Page 11 of Wicked Lies

“Good question.” Nick stretched out in the chair and blew the smoke toward the ceiling.

I mean, how do you even know her?” Samson settled into the chair opposite Nick’s desk.

“I went down to the Pit to collect for Frank.” Nick frowned. “Jimmy didn’t have the money—big fuckin’ surprise—then he got mouthy with the girlfriend, Cheryl. I could tell he treated her like shit, so I told her to hit me up here if she ever needed anything—I was thinking more like a job, but not two hours later, here she is.”

“Hmmm.”

Samson was known for his one- or two-word responses, but he’d hoped for more insight.

“Seems a little fishy, right?” Samson ashed his smoke. “Jimmy can’t pay up, and suddenly she shows up here needing help.”

Shit, that never occurred to Nick. Then it bothered him that it didn’t.

“Jax said she was a good-lookin’ piece, so maybe she’s here to work out a deal or to buy Jimmy more time. Maybe she thinks you’re the one who has the power to make that happen.”

“She also had a shiner, compliments of Jimmy.”

“Did she tell you that?” Samson countered.

“Not in so many words, but yeah.”

“Could be real, or it could be makeup. Another way to get your sympathy.”

“Shit, when did you get so suspicious?” Nick rubbed his temple, hoping to avoid the tension headache brewing behind his eyes.

“You forget I was with Yvette, and although thinking about her still breaks me up, the woman was a manipulator.”

Samson had a point. Like most addicts, Yvette was a master of deception, but he didn’t see any signs Cheryl was a user. She seemed sharp and on-point. Another reason he couldn’t believe she was with Jimmy.

“You got enough to deal with keeping Angela happy.”

Another dead end going no where.

“I’m just sayin’. Be careful.”

“Something seemed off—like she was holding back the real story.” Nick blew out a stream of smoke. “She said she’d be gone by morning.”

Nick would make sure he followed up on Cheryl with the bangin’ body. In this business, he couldn’t afford slip-ups. It was enough to deal with Frank up his ass morning, noon, and night without adding any more bullshit to the mix.

“And what the hell were you doin’ with Bambi?”

“I gotta give Jax more to do.”

“You know, she’s been here less than two weeks and has already screwed everyone from the bouncers to the DJ.”

“Geez, you’re kidding,” Nick drawled. “Here I was gonna ask her to marry me and have my kids.”

“You’re lucky Angela didn’t catch you.”

“It was just a blowjob.”

“It’s my experience most women don’t see the difference,” Samson laughed around his words, then more seriously. “Angela knows a lot of what goes on here. I don’t think you want her pissed off and vengeful.”

“First of all, she doesn’t know that much, and second, I’m not gonna get caught.”

“If you keep getting sucked off in your office with the door unlocked, I’d say the odds are not in your favor.”

“Angela and I have an understanding.” Nick uncapped a water bottle on his desk, then drained half of it. “I do what I want, and Angela’s very understanding.”

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