Packing Heat: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Romance (Barone Crime Family) (50 page)

And so was I. Everything else that had happened was gone. The only thing I wanted was Hartley’s nice little pussy, her body, her moans. I wanted to make her feel good, make her come, make her forget the horror of the last few days for just a few seconds. I could give that to her, so fucking easily. I worked and sucked that pussy, making her take it, making her mine.

And slowly I felt her fingers tighten on my head, her hips move faster, heard her moans get deeper, her breath shallow. Slowly she began to come, her muscles tightening and contracting. I kept at it, not letting up for one second. I wanted to make this an orgasm she’d never fucking forget. She began to tighten and moan, the orgasm rolling through her as I sucked that clit and fucked her pussy. She said my name over and over as she came, and I fucking loved the way she tasted.

Finally, the orgasm passed. She lay back on the seat and I slipped my fingers from her, licking them clean. She shook her head, breathing deeply.

“Shit,” she said. “That was amazing.”

“I know,” I answered, smirking at her. “I think the whole town heard you.”

She turned red. “No way.”

I laughed and got into the car, kissing her. “Relax. You’re fine.”

Just then, headlights illuminated our little corner of the parking lot. They passed over us like a spotlight before turning into a spot two spaces over. We paused, not moving an inch, as an old couple got out of the car and slowly shuffled over to the restaurant together.

When they were gone, Hartley burst out laughing. I couldn’t help but join her as we laughed uncontrollably about absolutely nothing at all. Maybe it was being so close to getting caught, or maybe it was just all the tension of the last few days, but either way we laughed together, and it felt pretty damn fucking good.

“Ah shit,” I said finally, shaking my head. “We should get going.”

“What’s the rush?” She kissed me again.

“We’ve got one more stop to make.”

“Where to?”

“There’s a bar called Lou’s, over near the hills.”

She nodded slowly. “I’ve heard of it.”

“Well, we need to go get some cash.”

I got up and grabbed her shorts, tossing them to her. She got dressed, pulling her panties and her shorts back on. I climbed up into the front seat, and after a second Hartley joined me.

I started the car, smiling to myself. This next part was a risk, but it was an important risk.

I didn’t want to take risks, not with Hartley’s life in the balance. But I knew we were already playing a very dangerous game, and I had to choose which side to back.

That meant making moves that seemed crazy, but were crazy for a reason.

A
s we drove
, I was still buzzing from the way Travis had worked my body. It was a surprise to me the way that had happened. I was high on adrenaline from that meeting, terrified of Travis’s plan, worried about a million things.

But as soon as he touched me, all of that went away. It was the strangest sensation, to go from absolutely worried and scared to suddenly feeling completely fine. Travis managed to take away that pain and that worry with nothing but his mouth and his fingers.

But what a mouth. That man was sexy, too sexy. He drove me over the edge so easily, got me soaking wet with just a touch, a smile, a word whispered in my ear. It was a dangerous game we were playing together, stacked on top of an even more dangerous game.

He didn’t seem like the kind of man who stuck around. He seemed like the type to get what he wanted and then disappear. Part of me was waiting for him to run off every morning, but every morning he was still there with his cocky smile and his ripped body.

I couldn’t help but watch his face as we drove. I didn’t understand what he was getting out of this, why he was really helping me. Back when we first met, I was just a stranger who was in trouble. But ever since then, he’d had a ton of opportunities to walk away from this. He didn’t need to risk his life for me, didn’t owe me a thing.

The man was a mystery. Even though I felt like I understood him more and more, he was showing me every day that there was always something more to him deeper down.

We made it to Lou’s about a half hour later. The bar was a little shack, all wood and chipping paint, set off down a gravel road and surrounded by trees. Loud music was playing inside, and the cars were mostly old trucks and motorcycles.

Lou’s had a reputation in Knoxville. Even I knew that from having just worked in town for a little while. Lou’s was the place you went if you needed to find the mafia.

Travis parked and got out of the car. I followed him. As we got closer to the entrance, he stopped and faced me. “Maybe you should wait in the car,” he said. “This might go poorly.”

“I’m sticking with you,” I said, trying to sound brave even though I didn’t really feel it.

