by Brook Wilder
Tex grimaced again, but Lori let out a sigh of relief and sent a grateful look at her friend.
“Thanks, Carrie. And don’t worry. We’ll be with you ever step of the way. We’ll watch each other’s back.”
“There’s that pesky we word again,” Tex muttered under his breath.
But Lori just ignored it. She had bigger things to worry about. Like how exactly she was going to convince Solomon to cut her into a high-end drug deal.
Carrie and Lori each took another swig of the tequila, straight from the bottle. But it didn’t seem to help Carrie much.
She dug her cell phone from the bottom of her purse. She took a deep breath and gave Lori a hard look.
“You so owe me for this.”
“My first-born child is yours. I swear,” Lori answered immediately, drawing a rueful little chuckle from Carrie.
It wasn’t much, but the humor helped to ease a little of the tension. After a moment, Carrie punched in a number and held the phone to her ear, letting out another sharp sigh. The room was silent as they waited.
“Um, hi, is this, uh…Is this Rocko?” Carrie asked hesitantly after a long delay.
Lori cringed at the sound in her voice. She knew how much her friend didn’t want to do this. She really did owe Carrie. Big.
“Rocko, it’s me, Carrie… Yeah, I know. Me too… I know it’s been a long time.”
Carrie drew in another deep breath, her eyes meeting Lori’s. Lori waved her hands in the air, gesturing for her to get on with it already. Carrie rolled her eyes.
“Hey, I actually had a favor to ask. You still work Solomon, right? Right… Right… Of course… Tonight? Um, sure, hang on.”
Carrie looked surprised and hurried over to the counter to grab a small note pad and a pen.
“Okay, give me the address.”
Carrie scribbled something down while Rocko talked on the other end of the line .
“Great. Thanks Rocko. Yeah, see you soon,” Carrie said in a rush, ending the call and looking over at Lori.
“Well? What did he say?”
Carrie shrugged, and then broke into a grin.
“Rocko invited me to a party at some club. Solomon’s there all the time, so it’s a good chance that he might show up tonight. He said he might be able to call him, too, if there’s a good enough reason.”
“A chance,” Lori breathed in relief. “That’s all I need. A chance.”
Carrie rushed to her side and gave her an impulsive hug.
“Don’t worry, Lori. We’ll get this figured out. I swear. We’ll get you out of this mess. I’m not going to let Gears hurt you.”
Carrie pulled back and a sudden mischievous grin shot across her face. Nothing could keep her down for long.
“Come on. Let’s get ready for this party.”
Lori cast a glance back at Tex, but he remained on the couch, silent and thoughtful, as she followed Carrie to her small bedroom.
Five minutes later they were both wearing tight, slinky dresses from Carrie’s closet. Carrie’s thigh skimming gold number was much shorter than the simple black dress that Lori wore, and she had topped it off with a fitted black leather jacket and her heeled boots. Her outfit was specifically designed to make Rocko drool and, hopefully, to get them the info they needed. She was primed and ready for action.
Lori followed her friend out of the bedroom at a much more reluctant pace. She forced a smile when she got to the living room and saw Tex’s red hot gaze locked on to her. His green eyes were on fire as they travelled up her body, taking in her bared legs, the tight hip-hugging dress, and the sexy ponytail that she’d thrown her hair up into, then all the way back down again. Lori could have sworn she could feel the heat from his gaze.
“I’m, uh, I’m going to ride with Carrie,” Lori finally stuttered. “You don’t have to come.”
“Like hell,” Tex growled. “You’re not going to face Solomon alone, or even this Rocko guy. I’m going with you, so don’t even try and argue with me sweetheart.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Lori felt relieved that she would have Tex at her back.
“Well, come on then, cowboy. Let’s get this over with.”
Lori didn’t wait to see if Tex was following. She just needed to get away from his piercing eyes. She pulled Carrie out of the apartment along with her and towards her car.
Lori jumped into the passenger seat of Carrie’s car, ignoring her friend’s odd look as she sauntered around to the driver’s side and got in. They started driving towards the club, with Tex following behind on his bike. Lori tried not to peek at him in the side mirror, but she found it impossible not to.
“So, you and Tex, then...” Carrie said after a minute of silence, a small smirk on her face.
Lori let out a huff of irritation.
“Why do people keep saying that,” she muttered, remembering Robbie’s words from earlier.
“Because it’s obvious,” Carrie snorted, flicking on her turn signal. “He’s into you. I’d have to be blind not to see the way looks at you. Like a piece of candy he wants to take a bite of.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not,” Carrie said, shooting her a side-eye look, “Besides, you look at him the exact same way, you know.”
It was Lori’s turn to snort, shaking her head as she denied her friend’s words.
“Now, that really is ridiculous.”
