Page 97 of Savage Daddies

“No.” I shake my head. “Zoe’s still in trouble.”

This turns his gaze to the ground.

“Agreed,” says Wrangler. “We should head back to the casino.”

Bully frowns. “Cash Pot Palace?”

“That’s the one,” he says. “I overheard some cops talking. By the sounds of things, it’s been reopened. We should check it out.”

Bullwhip tilts his head. “And just how do we plan to get there?”

* * *

I stickup my hand and wave the Russian and his deluxe BMW goodbye.

“Fucking hell.” Wrangler shakes his head. “Do youknowwho we just hitchhiked with?” He flicks his eyes between Bully and me, waiting for a response that neither of us seem to be giving him. “Bratva.”

“Bratva?” I deadpan.

“Yes. You remember last year. Some of the boys got tangled up with them over a girl.”

“God.” I swipe a stray piece of hair away from my face, the dry desert heat starting to dehydrate me. “I’d rather deal with those than fucking Mr. Perfect. At least they’re not in the cops’ good books either.”

“Speaking of,” says Wrangler as we walk down the strip toward Paul’s casino. “What did they say to you when they let you go?”

“To tread carefully,” I answer. “Especially around Felix Fernando.”

“Same,” says Wrangler.

Bullwhip nods.

Nice of him to join the conversation.

A cluster of people walking ahead of us suddenly turn around to let us pass. They point fingers, whisper among themselves.

I hear one of them say, “I wonder if they’re returning to Cash Pot Palaceto attempt another break-in?”

Nosy bastards.

So we made it to the news? Lucky us. Felix has competition.

Although he probably paid somebody to record and air us diving into Paul’s casino to spread the hate.

Seems like it’s working.

Wrangler turns to Bully and me with a cautionary face. “It was all fun and games before about the biker costumes, but it looks like we’re gonna actually have to pay the costume store a visit this time to conceal ourselves a little.”

“What do you propose?”

Wrangler slides us away from the main sidewalk and flips up maps on his phone to direct us to the nearest costume store. To be honest, it’s more of a sexual-fantasy dress-up retailer that allows you to rent sexy outfits for the night.

Where are prices for the day?

Cop uniforms, firemen outfits, various superman designs…

Of course Wrangler selects the cowboy theme for us.

“This will fit us right in.”

---