Page 53 of Spike

“Hey, yourself.”Spike grinned. “This is Trixie. Trix, this is our prez. Minus.”

“Well, fuck me,”he said. “Spike found you.”

I chuckled. “Hedid indeed.”

“At Dev’s shop, noless,” Spike said.

Minus raised aneyebrow. “No shit?”

“My brother,Jenson, works there.”

“Jesus,seriously?” He turned his back and lifted his cut and shirt, revealing a largeback tattoo. It looked like a club logo of some kind, but interspersed withdates and names, including Cricket’s. “He did this.”

I gasped. “Wow, Ihad no idea he could do that. I mean, I know he’s an amazing artist, buttransferring it to skin is a whole other story.”

Minus faced usagain with a nod. “Agreed.”

“You kids go andget yourselves some food and drinks. Everything’s out back,” Maisie said.

“Can I help withanything?” I asked.

“No, love, you goand have fun.”

“Thanks, Maisie,”Spike said, and led me to a giant sliding glass door which was open. Outside,there were five picnic tables, where people were already sitting down andeating.

Two men manned thegrills up against a chain-link fence, and there were coolers up against thewall of the building. Each one was labeled so you knew what you were getting.Spike opened the one labeled, ‘BEER,’ and asked me what I wanted.

“Soda’s good,” Isaid, making my way to that particular cooler.

Spike took a fewminutes to introduce me to the men at the grills. One of them was Ropes, who Iknew was Devlin’s husband. The other was Knight, a Dog, whose wife, Kim, wasapparently inside dealing with their kids.

“Burger, dog orsteak?” Ropes asked.

“Burger, please,”I said at the same time Spike said, “Steak.”

Ropes had justhanded us plates when Devlin walked outside. “Oh my god, hi, Trixie.” Shewalked over to me and hugged me tightly. “Did you quit your job yet?”

I chuckled.“Actually got fired.”

“Shut the fuckup.”

“Sadly, it’strue.”

Devlin frowned.“What the fuck happened?”

I gave her theReader’s Digest version and she scowled.

“You need to getSweet Pea on that. Sue those fuckers.”

I glanced at Spikeand he said, “Sweet Pea and Callie are both lawyers. Might be a good idea tosit down with them.”

“My bestie has alawyer on retainer and wants me to speak with her first,” I said.

“Before you makethat decision,” Devlin said. “I wasn’t kidding about offering you a job. I paywell and you get full medical benefits.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah. Wanna comein this week and chat?”

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