He smiled. “I know that. But still.”

“No. Let’s do this.”

He gave me a long look and then nodded. “Okay then.”

I followed him and we pushed inside, walking into Lou’s.

I’d been here once before, back when I first came to town. I’d come here to find the Dixie Mafia, almost exactly like this. And just like that night, the place was crowded with mean-looking men who glared at us as we walked inside. An old jukebox was playing country music in the corner, and everything looked like it was older than the ocean. Chipped wood, faded varnish, and deer heads were the decorations of choice.

Travis moved through the crowd, barely looking around, and stopped at the bar. I stayed close to him and leaned up against the wood, trying not to draw too much attention to myself. That was hard, though, since I was one of maybe four women in the whole place, and definitely the youngest.

“What’ll you have?” the bartender asked Travis.

“I’m here for Culver.”

The bartender paused and glanced at a guy sitting at the end of the bar. He looked back at us. “How’d you know that name?”

“Tell Culver that Travis Rock is here.”

The bartender paused and then walked over to the man he had glanced at, a guy in his forties, balding and fat. The man glanced at us and then disappeared into a back room.

Not long after, the fat man returned. He walked straight up to us and didn’t say a word, just gestured with his head for us to follow. Travis glanced at me and gave me a little smile before following the man. He held the back door open and we stepped into the room.

It was dim and smoky, with a large TV on the back wall playing a football game. Five men sat at a poker table. Hoyt and Guff were there, plus three other guys I’d never seen before.

And sitting in the back corner watching the TV screen was Culver. He looked up as we entered.

“Ah, there he is, Travis Rock.” Culver stood up and the other men all stared.

“Culver,” Travis said. “Boys.” He nodded at them.

They ignored him.

“To what do we owe this visit?” Culver asked, walking over.

“I got an update on my progress,” Travis said.

Culver smiled his creepy grin and gestured. “Go ahead.”

“Visited the Caldwell compound the other night. Killed one guard, nearly killed another. I saw the shipment.”

Culver nodded. “Good. So you know where it is.”

“I do. But here’s the thing. There’s way more than just fifty grand worth of stuff and drugs in there. Frankly, it’s at least double that.”

Culver continued smiling. “Probably true.”

“I can’t steal all that without help. I need a team of guys if I’m going to pull it off.”

Culver nodded at the boys playing poker. “They can help with that.”

“No,” Travis said firmly. “I’m hiring my own team from guys I trust. But I’ll need cash.”

Culver frowned. “Why would we give you more money? You’re trying to work yourself out of debt.”

“Five grand,” he said. “I’ll hire the muscle, get your shit back. You know you’re going to be making a big profit off this.”

“We’re already at a loss. You’re helping us break even.”

“I’m helping you steal your own shipment plus whatever else they had in there, which will definitely make this worth your money.”

Culver stroked his chin and glanced at Hoyt, who simply crossed his arms and shrugged. Culver looked back and stared at me.

“What do you think, Miss Hartley? Is our boy here going too far?”

“I trust him,” I said simply, too afraid to say more.

“I’m sure you do.” Culver looked away. “Guff, Heber, take these two out back and shoot them.”

Guff and another man stood up. Travis, however, reached for his holster, his gun in his hand but not drawn.

“Hold on now,” Travis said. “That’s a mistake.”

“You’re pushing my patience, Travis. We want this job done. We don’t want to invest more money. I simply decided to get rid of you two and to use my own local talent to pull this off.”

The man named Heber stepped up to Travis, his hand on his gun. Travis stared the man down. “You draw, you die,” Travis said. “Not a man in here can outdraw me, least of all you.”

Heber glanced at Culver, and Culver laughed. “Okay. Calm down. Sit back down, Heber.”

The man slowly backed off. Travis looked back at Culver. “If you could get this shipment back on your own, you wouldn’t have taken me up on my offer. You people need a man like me to pull this off.”

“Maybe that’s true,” Culver said.

“Five grand. Then it’ll be done.”

There was a tense moment, a pause, before finally Culver laughed again.

“Very well. Guff, go get the money.” Culver shook his head. “You drive a hard bargain. I’m impressed.”

