Page 23 of Sex & Cigarettes

“Asking for trouble.” He pulls his money clip out and hands a wad of bills to Murphy. “Make sure the girls are clean. Last thing we need is the two of them moaning their dicks are burning on the ride back.”

Murphy takes the money and Grim yells for Romeo. Crazy old fuckers.

“I may leave them here with Abel.”

“That’s just cruel and unusual punishment. I have a newborn and wife to keep me busy on top of running my club.”

“Gotta say I’m real proud of you, son. Way you handled that rat bastard and his sister. Axel told me all about it.”

“Speaking of what are we doing about Axel and his situation?”

“We aren’t doing a damn thing. I’m taking Coralie and hitting the road.”

I drop down in the seat Grim was in. “Yeah, and what kind of life are you going to give her on the run?”

“No one is going on the run. Fuck.” My father signals for another beer. “This guy in California. You trust him?”

“He’s a former cop. I built a bike for him. Got in too deep undercover. Had a taste for the outlaw life. Good guy.”

Axel snorts. “Sounds real trustworthy. I’m not getting in with no pig.”

“You got any better ideas?” I pull out my smokes and my brother bums one.

“Jesus, Chelle is going to kill me. Both our boys away from home.”

“I said Ainsley and I’d do Christmas in Drag Creek.”

“Let me make a couple of calls.” Striker pushes back from the table.

I decide against a cigarette and go for a joint instead. I light it up, take a big toke, and pass it to my brother.

“There’s a senator. I was working him a few months back trying to find a way to get Axel out. I can set up a meeting. Lean on him. He doesn’t want me for an enemy.”

“Maybe. What’d you do with Raul and his men?” My father takes a hit of the joint Axel handed him.

“Sealed them in the tunnels that run under the landfill.”

He passes me the joint. Our mother would have a shit fit if she knew he was smoking with us even though we’re grown ass men. “Smart. Where are you with the Colombians?”

“It’s a delicate relationship.”

“Figured as much. I don’t get a good feeling about your politician.”

“He can be bought.”

“Exactly. There’s no loyalty.”

“I’ll figure out something,” Axel mutters. “Murphy mentioned having some property that belonged to his grandpa.”

“Where?”

“California.”

Ainsley

I’ve spent the past week with Coralie, Goldie, and Stephanie while the men sort out a plan for Axel. I wasn’t sure if Coralie and I would get along after all the niceties were over, but she’s cool. I like her.

I might even go as far to say I will miss her company. Almost. I’ll be happy when all the excitement dies down and life can resume some of the normalcy we had before Raul decided to kidnap me. Smith seems to grow and change by the hour. He’s alert and vocal. We’re both on a terrible sleeping schedule. I’ve been waiting up on Abel when I should be sleeping, though he is great about getting up with our son at three in the morning. I knew he’d be a great dad, but he’s definitely earning brownie points for being on late night diaper duty. He deserves a blow job but between all our house guests and the baby there hasn’t been time for more than a kiss here and there that I know leaves him frustrated.

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