Page 31 of Texas Hold Em'
My breath hitched in my throat.
Caroline smiled deviously. “Did you really think we didn’t do a background check on you, Hart? Come on. I thought you were a better cop than that.”
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to breathe through the panic. “Yes, okay? Yes, I miss my father. I miss my life, my home, my job, my friends. I miss being able to leave my house and not have to constantly look over my shoulder. I miss paperwork. I thought I wanted this. You know? I really thought I could come here, make a difference, and make a name for myself. But I underestimated what I was getting myself into and now I just want out.”
Caroline tapped her foot to a steady rhythm. “I’m listening.”
I sighed. “I know I can’t just walk away after what’s happened. I know that. But I also know that men like your father are willing to make deals to turn the other cheek. I also know what he wants more than anything else right now.”
“And what’s that?”
“The Devil’s Luck on a silver platter. Jackson’s head. All of it.”
“And you think you can help him get it?”
“I do.” I walked toward her, knowing full well she probably had a gun in that handbag of hers and wouldn’t hesitate to use it if she decided to turn on me. I crossed my arms to hide my shaking hands. “Look, I wasn’t willing to die for a Devil’s Luck bastard last night, and that’s why your guys are dead. I’m not sorry about that. But if giventhe chance, and with the promise that I can leave Reno without any trouble, I can help you and your father finally put an end to this thing. I’ve been staying with one of them. I’m learning the ins and outs of the club. With a bit more time, I’ll have the kind of intel your father needs to bury them once and for all.”
Caroline peered down the length of her nose at me. She had half a head of height over me, and I could tell she liked how it made her feel like she had the upper hand. There was a glimmer of something in her eyes that unsettled me.
For lack of a better word, it looked like sheer evil.
“Fine,” she said finally. “I’ll talk to him.”
I swallowed my sigh of relief. “How long do you need?”
“Sweetheart, don’t get ahead of yourself. I’ll talk to him. Whether he’s interested or not remains to be seen. But you listen to me and listen good.” She reached out and grabbed my elbow. Her long red nails pressed into my skin, and she leaned in close enough for me to smell spearmint on her breath. “If you’re jerking me around, I’ll make you regret ever leaving your comfy desk job and coming to Reno. You want me to believe you’re a big girl? Fine. You’re a big girl. Let’s just hope you can keep up the brave face when push comes to shove and the ball starts rolling.”
I stared evenly back at her. “Ask your friends from last night how I act when push comes to shove. Oh, wait. They’re all dead.”
She released me.
I stepped back. “I know I fucked up your collection today. I didn’t know how else to talk to you alone.”
Caroline gave me a sickeningly sweet smile before turning on her heel and marching toward the back door. “Don’t worry about it, baby. Melina can make up for it next week. She’s reliable like that. Watch your back with those Devils. I find it hard to believe they trust you the way you seem to think they do.” She paused after opening the back door. Afternoon sun streamed in, making her hair look even whiter than usual. “Even the one whose bed you’re sharing. Don’t let him get too close. They soil everything they touch.”
With that, she was gone.
I exhaled and gripped the back of one of the salon chairs as my heart threatened to beat out of my chest.
You’re okay,I thought over and over.You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay.
CHAPTER 13
JAMESON
Carrie didn’t see me standing in a shadow about to light a cigarette when she came in through the front door. The sun had passed its highest point in the afternoon and no longer lit up the pit, the small courtyard where I presently stood, my lighter poised at the end of my cigarette. Silently, I watched her take off her shoes at the front door, hang the keys to my Chevelle back on the hook, and fluff up her hair in the bathroom mirror as she passed the doorway.
“You look proud of yourself,” I said.
She yelped, skittered back a few steps, and pressed a hand to her chest as she regained her composure. “You scared the shit out of me!”
I flicked my lighter and lit my smoke. “Where were you?”
Carrie looked around my small apartment.
“Jackson is gone,” I told her. “He gave me an earful about you and your attitude problem before he left though, I’ll tell you that much. You might consider toning it down when he’s around, yeah?”
“Jackson can kiss my ass.” She turned and showed me her ass, which had never looked as good as it did in those skintight leather leggings.