“You wanted the best,” Travis said. “You fucking got it.”

Guff came back a few minutes later with a small black duffel bag. He tossed it over to Travis, who caught it and handed it off to me. The bag felt heavy, and I saw cash shoved in there.

“That’s all?” Culver asked.

“That’s all.”

“Okay then. Get out before I decide to kill you myself.”

Travis turned and strode out. I left on his heels and saw Culver smiling out of the corner of my eye.

We moved through the bar, not stopping, and went right outside. We didn’t stop until we were back in the car and were pulling back out onto the road.

“Well,” Travis said finally, “that went pretty good.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you kidding me? They almost killed us.”

“That was just a bluff, just trying to test me.” He grinned at me as he pulled back out onto the main road. “Now we can pay Janey off.”

“You’re insane.”

“Maybe, but we’re getting there.”

I shook my head and marveled at him. I’d never met a man who could walk into the heart of a gangster’s hideout and bluff money from him, but Travis could pull it off. Any other person and this plan would seem insane.

But I trusted Travis. I trusted that he could play both sides, make this happen.

I felt elated and terrified, the same wave of euphoria I’d been riding since this all started.

I felt wild, free, and crazy. Travis was to blame for it all.

W
e went
to bed early that night. After talking five grand out of the mafia and making a deal to go behind their backs with Janey, I was pretty fucking exhausted. Besides, I needed to do more thinking, more planning, before this all went down.

I was up earlier than Hartley, like usual. I made coffee and pancakes again. After breakfast, we got dressed and hit the road.

We drove out to the Caldwell’s place again, though this time we weren’t going out for a fun little ATV tour. The bag with the money in it was stashed in the back, and I was hoping that the deal from the night before still stood. I believed I understood Janey, but it had been so long. Anything could happen, and I had to be ready for it.

We parked in the lot and I looked at Hartley. “What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I grunted. “Just thinking about last night.”

“Which part?”

“The part where I licked that pussy until you couldn’t think anymore.”

She blushed and looked away. “I thought we weren’t talking about it.”

“Just hadn’t brought it up yet is all.”

“Well, I’m glad you had fun.”

I laughed. “You’re the one who had fun. I’ve been fucking hard ever since.”

“Not much I can do about that.”

“With a fucking body like that, there’s a lot you can do for this hard cock.”

She stared at me for a second and then shook her head. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“All right then. Right down to business.”

She opened her door and stepped out. I followed, grabbing the bag from the back. I let her lead the way, enjoying the view of her firm little ass swaying in her short jean shorts. It was taking all of my strength and willpower not to fucking press her up against a wall and take her like I wanted to.

But I knew better. Mixing business and pleasure wasn’t the smartest move in the world. Still, with Hartley I could barely resist wanting that pleasure. She was built for it, begging for it, and I wanted to take her and make her moan my name. Nothing got me harder than seeing that girl come while looking in my eyes.

We went up to the front door and entered into the main room again. Brock, Janey’s dumbest brother, was standing behind the front counter, reading a magazine. He looked up as I approached.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, not even pretending like he didn’t know.

“I’m here to see Janey.”

He frowned. “Why? And you know, I didn’t appreciate you lying to me the other day.”

“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you who I was.”

His frown deepened. “Janey is busy.”

“Get her. Tell her I’m here to finish our deal from last night.”

“What deal?”

I sighed. “Go get your sister, Brock. I don’t have all fucking day.”

Brock straightened up at that. “Hey now. That’s no way to talk to me.”

“Listen, Brock. This has been a rough few days. I really don’t need to deal with your shit, too.”

I could feel Hartley next to me getting uncomfortable, but fuck if I was going to eat shit from this dumbass.

Brock slowly came out from behind the counter and stood directly in front of me, squaring off. “I said, Janey’s fucking busy. Come back another time.”

“Your sister is going to be very pissed when she realizes that her dumbass brother ruined a business arrangement for her.”

I stared him down, practically begging for him to come at me. I was feeling particularly annoyed today, and a little fight with Brock was probably enough to blow off some of that steam.

Unfortunately for me, though, King stepped in through the back door.

