Page 66 of Jingle Belle's Biker

“She is.”

She nods, then says, “There’s a wine bar I saw that I want to try.”

“You?”

“Me.”

“Not my thing.”

She rolls her eyes. “Come on, Saint, live a little.”

I sigh noisily. “Just one, and then I need to go home.”

“Deal.”

Sin leans back on her stool at the bar, sipping her whiskey because she didn’t like the wine. I know her, and wine isn’t her thing. She’s a hardcore spirits kind of girl. She’ll knock back a beer if pushed, but she likes whiskey. The more Irish, the better.

This place is totally Belle.

“Come on, Saint. I’m all for money, but this prick sounds like the last person you’d want to ever work for.”

I shrug. She’s right. “It’s a job.”

“He wants you to fuck with people, man, not cool.”

Yeah, I told her about Hastings. “You wanted to know why I’m in that apartment and not staying in a clubhouse.”

She snorts. “You’ve been too old for clubhouses since you were fifteen. But you normally stay in hotels or with a friend. Occasionally, we rented something. This feels different, like setting up home.”

“It isn’t. I told you, he wants them all gone and hired me to help them out the door when they can’t pay.”

“And?”

“And I’ll do my job. Within reason.”

“Y’know, Saint, I like roughing up those who deserve it. I love fucking them over. Poor and working-class trying to make ends meet people don’t. And not for a rich bastard.”

I shift on the stool and sip my bourbon. Discussing this here isn’t smart at all.

“Sin, I’m not fucking stupid, and I can handle a dick like him,” I say, leaning in.

“Yeah, I know.” Then she looks about. “So, this is how the other half lives?”

I roll my eyes. I’ve seen her rock a hot, glamorous dress. She can fit in anywhere, and she’s never been short on offers. Ever. I know. I’ve seen it. But I let her have her little moment.

“If this is the other half, Sin, you live a sad life.”

“My life’s great.” She stares into her glass. “Just looking for something.”

“Me too.”

Then she looks at me. “Can I crash on your sofa tonight?”

I could point out she could get a hotel. Go to one of the biker bars and find someone for the night. Hit up her Trine pals to grab a bed. But I nod because, roles reversed, she’d do the same for me.

If we head back, I can catch Red.

She stretches. “Thanks for the bed for the night. Much appreciated. Almost like old times.”

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