“Oh, my God, girl. Welcome to the club. I just awarded you full-fledged membership.” Holly holds her glass up in the air.
“What club?” I ask, watching them all raise their glass.
“The club where we women can all appreciate a good tongue.” She laughs and the girls clink their glasses together.
“This isn’t really a club, is it?” I ask, watching them all break out giggling.
“No, I just made it up, but I am glad Jesse knows how to use that tongue of his. Always knew he had it in him. Have you seen his body? Be a shame for all that to go to waste.”
“Mmhmm,” Kelly agrees, nodding beside me.
“You ladies are crazy, you know that?” I settle back into the sofa.
“Girl, you haven’t even seen the tip of it. Wait till we get you to Vegas.” I nod listening as they continue telling me what they have planned for Vegas. I’m not certain yet, but I’d say these ladies are as wild as Lissy.
If not worse.
I must attract these kinds of people.
Twenty-One JESSE
“What do you have for us?” I ask Jackson as soon as we are alone.
“So impatient, brother.” He shakes his head, and then drops a folder down on the kitchen table. It’s not that I don’t want to know what he has to say, but I’d much rather be with Bell in my bed. “Ran the name Markus Bates you gave me through the system. This asshole has a rap sheet as long as my dick.”
“So not very long?” I quip and watch him try to not react to me pissing him off. The fucker is always so serious.
“What we looking at?” Nix picks up the file and starts reading.
“Worse case scenario. He’s got connections to a drug cartel in Mexico, and sex trafficking rings throughout America. You name it, he’s got his hand in it.” Fuck, it’s way over our heads now.
“He, along with that fucker, Gary Innis, we’ve had our eye on for a while, have a strong connection to the Warriors.”
“How do you know?” An undertone of disbelief slips past Nix’s lips, his eyes narrowing at the news of the Warriors involvement.
“Doesn’t matter how, just that he does.”
“Fuck me. This club is sendin’ me grey before my own fuckin’ daughter does.” He shakes his head. “Why’d you come to me with this, Jackson?” Nix asks the question I’ve been wondering since we rolled up and saw him here. We all know what side of the law Jackson stays on. Why come to us now?
“‘Cause I know my thick-headed brother here is thinking with the wrong head now.”
“Fuck you,” I answer but he doesn’t engage.
“You wanted the info, I’m giving it to you in hope you understand how deep this shit runs and you don’t fuck this up for us.”
“Fuck what up exactly?” Nix asks on a sigh. I understand his frustration. I don’t blame him. Every week it feels like we’re being dragged into more shit. Shit we’ve worked hard at getting away from.
“You know I can’t talk about the case, Nix.”
“Bullshit. If you want our club to work with the force on this one, we want full disclosure,” Nix calmly replies.
“You know this is even above my pay grade. The Feds already have their hands on it.”
“Yeah, on this fucker in Mexico. We still have our ways of getting T to talk. We’ll run our own investigation if we have to.” Nix doesn’t falter, letting Jackson know we’re not stepping aside.
“I’m not talking about this asshole Bates.” Jackson points to the folder. “I’m talking about the Warriors. We got them in our sights and we’re close.”
“That’s not enough to make me stop, Jackson.” I pick up the folder and start reading.
“Fuck me. You all are gonna get me fired.” He sighs and pulls up a chair. We don’t reply, just wait patiently for him to give us what we need. “We have an inside man on the job.”
“You got Feds undercover in the Warriors compound?” Sy asks. It’s the first time he’s spoken.
“Jesus Christ, Jesse, what the hell did you bring to us?” Nix runs his hand over his face. I don’t reply ‘cause I know he doesn’t mean to be an uptight ass. He wouldn’t walk away from this, not when there are innocent women being taken. But this shit is big. If Feds are in the Warriors, anything we pull could come back on us.
“You didn’t hear it from me.” Jackson nods.
“And you expect us to take your word?” Nix rocks back in his chair, fishing for more information.
“Your fucking knight in shining armor here”—he points to Beau—“picked up a woman belonging to a Warrior.” I look to Beau and watch him stand a little straighter.
“Don’t worry, our man hasn’t let on. He’s the one who let her get away,” Jackson challenges. I watch Beau relax slightly while Nix grows tense. Fuck that could have been some serious shit we don’t need.
“So what do you want us to do with this news?” I ask, not understanding any of this. So the Warriors are in on this. We go to them. Simple.
“Nothing. Let our men deal with it.”
“You know we can’t do that, Jackson,” I shake my head, not accepting his plan for us to stand down.
“Why the fuck not?”
“‘Cause as far as Bell is concerned, your department hasn’t exactly been successful.” I throw in the snide remark about my brother’s failure.
“Doesn’t give you the right to interfere in an ongoing investigation, Jesse.”
“It’s only ongoing ‘cause we gave you the lead, asshole.” I watch him recoil, knowing I’m right.
“Jesus, Jesse, what the fuck is your problem?”
“You’re my fucking problem. We got feelers out there and we’re gonna follow them through. With or without your help.”
“Jesse, if you fuck this up...”
“Oh, don’t mistake me for you, big brother. I’ve told Bell I’m going to do something, so I will do it.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?” He stands, pushing the chair back with force.
“Means what you think it means, brother.” I follow him up, but keep my cool.
“Will you both sit the fuck down!” Nix bangs the table but I don’t obey.
“Jesse?” Bell’s voice comes around the corner.
“Bell, go back and sit with the girls.” I don’t move my eyes off Jackson, still trying to gauge where he’s taking this right now.
“What’s going on?” She ignores me, picking up on the tension.
“Bell, out now.” The room stays silent. Jackson and I are locked in a showdown on what’s best for Bell.
“You found her.” Her voice is small, unsure. It’s not a question, but a statement.
“Bell, no.” I begin to try to explain but what is there to say? “Just come with me.” I tear my stare from Jackson and move around the table toward her.
“No, Jesse, tell me. Don’t lie to me. Tell me the truth.” Her hands shake at her sides and the small dip in the dimple on her cheek deepens, but not in a good way, rather in a way that makes my stomach tighten.
“Bell.”
“You’re scaring me, Jesse.”
“And I don’t want you to be scared, Bell.” I pull her close to my chest and try to offer her comfort. “So far it’s not much to tell. We have a lead, but where it’s pointing doesn’t look good.”
“Just fucking tell me. Tell me, damn it!” Her fist hits my chest and a lump forms in my throat.
“Bell, we don’t know for sure,” Nix speak ups, refocusing her attention.
“But you think it’s her?” She gains some composure and steps back from me to face him.
“Not gonna to lie to ya, it doesn’t look good.” Her hand reaches back for mine and I take it, giving her the connection she needs.