Page 58 of Filthy Savage

Once my car is charged.

BREW

As if summoned,which I’m sure they were, I’m just not sure how or when, ten women make their way into the room. They are wearing barely-there strips of fabric that are supposed to be dresses, along with sky-high heels on their feet. They also stand in front of us, looking straight ahead, almost as if they see nothing. They are props, nothing else. Not breathing humans.

“What is this opportunity?” Atomic asks, ignoring all of the girls who stand in front of us.

He would ignore them anyway, even if they were standing in front of him completely naked. He has his woman, and she is the only one he wants to see naked. I understand that now. When he and Ryan got together, I said I would never follow suit, yet here I am.

Completely head over heels for Spencer. I feel zero desire for any of the girls in front of me. Even if they weren’t totally fucking brainwashed, I couldn’t do a damn thing with them, not with Spencer waiting back at the cabin for me.

“The opportunity stands in front of you. We need girls… well, women,” he amends, but I am not stupid. The women standing in front of us are young, too young, likely girls, or at least they were when they arrived in Conrad’s stable. Because he is very much a pimp and running a whole fucking nationwide operation.

“We do not deal with skin,” Atomic announces. “Ever.”

Conrad smiles before he chuckles. He shakes his head, the expression on his face one of amusement. Almost as if he finds it highly funny that we would think he wanted us to be part of his little operation.

“I’m not asking you for anything other than an escort through Louisiana.”

Atomic appears confused, and I know I probably look the same way. I am confused as fuck by the suggestion.

“What are you asking exactly?” Atomic growls, his patience having been gone for a while.

This whole fucking thing is exhausting. Not just the fact that we had to ride halfway across the whole-ass United States, but this meeting, too. These people are fucking ridiculous. And this has been a waste of my time and everyone else’s who rode with us. Not to mention the backup that’s hanging around somewhere outside the property.

“I need men to go with the trucks through the state and ensure that it crosses state lines,” Conrad says.

This time, it’s Nash who responds instead of Atomic. And when he does, his voice is completely without patience. It has flown out of the goddamn window. I almost laugh because it’s fucking great. Atomic is fucking pissed, and I don’t blame him because this is just so goddamn ridiculous.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Nash growls. “Your people had enough pull with the feds to get our man thrown in fucking prison. And yet you come to us for protection? You have got to be fucking shitting me,” he barks.

Conrad smirks. My shoulder jerks and I have to hold myself back. I don’t know if I’ve ever practiced so much control in all of my goddamn life as I do at this moment. I want to beat the absolute fuck out of all of these people and ask questions later. I am so over this shit, and this question is absolutely absurd.

“Well, since you got rid of our contract in Louisiana, I don’t think we have any more options there. But we would be willing to pay you healthily.”

“Again, are you shitting me?” Nash growls. “What is your endgame?”

Because there is an endgame. This is a chess move, and Nash knows it just as much as anyone else standing in this room listening to this bullshit.

Conrad sighs as if he’s over this whole conversation and he’s actually quite bored. I don’t blame him because I’m seriously over it as well. I almost wonder if they are in trouble as an organization and this is their way to attempt to save themselves.

“So, who else did Albert and his people piss off?” King asks. He is thinking along the same lines that I am.

Conrad has the good sense to shift his gaze away, then slowly brings it back to meet King’s before he flicks it to Atomic and finally lands his attention on Nash. Clearing his throat, he jerks his chin.

“I don’t know what happened, but whatever it was, it severed the relationship the Southern Mafia had with the Louisiana Highway Commission.”

I can’t stay quiet. “And you think we’re going to be the ones to help with that?” I ask. “Are you high?”

Conrad hums. “You will do it.”

“Sounds like a threat,” I grind out.

He shakes his head before he speaks. “Just a promise,” he murmurs. “We have the feds in our pockets still, which is how your man got fucked over by Albert. You have the highway commission. Let’s just make this a good deal and work with one another.”

“What’s in it for us?” Atomic asks. “Because it better be seriously fucking lucrative.”

I cannot believe he’s even entertaining this.

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