Page 120 of Smooth Sailing

“As a law-abiding citizen, I see why this is concerning. As a person who likes you, and they’re your friends, I see why this is concerning. As a person who likes them, again with the concern. After all I heard today, I don’t have enough left in me to give a shit about the Angels of Death going after these assholes.” I tipped my head to the side and asked, “Where are you with that?”

“Goal is to defeat the enemy. Better goal is to defeat them and humiliate them,” Hugger replied. “I don’t think they’ll like what Resurrection has planned. I think they’d hate it more, rotting in a prison for the rest of their lives.”

I saw his point.

“That means?” I queried.

“That means we hope the cops pick up Esad and his bros. Also that they nab Imran, for whatever they can pin on him, and do this before Resurrection gets messy. But when they do that, we’re always out. After learning what was done to Maddy, they refuse to back down. When they find out there’s a racket going on, they’re gonna go all in until they dismantle it. So bottom line, no matter what we think of their intent, we’re out.”

An unhappy thought occurred to me right then.

“With Maddy going, and Resurrection taking over, does that mean you’re leaving?” I asked.

He shook his head, and the tension that had begun winding through my body subsided.

“The last few days, Buck’s been trying to reach out to Imran for a parlay. He’s not responding. Part of what Buck wanted to talk about was to be certain you and your dad were off their radar. Since Imran isn’t gonna sit down for a chat so we can get some shit straight and set some ground rules, we gotta keep you and your dad covered until we know neither of you is in play.”

“So you and Big Petey are staying?”

This time, he nodded. “And Dutch, Jag and Coe. Eight, Muzzle and Linus are going under.”

I hoped those boys were safe after they went “under.”

“What about Core?”

“Core has a woman. He’s heading back to Denver. Once a brother of Resurrection claims a woman, Wash assigns them duties that won’t get their asses arrested or dead.”

Eep!

“Okay,” I forced out, deciding to sidestep that particular discussion.

“Though, just sayin’, you and me are doin’ this, so even if things were copacetic with you and your dad when it comes to the Babics, I’d be staying so we could see to this.”

On his this, he gave me a squeeze.

My mood shifted immediately, I smiled big and repeated, “Okay.”

“Now we need to talk about the sleeping arrangements for tonight.”

Another mood shift. “Harlan?—”

“Babe, we’re not there.”

“No, but you need some good sleep and the situation at my place demands you do it here, and you’re not going to do it on the floor when there’s a bed in this room big enough for two. I talked with the boys, and both Ink and Cruise have air mattresses. They’re delivering one for Elias.”

I took a chance with his no-touch policy (that still included a great deal of touching, which reminded me I needed a new list, one of things to talk to Hugger about) and stroked his beard.

It felt great, and he didn’t quibble, so I kept doing it and returned to speaking.

“It’ll be hard, I know, but I figure we can keep our hands off each other for one night.”

“Hard enough getting sleep knowin’ you’re down the hall. Probably impossible with you right beside me in a big, soft bed.”

I really didn’t want to do it, but the situation warranted it.

I smirked.

Hugger moved his hands to my waist and squeezed.

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