Page 16 of Cocked Hammer

“Interviewing some new talent?” I asked in an attempt to break the awkward silence.

“Somebody has to test the product before I put it on the market,” he replied. “As much as I like the company, is this a social or business call?”

“What do you know about the new owners who took over Mike’s place? The pet store.” Tin Man prodded him, getting straight to the point.

“I see. I see. Business.” Monty Cat’s hand rubbed the back of his neck as he perched on top of a stool behind the bar. “Word is they’re the new H supplier for the area.”

Ghoul’s head nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue his story.

“Figured you knew that much.” Monty Cat mindlessly scratched his underarm and then rubbed his knuckle over the corner of his mouth. I bit my tongue to stop it from lurching out of my mouth in disgust, wondering how many times he’d served drinks after pawing his nasty self. “You all getting a cut?”

None of us answered. Monty Cat didn’t need to know more than what was necessary.

“They dealing in the area?” Tin Man asked, his eyes narrowing as he continued the interrogation, directing Monty Cat away from shit he had no business asking about.

“Couple of my girls were extra twitchy. Did some investigating of my own, and they were on the shit. Don’t know where they got it from, though.”

“Can you find out for me?” Ghoul arched an eyebrow and clenched his fist.

“Yeah, man.The next time they come into work, I’ll ask.”

“It’s time-sensitive. Care trying to call them or something now?” Sac spoke up, the irritation in his voice obvious. The two of them had never gotten along; at least that was the case as long as I’d known Sac. It was the reason he said he’d fucked the dude’s wife, but knowing Sac, it was hard to say. I didn’t really care if it wasn’t.

Monty Cat bounced his hands up and down as if weighing his options of what to do. He didn’t have a choice whether he realized it or not. We weren’t leaving without answers.

“It wasn’t a question,” I said, gritting my teeth, frustration crawling over my body. I wasn’t known for my patience; that was Sleeper. I was hot-headed, and despite trying to fight it, I was never successful. Usually, whatever I thought came out of my mouth.

“Oh yeah. Yeah, I can do that.” He giggled a little and picked up his phone, quickly dialing a number and promptly putting it to his ear. After a short conversation, he ended the call and flipped the phone shut.

“She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

I wanted to blow a hole in this guy for jerking us around. It didn’t matter if it was intentional or not; this shit was ridiculous and a waste of the club’s time.

After fifteen minutes, the woman arrived and was fresh on the shit. Her pupils were tiny pinpoints, and the whites of her eyes were red. She talked painstakingly slowly when Monty Cat questioned her, and her eyes shifted around the room. She acted as if she wouldn’t answer because we were there. She always responded to the inquiries, but most of it was about things that had nothing to do with the question.

“Let me try?” I offered, wanting to get this shit over with. After a silent nod from both Ghoul and Monty Cat, I knelt beside her, my eyes directly in front of hers. She needed to understand how serious this was, although I wasn’t sure if she was too blown out of her head to do so or not. For the sake of the club, I would try to get some info.

“Listen, sweetheart, no one is going to hurt you,” I promised and meant every word I said, amazed that she was staying awake for as long as she was. “It’s okay.”

She nodded slowly and then finally spoke, “I got it from the pet store.”

“Thank you,” I said, patting her hand with my own before straightening my back.

12

Lina

“I’m leaving early today, Alek,” I called to him from the front of the store, tapping my foot when I noticed the time. When we opened the store, it was undeniable business would be on the slower side since the location sucked. Up until now, there were a handful of customers each day, and as word spread throughout the area and surrounding counties that we were finally open, our business picked up to a steady pace. Today, however, not one single customer had come in for a damn thing. It was a waste of my time to sit here staring at the walls. Not that I had anything more important to do once I left because I didn’t. Sledgehammer was busy with the club, so we wouldn’t be spending time together until later at Tin Man’s.

“Alek?” I repeated his name when he did not answer, leaning my head to the side to be able to hear more. I counted the seconds, but the only sounds to fill the shop were random squeaks, barks, and meows.

“Fuck, Alek,” I huffed, locking the door and flipped the sign to closed. Since we got our first order in, I had never bothered going to the back dock when our truck arrived because unloading it was the only thing Alek would actually do around here. Otherwise, he sat on his ass most of the time and annoyed me.

“Yeah, she’s up front doing whatever stupid shit Lina does. Who gives a shit?” Alek trash-talked me in his high-pitched, nasally voice. To think I was almost the tiniest bit concerned for his well-being made me feel like a dumbass. I didn’t know why I hadn’t written him off already; he never truly had my back in any situation that I could remember. I wouldn’t miss him when I finally got away from the men I hated, those who called me family. A life separated from them was never something I believed was achievable, but being with Sledgehammer, I could see it being a reality.

“Does the bitch really believe you’d do the heavy lifting and let her play with animals all day?” Dimitri asked with a maniacal chuckle. The sounds of tape being ripped and the shuffling of something muffled their voices through the door.

I had to get closer. After the many years of abuse I’d endured, one would think this of all things wouldn’t bother me. It did, nevertheless. Anger shredded every logical thought that popped into my head and outweighed my instincts that told me to turn the other cheek and ignore them.

---