Page 37 of Safe Haven
“Are you accusing me of having an inflated ego?”
He examines his nails and sighs.
“If the high heel Manolo Blahnik fits.”
I giggle at his envy of my shoe collection.
“I promise to never leave you high and dry to work the funeral home alone again. In fact, you’ll be getting all the help you can get. Since most of these ladies need day jobs,” I let my voice trail off as some of them send me side-eyed looks so evil I giggle harder.
“You’ve gotten lazy and need the structure. After this place is finished, you’ll all take shifts weekly. Along with ones at the motel and with me on official assignments. The more you learn, the more prepared you’ll be if a dead bod springs up on you.” They groan, but all say, ‘Yes, Prez.’
“Fuck, okay, I get it. That would go to my head too.”
I smile at my best friend and clink my beer bottle with his.
“I wanted to talk to you about the motel.”
I turn to Apex and notice his color looks so much better.
He seems more relaxed, too, as if half the world is no longer sitting on his shoulders. I guess revenge is healing after all. I’m not sure what he did to that man, but I’ll need to handle the disposal of the body, but that’s tomorrow-Haven’s problem.
Tonight, we celebrate and feed the women we rescued.
“What about it?” I sip the beer as he rubs the back of his neck.
“I want to build a second one. The ladies we help sometimes need jobs or places to stay. It’s the perfect resource to have. Not to mention a very good way to wash the money from other, less legal revenue we earn.” Mmm, yes, that’s the stuff I’m still learning about.
Mercy was playing both sides horribly.
She might have been trying to do good with the money she was stealing, but the people she fucked over are not going to stay in the dark long. Especially since I plan on severing all ties with them.
“Deal. But make it two. Mercy was running this half-assed. It’ll be way more women who come through our doors.” He sighs and shakes his head.
“You don’t do shit half-ass, do you?”
I smile.
“Not in my blood. Besides, it’s all about delegating. Danica was never good at letting others do things. She had to micro-manage everything, and so much fell through the cracks. I mean, look at this place now compared to a week ago. It didn’t take much effort, and already it’s coming back to life. She had a good heart, but she was going about it all wrong. I am not going to run this club into the ground. I’m going to uplift it. We can all do so much better if we work together.” When I go to take a sip of my beer, I see everyone staring at me like I’ve grown ten heads.
“Bravo,” Corvin says, and starts clapping.
Soon, the whole clubhouse is cheering, and I’m blushing five different colors.
“Well, I’m always a phone call away if you need anything.” What?
“No, no, no! You can’t go anywhere with your arm like that. Plus, you are not dumping the burden of two properties on me to handle alone. Your idea, you stay until it’s done.” I point my beer bottle at him.
“Fair point. I’ll start looking at properties tomorrow, but then I really need to hit the road for a while. I got unfinished business to take care of out west if I’ll be here helping out for any number of months. Aren’t ya sick of me yet?” I snort.
“You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. But you’re useful to have around.” He grins and opens me another beer.
We toast and sip in silence for a while as I let my mind drift off and take in my surroundings. Never would I have thought that my life could have changed so much so fast, all thanks to my cousin.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Hey Danica,
I don’t know how this works, and I’m not even sure if I believe in this type of shit, but thank you for trusting me with your family. I promise to take care of them now.
