Page 37 of Whiskey

“I did.” I glanced around to be sure I was still alone.

“Well, I just so happen to be free the next while. Maybe we could catch up.”

I closed my eyes, knowing I could do about six rounds with a woman right now. I glanced at the table and saw Ivy wasn’t there.

“You know me, Ty. I’m not looking for anything more than a ride. I know what you like, and you know what I like.” She lowered her voice to a husky tone. “I know that you need a woman who can give it up to you, let you take control. A woman who can take whatever you give her.” I felt my stomach coil and my head cloud. “And I also know that you really need it when you come home. I’m what you need, Ty.” I leaned into my arm on the wall and pressed my forehead into it as my erection grew.

“I’ll text you where to meet. Let me know when you arrive?” I grunted.

“Three days from now.” She giggled, and I fought through the fog well enough to think straight.

“I’ll be in Montana at that point training for work, anyway.”

“Just tell me where and when.” She kept her voice sexy.

“Yeah.” I took a controlled breath, not because she turned me on but because I needed the release, and I knew she’d brought it to me before. It had been too long, and lately being around Ivy, it was almost unbearable. “Demi.”

“Yeah?”

“Stretch first.” It was our inside joke, and I could hear her laugh as I hung up. When I turned around, I found Ivy behind me. She tapped her fingers on the wall as she stood there and studied me a moment then walked by me into the restroom without a word.

As I watched her disappear, I saw John coming toward me. I tucked my phone away and cleared my head and prayed the music had been loud enough that Ivy hadn’t overheard my conversation with Demi.

“Hey, man, the restaurant is filling up, and Cole said you’re on Ivy duty. Could you walk her back to the table? I need to piss like no one’s business.”

“Yeah, of course.” I leaned against the wall and waited. I felt incredibly pent-up and agitated. If I was still overseas, my mind would be focused on the business of staying alive, but being here in this town and being around her…I felt like I might explode.

“Hey,” she looked up at me as she came out, “were you waiting on me?”

“Yeah,” I pushed off the wall, “the place is filling up, and Cole wanted eyes on you.”

“Ah, yes, you mentioned that earlier.” She shook her head. “But I’m not one of the family needing protection from the Cartel,” she said quietly for only me to hear.

“You’re associated with us.” I motioned for her to start walking. “I’m going to assume that makes you a target.”

“To who?” She looked down the hallway. “No one knows me here. I’m just some woman in a bar. Really, Ty, I don’t need an escort.” She forced a laugh.

“Rules of the house. And you’re sexy as shit, Ivy, so you’re stuck with me. Deal with it.” I urged her forward and glared at the men who stared at her.

“Someone’s cranky,” she muttered.

“I wouldn’t be if you weren’t wearing that.”

“Hey,” she turned and placed her hands on her hips, “no guy is going to give me a problem with you hanging around me. You scream either military or police,” she wiggled a finger at me, “so, relax and enjoy yourself. God knows we both deserve it.”

“I don’t do crowds well.” I glanced around the room.

“Well, lucky for you,” she stepped closer, “I do.” The light scent of her perfume found me, and I breathed it in deeply. “Come on, Beckett.”

She turned to walk as a group of guys came by and forced her to step back into me. My hands quickly landed on her hips as I moved her out of the way. I nearly moaned when my thumb grazed her bare skin.

“See,” she looked up at me, “you got this.”

“Come on.” I flexed my hands and steered her toward the table. I wasn’t ready to let go yet, but I did. I took my job seriously and did what I’d been told. I made my presence known. Maybe, just maybe, I loved every minute of it even if it did almost kill me.

Eric

The smell of dirt and tobacco swirled around my senses as I listened to the sounds of the sophisticated tunnel we had built between San Diego and Rosarito. It utilized a rail system, steel shoring, and an electric ventilation system. It was one of best designs to date and something a lot of others had tried before but failed. When we weren’t moving girls through here, I’d rent out the space to the other side of Castillo’s operation and they’d move cocaine, meth, and heroin through. But I oversaw everything; that was my number one rule. I knew what was coming through, when it came through, and who the buyers were.

---