Page 26 of Hell Bent

“They’re dangerous, Sway.”

“Everyone is dangerous, Lottie. Are you gonna sit here and tell me Dawson isn’t dangerous? Because he is. You know it, and I know it.” Lottie’s boyfriend wasn’t a bad boy in rumour only. The guy was dangerous on more than one level. But in the area they lived in, everyone was dangerous from time to time.

She knew this because the guys at the shop talked about Dawson and his friends. Dawson was a man who didn’t play at anything. He was either in or out, never halfway. Crossing her arms over her chest, Sway stared across the table at Lottie. “You can’t be in love with him.”

“He’s a great lay.”

“That’s more information than I needed.” Sway stared at Lottie before laughter burst from both of them. Reaching across the table, she took Lottie’s hands again. Damn, she had missed her friend. There was so much the two needed to catch up on. “How great of a lay is he? Tell me he does all those naughty things you dream about.” Sway grinned as she waggled her eyebrows.

“Why do you want to know?”

“You know my pussy is dried up and covered in cobwebs. I swear, if someone touched it, the damn thing would turn to dust.” Sway watched as Lottie rolled with laughter. She’d laugh too if she wasn’t so serious.

When Lottie stopped laughing, she wiped at her eyes. “What about one of your stalkers?”

“What about them?”

“I’m sure one of them would screw you.” Lottie looked at Sway. “I’m not saying I think you should be in a relationship with one of them. I’m just . . . well, it might be fun.”

“I can’t because I’m still looking at them as being involved with Tesh’s murder.”

“Why?”

Resting her head on the table, she mumbled the truth. “Because I need answers.” She peeked up at Lottie.

Lottie had never seen Sway with that kind of look on her face. She could try to put aside her fear that her friend would end up getting hurt if she didn’t stop digging into the gangs and clubs in the local area. “Let the cops handle it, Sway. I’m begging you.”

“The cops have nothing.”

“And you think you can find the truth when they can’t?”

“Cops have rules. I don’t.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a badass. You’re gonna get yourself killed.” Lottie saw the truth. It was in Sway’s eyes. It was the same look Tesh got when he was determined to do something. “I don’t want to attend your funeral.”

“If I can’t find any connection between the club or gang to Tesh’s death, I’ll let it go.” Sway held out her pinkie for Lottie to take. It was a promise she wouldn’t break, and Lottie knew it. “Now, tell me about the clinic.” The change in topic was needed before they got into an argument.

Huffing out a breath, Lottie crossed her arms “That place needs work. A lot of work.”

Shrugging, Sway looked at her friend. “Are you up for that challenge?”

Hell yes, she was. “It does have potential. A good coat of paint would go a long way.”

“If you talk them into painting, I’ll help you.”

“Awesome.” Before Lottie could continue, the waitress came over with food and their drinks. They had been so engrossed in the conversation, Sway hadn’t noticed they never got so much as a glass of water.

“You do know one of the doctors at the clinic belongs to the Royal Bastards?”

Lottie stopped cutting up her food and stared at Sway. “What did you just say?”

“Pale blue eyes. Tattooed. Dark blonde-brown hair. Tall?—”

“Stop. You’re fucking kidding, right, Sway?”

Sway shook her head. “No, I’m not. His club name is Razor.” Sway ran a hand down her face. “He took care of my face.”

Lottie was shocked. How could she tell Sway what to do when it came to the Royal Bastards when she was practically in bed with them too? “Well, go ahead and sleep with one of those hotties. That way, when I find myself in one of their beds, I can say you did it first.” Laughing, she went back to eating.

---