Page 33 of Roses Are Dead
“No,” I protested.
His mirth ceased. “What do you mean, no?”
How could I tell him? “She’s… interesting. Pretty, yeah, but not… you know, caked makeup, pushup bras, and all that stuff that makes ’em prettier.”
“That’s what Kate said. She isn’t your usual type.”
“Exactly.” I did have a type. Brass, bold, loud, brightly patterned, and easy to scrape off. I’d never picked anyone like Roishin, and never would. She was too soft, delicate, small…and too vulnerable against a monster like me.
I gave Jackson more to chew on. “Listen, you’re right, he’s playing games, but I think Carl’s also playing a game with her. He pushed her on me, and it wasn’t her idea. Now, I know you know I’m not that kind of man but I had to pretend I was because she was bruised and scared as shit. I needed to get her out of there. But maybe he’s testing me? Maybe he thinks I’m weak enough to take the bait, or he’s trying to get dirt? You know him better than I do, what’s his game?”
Jackson gave it a moment of thought. “You’re right, he never does anything without a reason, and that man can twist reasons out of smoke. If I were you, I’d watch my back. She might be the one to stick a knife in it. Or, Carl is using her to create a reason to make you fall. And by proxy, all of us.”
He didn’t give me time to talk before he rambled on. “You’re going to have to pretend this was her idea, and get that girl on board, fast. Say she’s scraped Carl off for you and get her to sell it. You’ll know if she’s faking this for him or not soon enough.”
I rubbed my ear because there is no way he said what I think he said. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“No. If he’s trying to make up a false accusation, and she’s in on it, or even if she isn’t, you could get in serious shit. You’re right to think it’s a trap; you’d be fucked either way. Right now, it’s really close to… how to put it?” He trailed off an I heard the unspoken “on an unsecured line” part of his thoughts.
“Trafficking?” I offered.
“Damn it, Bear.”
I laughed. “That ain’t what this is. She’s been opening up since I got her away. When I was there, she was quieter than a mouse, but this lady’s got hellfire in her veins.”
“I thought you said she wasn’t your type?”
“She ain’t.” Immediately my mind flashed the memory of her naked legs and that hair whipping around in the storm. I pressed the heel of my free hand against my junk to remind it to settle down.
Jackson laughed long and loud. Griz rumbled in the background, asking what was so funny.
“Bear’s met his match.”
Aw, fuck. I’d never hear the end of this now. “Go fuck yourself.”
Jackson laughed harder. Griz must have said something to make him wheeze.
“What’s her name?”
I told him and gave him the rundown on the name changes Hickey found. Then added, “Why shouldn’t I just set her up with Ma or something?”
There was a minute before Jackson sobered enough to answer. “Well, first off, Ma ain’t exactly a good influence on women. It took her all of two hours to teach Zoe and Kate how to shoot. Second, knowing Carl? He’s got you watched. And if you start passing off this Roishin to someone else, he’s gonna know you wussed out. Worse? he’s likely to pick up his vendetta with Ma. And none of us wants that to happen.
“Also, I’d hate to think what our enemies would do with the knowledge we’re taking in strays. I ain’t exactly on solid ground right now, Bear.”
Shit. Especially with him brushing up against two major factions where he was. “Okay. Aside from that, gimme one good reason why it should be me. Why not Cutty or Poke?” They were better with women than I was.
“Because both of them would stick their dicks in it without thinking twice or being careful about it. And that, Bear, is a trap. One I know you know how to escape. And if this woman is both dumb enough and smart enough to be with Carl, still be in one piece, and not buried in some basement somewhere, then I need someone smart on this. And face it, Bear, you’re the only single smartass capable of that right now. Griz is here with me.”
Fucker. “I’m telling Kate you asked about Roishin’s ass.”
“Do that, and I’m making a coat out of you when I get back.”
“That’s if Kate doesn’t kill you first.” I laughed because this new, married Jackson was so much easier to rile than the single one.
“Listen, just give me some juicy fodder for when I call Kate back and have phone sex.”
“I’m not doing that. Find your own spank material.”