“Honestly, Lori…” Carrie paused for a moment, trying to find the right words before going on. “He seems like one of the good ones. He’s helping you when he didn’t have to. And God knows you need the help. Porky and Tex have been best friends forever. They’re like brothers. Porky said…”
“I don’t care what he said, Carrie,” Lori interrupted, cutting off whatever she’d been about to say. She didn’t want to hear it. “The last thing I need in my life right now is a relationship with an arrogant, egotistical, know-it-all cowboy. My life’s already complicated enough.”
“I’m just saying. It might be worth it to give him a chance.” Carrie said with a shrug.
But Lori was already shaking her head.
“I can’t think about anything else until I’m safe. And I’m not going to be safe until I can make enough money to get out from under Gears thumb. He controls every part of my life, Carrie. My job. My home.”
Lori’s voice broke on the words and she had to stop and take a deep breath before she could speak again.
“Let me figure this out first,” she finished. “Then we’ll see about what I can handle.”
Neither of the them spoke again, making the rest of the journey in silence.
Finally, they pulled up to the club and Lori’s stomach sank a little as she looked over the place.
The outer brick was cracked and crumbling and there were bars covering windows that had more cracks than clear panes of glass. The door was a big steel number that looked like it could withstand a zombie apocalypse.
Lori had thought The Reaper club was a dive but, compared to this place, it seemed downright welcoming.
“Well, we’re not going to accomplish anything sitting in the car.”
Lori forced the words through suddenly trembling lips as she unhooked the seatbelt, pushed open the door and got to her feet.
Carrie took the lead, heading inside, with Lori following with Tex close behind her.
The inside was even rougher than the outside, and the music blared loudly as they walked in.
Lori stumbled to a halt as Carrie stopped right in front of her, standing on the tips of her four-inch heels to scan the packed club.
After a moment, she pointed to a table in the far corner. She shouted something at Lori, but the music was too loud for her to make out the words. Lori gathered from Carrie’s pointing what she was trying to say.
Lori just nodded and started to follow her friend as she moved towards the table. Tex’s firm grip in on her wrist drew her to a stop. She looked back at him in confusion and had to suck
in a sudden breath at how close he was standing. Too close.
“Be careful,” he said.
But Lori shook her head. She couldn’t hear his words over the loud music.
“What?” she mouthed, adding another confused shake.
“I said be careful!”
He shouted the words this time, but she could still only make out the first part. With an irritated look on his face, Tex leaned forward. When he spoke again, it was right against the curve of her ear and it sent shivers racing up and down her spine.
“I said be careful in here. These people aren’t friendly to other crews. Just stay calm and pretend like you know what the hell you’re doing. Maybe we can bluff our way through this without getting hurt, or worse.”
Lori forced herself to pull back, angry at his words, and angry at the desire pooling low and hot between her thighs at the close press of his body against hers.
“I know exactly what the hell I’m doing, cowboy.”
A small grin tugged up one corner of his mouth, drawing Lori’s attention as he spoke.
“There. Just like that. Keep that up and no one will know that you’re totally out of your depth.”
Lori huffed out a sigh, not saying another word as she turned and followed Carrie to the table in the corner.
She made out five guys lounging around a circular table. It was littered with empty beer bottles and shot glasses. Obviously, they’d been partying for a while.
Lori drew in a deep breath, forcing a smile to her lips as she looked around at the group.
It was easy for her to guess which one was Rocko. He was a big guy, almost as big as Tex, with giant biceps covered in tattoos that ran under his t-shirt and up his neck, even onto parts of his bald head. Carrie was sitting on his lap.
A little kernel of dread sank heavy in her stomach. She knew that Carrie’s plan was to try and flirt with her ex to get the info they needed to set up a meeting with Solomon. But she still felt bad at the position she’d put her friend in.
Let’s just get the meeting and get it over with. That way it will be worth it.
The thought steadied her enough to meet the gazes of the other men around the table. They were all tough-looking, leather-wearing bikers. And their gang tattoos were easily visible. They made no effort to hide who, or what, they were. And they all looked dangerous, and more than a little slimy.
They weren’t at all like Kyle and his friends. Even though she’d gotten a bad vibe from them, she hadn’t felt nearly as intimidated as she felt now. But she was already there. She had no choice but to go forward with the plan. It was now or never.
There was one chair free and Lori sat down gingerly. The guy sitting next to her, who had short cropped black hair and a goatee, shot a mean-eyed sneer at Tex.
“Sorry, bro. This table’s full. Find somewhere else.”
Lori cast a worried look behind her, instinctively searching for Tex, but he just shrugged, outwardly unconcerned. There was an empty table right next to theirs and he drew up one of the chairs. Before he sat, he leaned close to speak in Lori’s ear again.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m right behind you. And I’m not going anywhere. Just do what got to do, so we can get the hell out of here.”
