Page 89 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Dude, I wanna be you when I grow up.”
“You’re never growing up.”I shoved him and laughed.But I’d left Shock hanging long enough to insult.My footing with the club was shaky enough without adding another pile of shit to it.“Take my right, two steps back.Bear?”
“On your left, boss.”
Where he should be.
Shock puddled his Jabba-the-Hut ass on a sofa that had been dragged from its spot against the wall to the center of the room.Two of the hookers I’d called in flanked him.Behind him was his new sergeant.Bear’s counterpart looked much more competent than the last one.
But I didn’tknowhim.And that was a problem because I should know everyone in this club.Especially someone in an officer role.
“Who’s the fucking cop?”I pointed out the new guy.
“Shut the fuck up, Jackson.Bandit is legit.”
Like hell was I taking Shock’s word for it.I slid a finger along my nose to signal Hickey to sniff him out.And with that signal, the men of my club formed ranks.Each man tagging one of Shock’s.I had a dozen men.Shock had almost as many.He must have tapped his entire chapter to bring this party to my house.Instead of being honored, I waited to get stabbed in the back.“Whatever.”
I pretended it didn’t bother me.
Once Nonno got here with his entourage, we’d be outnumbered.
Hagerstown would be a great equalizer, but I needed them watching the lake house more than I needed them here.
Besides, Nonnoowedme.
Eventually, he’d remember that.
Meanwhile, there was a club to entertain.Maybe two of them.I dragged a bar stool to the center of the room and sat my ass on it, effectively enthroning myself higher than Shock and in a much better position to fight.Besides that, a barstool made an excellent weapon.
We squared off in silence.The usual raucous atmosphere of the room dulled by our icy impasse.
Even the hookers picked up on it.Their nervous glances, the lame attempts at small talk, and repeatedly rebuffed advances made the two parked next to Shock sit straighter than normal.If I wanted to look weak, I’d warn them to get gone.But they were locked in this cage match with us.If shit went down, they were on their own.
Wolf took my lead and dragged another stool next to mine.He sat on it, shifting his weight off his prosthetic foot.His assessment of the situation was much quicker than our other witnesses.
“Jackson filled me in.”
I would have elbowed him to shut him up, but he wasn’t my VP for nothing.Of all the men in my club, he was one of the most ruthless and smartest.And too goddamn brave for his own good.
Shock shifted his gaze to Wolf.“And?”
“And, what?Everyone knows you aren’t serious about Kate.This is just for show.”
That elicited a reaction.Shock’s skin flushed darker, a sure sign his blood pressure just skyrocketed.
He cooly slid his attention to me.“Do you always let your minions do your dirty work?”
I laughed.If only he knew… “Why else have ‘em around?”I hoped like hell that Wolf knew I was bluffing.We’d played enough poker together to read each others’ tells.But perhaps I needed to be clearer?“Wolf knows what the hell he’s doing.That’s why he’s where he is.”
Shock’s gaze drifted down to the state-of-the-art modular foot sticking out of his jeans.“If he were mine, he’d have been replaced.He’s a liability.”
I fired back, “You know, I’m going to correct my earlier statement.You’re not anasshole, Shock.You’re a goddamned moron.Wolf is five times the man you are.What the fuck?You jealous?”
“Of a cripple?Fuck no.”
Ah, I saw the game here.He was trying to get me backed into a corner.Either make my man look weak, or weaken the bonds of brotherhood here by not defending my VP.I shot a look at Wolf along with a heavily arched eyebrow.He dipped his head in that way he does right before quartering off a room and eliminating the greatest threats.
“You do realize all it would take is one accident and you’d be a cripple.Maybe even a vegetable.”My comment was delivered with all the charm I could muster for someone I despised as much and for as long as I had.
