Page 15 of Pearl
I stroke her cheek. “It’s a little complicated baby. The Rivalry used to run for the Larussios exclusively, take care of things that needed distance from the family. Capone, the tall, intense bald-headed man with tattoos trailing down his neck. Hewas their prez. Still is, but the Desert Riders have been in Vegas a long time. Their president Ryker a while back took a job from an enemy of the Larussios, unknowingly rumored to contain product that was cut with pure street poison.”
Her mouth opens slightly.
“Yeah, you can imagine how that went over. The Larussios had just built their new casino in the most prime piece of real estate on the strip. They pulled both groups in for a sit down out in the desert and put a stop to the product getting out on the street.”
“Damn. Ryker and his crew got lucky the Larussios didn’t carve them up.”
“Ryker and his crew didn’t know what they were running, and they proved themselves to the Larussios and when the Larussios needed to expand, they patched the two groups together, but not all of the crew. Only the ones Ryker and the Larussios thought were worthy. The rest are still Desert Riders and mean as hell. I’m certain that we ran into some of them today.”
Pearl’s eyes grow wide. “Wow, the two presidents didn’t seem to have much animosity towards each other. Quite the opposite in fact. Two leaders becoming friends, that definitely doesn’t usually happen.”
“Yeah, they’re both good guys. I’ve worked for each of them over the years, and if two leaders can make it work, it will be them. There’s a lot of territory to cover, so my guess is they keep the division that way, but all stay under the Larussios’ protection. No matter the arrangement, I know they’re all fucking protective of that family.”
“Maybe, but the rest of those bikers saw Larussio walk in, and they scattered out of that room as quick as they could. Even the bunnies knew not to dawdle.”
I laugh. “You noticed that, huh? Well, I’m sure everyone’s heard the rumors about what happened down on Fremont Street. Not sure what started the fight, but a biker group, maybe even part of the Desert Riders, I’m not sure, but they took a shot at the boss’s little brother. Messed him up pretty bad.”
Salvatore Larussio didn’t even fucking give them until daylight. Capone and Ryker’s crews took a bunch of them out, and left the others barely alive with the scrolly, bloody L carved into their chests. At least the Larussio you met today didn’t do that. He’s been known to, though. Don’t fuck with the Larussios. Anything else you want to know?”
Pearl’s eyes meet mine. “And where do you come in? The truth. How much work do you do for these guys?”
She has every right to ask, every right to be afraid. But it’s not like she and her ladies are running on the right side of the law either. Yet, my ties to the mafia without being a member of the club does leave me as a very easy loose end to get rid of if they should ever feel the need. No brothers to back me up, to have my ass, or to ensure the care of my ol’ lady if shit goes south without notice. Nothing I’ve ever had to worry about before.
I draw her to me, coaxing her chin up, meeting her worried gaze. “There’s a buffer between me and the Larussios, baby. I get my jobs through Capone and Ryker. For the Larussios many times no doubt, but I don’t run in the same circles with them and their enforcers. This job was just a fluke.”
Pearl exhales a long deep breath. “How the fuck do we make this work? I’m in Phoenix, and that’s not going to change, Carver. I owe Duchess for everything she’s done for me, and me and the ladies, we help a lot of women I’m not willing to abandon.”
I run a finger over her lips. “Shh, baby… these things have a way of sorting themselves out. We’re both free spirits, we do what we want, for the people we want, and damn anything that tries to constrain or hold us back. This is no different. I’m in Phoenix a couple times a week, at least. I can look for more runs that would bring me back this way more often.”
Chapter 13
Pearl
Isneak out of the bedroom leaving Carver to sleep after a night of endless and mind-blowing sex. Who says a girl doesn’t need to knock off a little steam once in a while. And damn if Carver doesn’t know exactly how to help me do that and more. I pad into the kitchen bound and determined to make Carver a meal that tastes better than the dried out PB and J he brought me last night.
Onyx flips a grilled sandwich, the smell of cheese permeating the air. She turns as I walk into the kitchen, glancing at the big round clock on the wall. “Afternoon, sunshine. You look radiant, you lucky bitch.”
It’s hard not to grin at my second in command. “Every girl should have a night like that once in a while.” I give her a wink and snag the grilled cheese out of her hands and take a humongous bite. “This is so good. Make me two more so I can pretend I fucking know how to cook?”
She laughs out loud. “It’ll cost you. The ladies are bored out of their minds. They want to get out of here and back to the club. I’ve had my ears to the ground and anyone who’s anyone is out in the desert south of Tucson. Why isn’t your lover boy there?”
I give her a Cheshire smile. “My man isn’t with a club. A lone wolf who doesn’t need anyone or anything because he’s that fucking good.”
She flips the sandwiches over in the large cast iron skillet. “Touchy, touchy. I just asked a question. Look, why don’t we give it the night, if no one’s been by our club, let’s go back?”
Onyx pops the two sandwiches on a plate. “Agree?”
I narrow my eyes at my friend. “Are you holding these sandwiches hostage until I say okay?”
“Damn straight, without hesitation or remorse. Besides, the longer we stay here the more money the girls at the club lose. Wednesday and Thursday night are one thing, but missing a Friday or Saturday night gig, that cuts into the girls’ weekly take home. Especially since this weekend’s festivities have already been planned. They can’t afford that, Pearl.”
I sigh heavily, almost having forgotten the show planned for the weekend and all the invites that went out to biker allies across the city. “One more night. They’ll be home at worst for Saturday and their show. I’ll have Skye make the girls whole, slip something into their checks for missing the other days, and if nothing happens tonight, we’ll get back to work tomorrow night. They can do their normal on Friday and big show on Saturday. Sound okay?”
She nods. “Sounds great.”
“I know the ladies don’t want to miss dancing on the weekend, but I’d rather have to make up their pay than for something bad to happen because the wrong people found out where we hang. Besides, we have the whole Phoenix Crew’s MC club to ourselves tonight. Why not have a little fun with it, you know, check out their shit while they’re gone?”
Onyx laughs, and her eyes get wide. “Now that, I can sell to the ladies who come to dance for the bikers. I’ll handle the girls,and you just go blow off a little more steam with Mr. tall dark and handsome.”
