“I think you two have to be the record for falling in love,” Leona called. “I mean, really. It’s like you two have known each other for forever.”
Raelyn rolled her eyes and pressed her forehead to mine. “She said she spiked her coffee. It’s barely eight o’clock, Playboy. I’m pretty sure by the time your meeting is over, she’ll be passed out.”
“Well, tell her welcome to the club.” I held up my thermos. “So did I and a few of the other guys.”
Raelyn grabbed the thermos and shook her head. “That is not the reason why I gave you a huge thermos. This is supposed to keep you energized, not get you drunk off your butt.” She raised it to her nose and took a whiff. “Sweet jesus, Playboy. How much did you put in here?”
I held up my fingers two inches apart. “Just a bit.”
She pointed to the hallway the guys had walked down. “You can have this back after you figure out how to save my sister.”
“Your sass is getting pretty bold,” I warned.
She flounced over to the couch and sat next to Leona. “You like it,” she called.
She was damn right about that.
I did like it. And I was also going to like trying to work it out of her in the bedroom when this was all over.
The good thing was I knew nothing was going to take away Raelyn’s sass, but pretending like I needed to fuck it out of her was going to be fun.
*
Raelyn
Leona and I stared at each other.
“We’re both gonna yell at each other, yeah?”
I nodded. “Though I think mine is just more wanting to know what you are doing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Having fun? Getting in my kicks when I can get them? Pretty sure we’re doing the same thing.”
Was I having fun? Yeah. But I was doing a whole hell of a lot more than that.
She eyed me knowingly. “Except you’re in it a whole of a lot deeper than I am.”
Damn. I hated that Leona knew me so well. Anyone else I could have sat there and agreed that I was having fun with Playboy and not catching feelings for him. Leona knew just by looking at me that I was in it good.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Leona silenced the TV. She turned toward me and pressed a knee into the couch. “I don’t blame you, honey. I can see the way that man looks at you. He’s in it for more than fun, too. Hell, he might be into it more than you are at the moment. I peeked out the window and saw him talking to you before you walked in. Treating you like you're a fragile package.”
“He’s not doing that.”
She tipped her head to the side and pursed her lips. “You must be walking around with your eyes shut if you’re gonna try to deny that he’s looking at you with some major puppy dog eyes.”
I wouldn’t go that far. “Can we stop talking about this?”
She shook her head.
“I think there are some other things we should be talking about. I think we should focus on Billie Jean.” Anything other than Playboy and me.
“Barracuda and the Royal Bastards are taking care of Billie Jean. You'd be foolish to sit there and worry she wasn’t coming back home. You know she’s alive, and there’s a room full of badass men who are willing to do anything to get her back.”
“But you’re not being foolish sitting there telling me there isn’t anything happening between Barracuda and you?”
“The way Barracuda looks at me and the way Playboy looks at you is entirely different. I know what Barracuda wants from me, and that’s all I want from him.”
“So nothing more could happen?”
Leona rolled her eyes. “Quit trying to make Barracuda and me a thing in your head. I’m not saying never, but the odds of it happening are slim to none. We’re enjoying each other and then going on our ways when we have enough.”
With that attitude, yeah, nothing was going to happen.
“What if you and me talking about Barracuda helps me to not sit here and worry about Billie Jean?”
Leona flipped me off. “You’re a bitch.”
I batted my eyes. “I mean, I haven’t thought about Billie Jean since Playboy left. I’m focused on you. If you want me to stop talking about Barracuda and you, I think you’re doing a disservice to our friendship.”
She grabbed the remote and pointed it at the TV. “How about you can talk about it but that doesn’t mean I have to? Or, you can talk about it and I’ll build up this whole grand lie about it, yeah?”
She would do that, except I would know everything was a damn lie. I took a sip of Playboy’s coffee and cringed. “Oh, my God. It’s like he put half the bottle in here.”
Leona grabbed the cup and took a sip. “Tastes okay to me.”
I held up my hand when she tried to hand it back. “Keep it.” I cringed and stuck my tongue out.
She turned back to the TV and tucked both of her legs underneath her. “Suit yourself.”
I sat back on the couch and tried to focus on the TV. “Thank you for trying to distract me,” I mumbled.
She tipped her glass to me. “That’s what best friends do.”
*
Chapter Fifteen
Playboy
Another 10k gone…
“Shit with the Kings of Vengeance is set.”
“They’re opening up a Skinz in Whitmore?” Tank asked.
Barracuda nodded. “We pay the Devil’s Rebels the thirty grand they lost when the Kings blew up their clubhouse, charge the Kings interest on the loan, let them use the Skinz name for the new business venture, and then take a skim off the profits.”
“We come out good in the end?” Monk asked.
Barracuda nodded. “We come out with about fifteen K on the loan and if they manage the club well, we’ll be more than flush in the end. I talked to Nycto from Tampa and Hype in Miami. They both think it’s a pretty solid fucking deal for us and the Kings.”
“Nycto still a crazy fuck?” Mace asked.
“You know that isn’t ever going to change.” Barracuda ran a finger around the rim of his cup. “The money was delivered yesterday. The Kings of Vengeance are out from under the Devil’s Rebels but now we might be tangling with them with the whole Billie Jean and Memphis situation.”
“But why the hell would the Devil’s Rebels be involved with Jester?” Monk asked. “None of this shit is making sense.”
I sighed. “Billie Jean said she saw one Devil’s Rebels cut. Maybe they aren’t a major player in any of this. Billie Jean said she got in deep with Jester. He’s not a part of the Rebels. Two years ago, he had a run in with them himself. I doubt the Rebels would align with him or patch him in.”
“You’re probably right.” Barracuda drummed his fingers on the table. “So, the question is, do we reach out to the Devil’s Rebels or try to avoid them?”
“What do we know?” Tank replied. “Jester and whoever this Mac guy is are the two names we have. Jester is in drugs. He’s been dealing for the past fifteen years. Whatever he is doing with Billie Jean and Memphis has to do with that.”