Page 51 of Poker
“Why can’t we just use all club brothers play? That way we don’t put anyone else in the crossfire,” Jackyl suggests.
“Because he needs to see people he’s familiar with,” I explain before Meri can. “He’s not stupid, which he’s proved with all of this shit. If he even suspects that something is off, it could all go to hell in a handbasket.”
“Okay, we’ll have Poker, Stunner, and Ghost participate in the game,” Crow says. “The rest of us will be on coms down the road in case things go sideways. All in favor, thump twice.”
Every man in the room pounds the table twice. Belatedly, Meri does the same, eliciting a round of laughter.
“As far as being down the road, you don’t have to do that,” Meri explains. “There’s another part of the warehouse that I did nothing with when I bought it, and at the back ar?—”
“Wait, you own the warehouse?” I ask.
“Yep. I didn’t want to risk the cops showing up and adding squatting to my list of crimes.” She shrugs like it’s nothing. “I’m a rich woman, Poker. Get over it.”
“I’m not… I don’t…”
“It’s okay, I’ll be your sugar mama,” she teases.
Another round of laughter breaks out.
“Oh my God, that’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time,” Screamer says between laughs.
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap.
“Anyway,” Meri says like she’s speaking to children. “There are large sliding doors at the back of the building, so you can easily get your bikes inside to hide them. Malcolm sometimes walks the perimeter with Conrad, but none of the guys ever go into this other section. It’s also accessible through a hidden door in the wall. I’m the only one who knows about it.”
“A hidden door?”
Meri grins. “Yep. I did some research on it when I bought the place, and apparently the factory that used to operate there was in its prime during prohibition, so the workers installed the door so they could smuggle booze to the good people of Marble Falls.”
“That’s brilliant,” Python says with admiration.
“And beneficial for us,” Meri quips.
“Sounds like we’ve got a plan,” Crow says. “Anything else we need to discuss?” When no one says anything, he continues. “Church dismissed.”
When Meri and I are alone, I hold her close. “Feeling better?”
“I am. It’s finally going to be over.”
“Yes, it is.”
Insecurity passes over her eyes. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“What if this all ends and so do we? What if this is what brought us together? What i?—”
I silence her with a quick press of my lips. When I lean back, I level my gaze on hers. “I love you, Meri. This entire situation doesn’t define us. It never has. It’s a bump in the road. When it’s over, I’m still going to love you, and I’m still going to want you. I guess the question is, are you still going to love me?”
“Always.”
CHAPTER26
MERI
Have you ever regretted taking the life of someone who’s evil?
“He’s not answeringhis phone, Mistress.”
I sigh as if I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. This was all supposed to end tonight, but Malcolm hasn’t bothered to show up.
