that,” I said in disbelief as Spider crept forward and pulled out the chair a few feet away from Sasha.
“The whorehouse is still in the trial run,” Sasha said with a shrug. “I really started talking it up at the party, and it was so well received that I decided to roll it out on a probationary level. You know, the job is still open if you want it. I could make that twelve dollars look like chump change.”
I stiffened and ignored Spider’s penetrating gaze. “I’ll take my twelve dollars an hour as a bartender.”
“What are we talking about?” Dante asked and leaned forward, resting a hand on my forearm.
“I’m trying to talk Allie into joining my more elite services.” Sasha encouraged and Dante grinned.
“I like that idea,” he said as the smell of his whiskey breath assaulted my lungs. “Let me know what you decide.” He gave a long glance over my body and slid his hand down my arm until he was touching my hand. “I’ll have two fingers of whiskey and one of my usuals.”
“Right away.” I smiled and then carefully pulled my hand away from his and turned toward the whiskey on the shelf.
“How are you doing tonight?” Sasha asked and extinguished her cigarette.
“I’ve been better.” He took the glass of whiskey that I poured along with the Jager bomb. “How long the boys been here?” Dante nodded toward the back corner.
I looked away and focused on the mop bucket beside me.
“About an hour.”
“Put this on my tab,” he said and threw back the whiskey before slamming the glass down onto the table.
“You know,” Sasha said as he strode away, “he really wants you.”
My body was numb, weak. “I’m flattered but I’ve got—”
“I know, you’ve got Easy but there is something to say about a man with power and Dante, he’s got power.” Sasha let out a long sigh. “I’d pay you more than I pay Missy.”
I narrowed my eyes and turned to face her. “And why is that?”
“Because you are goody two shoes, you are like the proverbial unicorn, out of reach, men are always more interested in a woman they can’t have. They’ve all had Missy, she sleeps with just about everyone here.” Sasha waved her arm around, gesturing to the Coyotes.
Some of them leered at me, and I scowled back.
“Men always want what they can’t have,” she said, with a wise nod.
“But then once they had me, my value would go down.” I bit my lower lip to fight back the nausea at the mere thought of being touched by Spider or Dante.
“Maybe, but I think it’ll all still work out in the end.”
“Thank you for the offer. But I’ll stick with this.” I picked up Dante’s shot glass and carried it along with the dirty water back toward the kitchen.
In the kitchen, I lowered the bucket of gray water to the floor as it sloshed around the sides. Part of the discoloration came from the dirty counters, but the rest of it was likely a result of the terrible plumbing. Honestly, the building could be condemned, that was, if anyone had the balls to come in here and actually examine the structure.
Wiping sweat from my brow, I looked around the grimy kitchen. The ancient refrigerator sat silent, untouched, and it was probably safe to assume it didn’t even work.
“Traitor,” a hushed voice drew my attention, and I glanced toward where it came from.
The voice grew a little louder as I snuck forward, but I still couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Suffer...” the voice said, and I lifted the boxes that were stacked on top of the fridge and placed them on the ground. There, directly above the fridge, was a small air vent.
Clearly, whatever I was hearing was coming from the back corner table. I reached for the abandoned bar stool that Sasha usually sat on while I washed dishes, and carefully slid it closer to the fridge. Climbing on top of the fridge, I sat cross legged under the air vent and peered through to see the table.
It was difficult to see what was going on the other side, but the soft yellow lights of the back room allowed me to see Dante as he paced back and forth, his fingers woven together at the nape of his neck, his greasy black hair falling over his fingers.
“Thane,” Dante said, his voice low and dangerous. “I knew it is that weasely bastard.” I racked my brain, trying to place a face to the name. “I want him taken care of.”
I raised my hand and pressed the bracelet carefully against the vent, hoping to God that Capitan Getty could somehow hear or see what was going on at the table. I had a feeling that whatever happened next wouldn’t be good.
“It was him, I know it. He was acting weird at the party, I can’t put my finger on it, but I didn’t get to this position without being able to read a man and I’m telling you it was him,” Dante hissed.
Thane, Thane, I tried to think of the members that I hadn’t seen often. He wasn’t the one who had been in the room while Dante played Russian Roulette, and when I left, I couldn’t remember if he had been the one getting a blow job in the hall or not.
“What do you want us to do?” Crow asked as he stepped into view, his broad shoulders wide, his stance open, ready to accept any challenge.
“Kill him,” Dante said as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from inside his jacket and opened the package. “I want him dead. I have no use for people I don’t trust. You know what to do with the body. Spread the word.”
I climbed down from the fridge, placed the stool back where I found it, and strode out of the kitchen. Dodging Sasha and the other patrons as I headed for the exit.
“Where are you going, girl?” Sasha demanded.
“Oh,” I said as my heart pounded in my chest. “I need to get tampons from the Jeep.”
Sounds of disgust echoed through the room. It surprised me that they would think that this was something vulgar, considering the lifestyle they led. But the guys dismissed me and what I was doing, so I didn’t get too uppity about it. Men and periods, that was something I’d never understand.
I jogged to my car, pulled open the door, and slammed it shut. After locking the doors, I dialed the number for Capitan Getty.
“Capitan Getty,” he answered.
I started the engine and inhaled deeply at the rush of air that flowed through the car. It was still hot, but better than sitting in this oven.
“I wanted to tell you about a conversation that I heard. There’s a kill order—”
“I know,” he said, cutting me off.
“You know?” I asked, and I watched the empty parking lot, making sure that no one else was coming.
“Yes, maybe it wasn’t explained well enough to you, but the bracelet is a live feed. I hear and see everything as it happens,” he said, sounding proud.
“Yes, Easton told me, I’m just not thinking straight.” Relief flooded through me, and the cold air slowly began to flow through the car.
“Don’t worry, Kobe, we have it all taken care of. The kill order has been noted. Don’t take any chances by calling me anymore, I’m monitoring the bracelet.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, okay. You’re right.”
Easton
I sat in the barber’s chair inside Miguel’s private barber shop.
“A little longer on top.”
His wrinkled fingers skimmed through my dark hair. There was one other person in the shop, and the kid seemed to be lingering for no reason. He grabbed a black cape and wrapped it across me, snapping it at the back.
Kobe, Bad Blood (Blood Roses Book 1) Page 10