Lori knew he was right. And, besides, she didn’t want to spend any more time there, in that place, that she absolutely had to.
With that sick feeling still growing in the pit of her stomach, she leaned forward.
“So, Rocko. Carrie tells me you work with Solomon. That’s pretty impressive.”
Lori had to shout to be heard, but she still saw Rocko preen under her words. She’d seen right away that flattery was the way to go to win him over. He had a hell of an ego. She hoped all she’d have to do was stroke it a little and then leave.
“That’s right, gorgeous,” the bald man replied, his voice gruff. “I do work with Solomon.”
“Well, that’s great. I was hoping to get a meeting with him tonight. Talk to him…”
“What the fuck do you want with Solomon?” Rocko suddenly demanded, leaning forward so fast he nearly dislodged Carrie from her perch on his lap.
Lori could see the suspicion in his dark gaze, but Carrie was quick to step in.
“Don’t be so silly, Rocko,” she said with a giggle that sounded forced. “I told you. This is my friend Lori. She’s got a plan that will make Solomon a lot of money. I’m sure whoever helps with the deal with get a cut of the profits at well.”
Carrie teased one finger over Rocko’s chest as his brows rose.
“A cut of the profit, huh?”
“Very profitable,” Lori said, nodded her head.
She was still shouting to be heard, but at least at the back table they were a little further from the blasting speakers. Enough for her to hear her own thoughts, at least. And her thoughts were telling her she was making a mistake. But she pushed the little voice of doubt away. She didn’t have a choice.
“I heard Solomon is selling some new merchandise. Very high end. And very expensive,” Lori shouted, then sat back.
It was obvious that Rocko was interested, in the money at least. But, as time passed, and Lori looked around the club, there was still no sign of Solomon.
Lori shot a wide-eyed look at Carrie, trying to ask her wordlessly to speed things along.
A moment later, Carrie threw her arms around Rocko’s shoulders, ramping up her flirting as she asked where Solomon was.
“He’s on a run tonight,” Rocko admitted, after they’d been there nearly an hour. “He might not be in till later. He might not be in at all.”
Lori’s heart dropped at the words.
“Can’t you call him, baby?” Carrie asked, her voice pleading and husky at the same time. “For me?”
But Rocko just tossed back another shot and grinned at Carrie instead.
“Come on, let’s have some fun. I’m tired of talking about Solomon.”
“But you can call him, right? See if we can set up a meeting?” Lori said, leaning forward.
Every minute that passed made her feel worse and worse, her doubts plaguing her. This was her idea. She was the one who’d gotten them into this situation and now it might not even pay off.
“Carrie, you need to tell your friend to shut up and show some respect, otherwise I’ll teach her myself. You remember how I taught you, don’t you baby? On your hands and knees? What do you say? Why don’t you give us a little demonstration right here?”
Rocko grabbed her and all Lori could see was the disgusted look on Carrie’s face.
“Hey! That’s enough, asshole!” Lori said, shouting the words across the table at the very big, very intimidating man.
Maybe it wasn’t her best idea. But, then again, neither had been going there in the first place. She wasn’t about to sit there and let Carrie get talked to like that.
“I said, that’s enough!” Lori yelled the words over the too loud music, ignoring Carrie’s look of warning. She was too pissed off to notice. “Get your fucking hands off her.”
Rocko slowly turned his head, his dark eyes glaring pure murder in her direction, and Lori swallowed hard.
“What the fuck did you say to me, bitch?”
Chapter 15
Tex’s jaw was clenched so tight it was all he could do to take a sip of beer from the bottle in front of him. Even still, he didn’t taste it at all. They’d been sitting in that shitty club for over an hour and still no sign of Solomon. Or much of anything else, except for poor hygiene and some watered-down drinks.
He cursed under his breath for the hundredth time since he’d sat down in the sticky chair. He was trying to keep his mind on the business at hand, but his gaze kept sliding back to Lori. She was damned distracting, in that tight dress that hugged all her curves in all the right places, and her long legs bare except for those high heeled boots. He’d nearly swallowed his own tongue when she’d walked out of Carrie’s bedroom, dressed all in black. And so god-damned sexy it was all he could d
o not to throw her over his shoulder and carry her right back in and close the door behind them.
And then he’d watched her walk into this club, dressed like that. The short black dress and leather should have clashed with her good-girl good looks, but instead they just had all sorts of sinful ideas spinning through his head.
It had driven him crazy all fucking night. She was driving him crazy. And Lori didn’t even realize it. She was too busy trying to play nice with these assholes. He’d watched them all with his eyelids at half-mast, but he wasn’t worried. He knew the type of men they were. Tough on the outside, but as soon as they were threatened they’d turn tail and run. Carrie had said bottom of the barrel, and he couldn’t think of a better way to describe them.