Page 85 of Falcon

“Speak for yourself. I miss my falsies. Seriously, when we get back, I’m speaking to Mama Hen. I’d been holding out for you to go with me, but since you’re working at the shop now, I guess I can move on alone.”

“Hardly alone. Jeannie is there, along with a lot of the bunnies. And Mama Hen runs the place. I dunno. The shop is different but, honestly, it’s kind of fun. And I thought Falcon was being a douche for not wanting me to dance anymore. But the more I think about it, I don’t really want any other men with their hands on me.” I waited a few beats. I hadn’t really said that out loud, barely acknowledged it to myself. “After everything that’s happened, I think it’s best to stay out of the spotlight. Plus, I get to sit on my ass a lot at the shop. And no platforms required.”

Lacy chuckled as she finished touching up her face. “Maybe. But I’m not done. I like getting all pretty and the money can’t be beat.”

“That!” I winced. I hadn’t meant to be so loud. We were away from the rooms, but it was quiet through the buildings, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone. “I mean, yeah. The money was great. But I have enough with the shop I guess.”

“And you have Falcon.”

I looked at her in the mirror and we shared a smile. I did have him. We had each other. “Let’s go see if Linx is ready.”

“He’s one scary looking dude,” she said.

I shrugged. “Maybe. But he’s a good guy. And if we’re being honest, Falcon looks a little scary too, but he has kindness in him.” It was true. He was a giant with dark hair, a long beard, hazel eyes that hardly showed emotion but, instead, usually a blank stare, tattoos everywhere, and his cut signified he was part of something dangerous. I’d seen plenty of men and women cower at the mere sight of him. But he was so gentle with me; so caring. And the man had the patience of a saint.

“You’re right. I guess it’s a little shitty to be judgy of looks. Especially seeing as what I am.” She looked down and fiddled with her bag.

I grabbed her arm. “We’re human. Nothing more, nothing less. And you’re a good person. A good friend. My best friend.”

Lacy looked up with glassy eyes. “Well, it’s about damn time you claimed me.”

After a long ride in Falcon’s truck, I blinked, realizing I had dozed off. My neck was stiff, so I grabbed the back of it and rubbed as I looked out the newly installed window. A sharp pang hit my chest. I recognized the place we were in. We were getting close to the Hudson and had already passed the strip club we had worked before.

I had let Lacy have the window seat, so I was sitting bitch but could see Linx’s phone. His GPS showed another twenty minutes until our destination. I recognized the area. I hadn’t been there in a long time, and even then, it wasn’t but twice before I was thrown into the compound and not able to visit anywhere besides the strip club.

From what I remember, it was a Russian area, but I could have been mistaken. I felt bad for falling asleep. “Sorry I’m a sucky road trip partner.”

Linx grunted then said, “I mostly ride my Harley alone. Not used to having anyone with me. I wouldn’t know the difference.” His voice was low and gravelly.

“I guess. Until Falcon, I didn’t really take a lot of long rides at all, especially with anyone else. But I always assumed there’d be more talking, and snacks.”

“You hungry?”

“No, I’m good.” He’d stopped on the way out of Bristol and got some breakfast biscuits and hash browns. I barely finished that. My nerves were shot, but I tried to eat a little because I knew if Falcon were with me, he’d be shoving food in my face all day.

I established Linx wasn’t much of a talker, but Lacy heard us and woke up. We made small talk for the rest of the ride. I wasn’t hungry, but my bladder was about to explode and hers was, too. We told him we could wait since there was only a few more minutes until we stopped. When we pulled into a parallel spot across from a restaurant, I looked around. “Where are we?”

Linx stopped the engine and hopped out, walking around to Lacy’s door and pulling it open for us. “Our destination. Bags,” he said as he held his hand out. I reached into the floorboard and grabbed my duffle bag while Lacy handed him the small backpack she had stuffed a few things in.

We hopped out and followed him inside the restaurant. It was very red, but savory smells of seasoning I couldn’t identify mingled with the sweet aroma of baked goods. As we walked further inside, I noticed the large display with giant cakes, cannoli’s, baklava, and even some giant cookies.

Spotting the ladies room, Lacy and I hustled inside and took care of business before washing our hands and returning to the dining area. A blond man in a well-tailored suit greeted us. “Good morning. I’m so pleased to have you with us,” he said as he stuck his hand out to Linx. He moved the backpack to his left hand then shook the man’s hand. “Ladies, a pleasure.” This man could be on a fancy cologne commercial. But something behind that million-dollar smile and those sparkling blue eyes told me that he was in fact scary, probably more so than Linx.

Still, his hand was suspended in the air waiting for one of us to give ours, so I placed mine into his, and he leaned down, gently kissing my knuckles. The way he handled me reminded me too much of Tony and a shiver went down my spine. His eyes tipped up at me without lifting his head. “You must be Daisy. I am elated to finally meet the siren that claimed the beast.”

I pulled my hand from his and forced a smile. He took a step to the side and grabbed Lacy’s hand. “My dear, so wonderful to meet you. Who might you be?”

“I’m Lacy. I’m with Daisy.”

He kissed her hand and held it even as he stood back up.

“Petrov.” Recognition of the voice drew my focus up the stairs. It wasn’t Falcon, but it was still a welcome sound. Eagle came bounding down the steps and his usual lightheartedness seemed to have gone. His hardened look did nothing to settle my nerves.

When he made it to us, though, his brow unfurled, and his lips had turned back into his usual mix of smirk and grin. The well-dressed man looked over his shoulder at Eagle, then released Lacy’s hand. “Ladies, how rude of me. I’m Nikolai Petrov, Jr. You may call me Niko.”

Eagle’s eyes flashed with something odd again, like anger, or even jealousy maybe. “Petrov, why don’t we get her upstairs?” he asked as he looked at me.

Petrov, Niko, whatever, flashed a toothy grin and waved us up the steps. “Ladies, after you.”

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