afternoon. I can’t get the taste and feel of her kisses out of my mind.
Jammer lights up a smoke and begins pacing. I know this is his least favorite part of this deal, so I try to take his mind off it.
“So, what was with the Kool-Aid Kid back there? I mean, there’s dysfunctional, and then there’s whatever the fuck that was.”
“He’s harmless, just a dimwit.”
My mind returns to Tess and something she said this afternoon, and I frown. “Hey, Jammer?”
“Yeah?” He takes a drag of his smoke.
“You think there’s any chance of Growler getting his conviction overturned?”
Jammer stops pacing and squints at me through the smoke trail from the cigarette hanging from his mouth. “Fuck no. Where the fuck’s that comin’ from?”
I shrug. “Just wondered.”
He lifts a brow. “Yeah? Well, quit wonderin’ about shit that ain’t gonna happen.”
“You ever hear from Reload?” I ask.
“Nope. Not since we took care of that lying rat of a VP of ours and ran him off. You?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Just thought he might turn up somewhere.”
“Him and Quick used to be tight. But the way I hear, Quick hasn’t had anything to do with him. Not since he found out our old VP double-crossed Growler and set him up to take the fall on those drug charges.”
“You really believe Quick didn’t know what Rat did?”
“He swore an oath on it. He stayed when he could have run. Yeah, knowing Quick, I do. He may have been thrown together with Reload a lot, but he was not on his level of asshole.”
“Suppose you’re right.”
“You worried about something?”
“I just always wonder if what we did the night we got rid of Rat and let Reload go…”
“Yeah?”
“Just wonder if it’s gonna come back around to bite us in the ass.”
“Quit worryin’.”
A pair of headlights crests the rise, and an old burgundy Cadillac rolls up.
Jammer pulls the rolled up bag from his saddlebag, goes over to the driver’s window, and makes the exchange. Straightening from the car, he thumbs through the bills in a white envelope, then nods and slides it inside his cut. The window rolls up and the car pulls off quickly. A moment later, it’s like he was never even here.
My cell vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and glance down at the readout.
Tess.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tess—
I lean against the wall in the line outside the bathroom, my phone pressed tight to my ear, so I can hear over the music. The band just started their second set. The line moves, and I sway as I push off the wall and stagger forward. Fuck, I shouldn’t have had that last shot.
“Babe, you okay?”
Gypsy’s voice is deep, and something inside me does a little flip in response. I smile, dipping my head to reply. “I’m g-good. How’re you?” I wince at the untimely hiccup.
“You drinking, Tess?”
“I’ve had a few.” I manage to answer between hiccups.
“What’d you need?”
“Were you serious about getting on my dad’s visitor list?”
“Said I was, didn’t I?”
“You still takin’ me back next weekend?”
“Yeah, why?”
“’Kay, just checking.”
“Where you at, Tess?”
“Some bar watching Hay—hic—Hayley’s boyfriend’s band play.”
“Who’s Hayley?”
“Hayley’s my girl. My B—hic—FF of course.”
“You driving tonight?”
The line moves again, and I step forward, using the wall to steady myself. “Whoa.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. The hallway is spinning, that’s all.”
“Tess, did you drive up there?”
I hiccup loudly into the phone. “Sorry. No, she did.”
“She gonna drive you home soon?”
“She’s probably gonna—hic—want to stay until the band finishes.”
“Babe, what’s the name of the bar?”
“Um, let me ask.” I tuck the cell under my chin and poke the girl in front of me. “Hey, what’s the name of this place?” She gives me a once over for bothering her.
“Voodoo Lounge.”
“Thanks.” I pull the phone up and repeat it.
“Stay there. I’m coming to get you.”
My brows arch. “No way, José. I’m having—hic—fun. Besides, I can find my own—hic—ride.”
“No you won’t, Tess. I’ll be there in ten minutes, and you better be there.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“Get used to it.”
“Maybe I don’t want to get—hic—used to it.”
“Tess, do not piss me off more than I already am.”
“Why are you pissed off? Maybe I’m pissed off.”
“Tess...”
“Gy—hic—ypsy.” Damn these hiccups. How can I sound tough like this?
“Babe, you listen to me. I’m coming to take you home, and by God, you’d better be there.”
“Don’t you go all badass on me, mister. I’m not one of your sweetbutts.”
“Like you even know what one is.”
“I’m not stupid.” Thank God my hiccups have stopped.
“That remains to be seen.”
“Screw you!” I hit the button to end the