“She’s waiting for you in the barn,” King called out. “Brock, back down, man.”

I smirked at Brock. “Listen to your brother.”

I could tell he wanted to swing, and badly. Instead, he slowly backed down. He turned and walked behind the counter, grumbling to himself the whole time.

“Come on,” I said to Hartley. We went back out the front door and headed across the property toward the barn. I knew exactly where I was going, considering I’d just scouted the place recently.

The back doors were sitting slightly open. I pushed them open and stepped in, Hartley on my heels.

What I saw stopped me in my tracks.

The whole damn place was empty.

Janey was leaning up against a hay bale not far away, smoking a cigarette. She smiled at me as I looked around. I finally stared at her and cocked my head to the side.

“Those things will kill you,” I said to her.

She laughed. “That’s it? Nothing else to say?”

I shrugged. “You moved the stuff. I’m not exactly surprised.”

She laughed again, shaking her head. “I guess I should have expected that. Mister Navy SEAL can’t be surprised.” Janey looked at Hartley. “Is he always like this?”

“Yeah, he is,” Hartley grumbled.

I grinned at her. “If I were still going to try to steal that stuff from you, this would be a huge deal, but that’s not my plan.”

“Before we discuss plans, I believe you have something for me.”

I tossed her the bag. She caught it effortlessly and looked inside.

“It’s all there,” I said, “courtesy of the Dixie Mafia.”

She looked surprised. “This is Dixie money?”

“I told them it was to hire a crew to rip you off.”

A bemused smile broke out across her face. “That seems suicidal to me.”

“Well, it’s good you didn’t have to make that call then, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

I felt someone approach from behind, and I resisted the desire to turn around. Instead, I looked blandly at Janey.

“Can you ask your brother to get out of my blind spot?”

Janey nodded and King moved farther to the left, getting into my peripheral vision.

“Thank you.”

“So tell me, Travis, why should I let you live?”

I sighed. “Why the fuck is everyone asking me that question?”

“It’s a good question. You seem like you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

King began to drift back into my blind spot. I turned my head toward him. “Stop moving,” I said.

He glanced at Janey.

“Travis, I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” I said to her. “Your brother moves again, I’ll fucking break his knee.”

“I’d love to see you try,” King said, stepping up to me and drifting into my blind spot again.

I moved fast. I stepped sideways toward him, driving my elbow low and hard into his stomach. He stumbled backward and tried to get his hands up, but I wasn’t going high. Instead, I shifted my weight and swung a rough kick into the side of his knee.

He crumpled to the ground, grabbing his leg.

“Enough,” Janey said loudly. “Enough.”

I stood up straight. “I warned him. Twice.”

“What do you want, Travis?”

King was rolling side to side. “Relax,” I said to him. “I didn’t break it, you big baby.” I looked back at Janey. “You know what I want.”

“You want to make a deal. You paid me, which is good, but now you’ve hurt my brother. I’ll ask one more time: What do you want?”

I took a deep breath, calming down. “I want to give you the Dixie Mafia. I want to get the leaders, or at least the ones who are local, in a single room. Then I want to kill them all.”

I felt Hartley shift her weight nervously behind me. She knew the gist of the plan, but hearing it like that was probably pretty harsh.

“Interesting,” Janey said. I could see the curiosity in her eyes.

“If they die, you can grab hold of the local drug trade in Knoxville and its neighboring counties, no problem.”

“What do you want in exchange?”

“Three things. First, nobody knows we were involved in this. Second, me and Hartley walk away from this. Third, you pay off Hartley’s family debt.”

She looked amused. “That’s all?”

King slowly struggled up to his feet. “I say we kill them,” he said, giving me a pissed-off look.

I ignored him. “That’s all. Hartley’s debt is fifty grand. The drug trade is going to make you way more than that, and we both know it.”

“I’m doing a lot of work in this deal,” Janey said. “There’s a lot that could go wrong.”

“Yeah, maybe, but this is your chance to finally hit back. No more pissing them off. You can win.”

I didn’t know if she’d go for this, but I had a feeling she would.

Janey was a business woman. She was in this for the profit, and she did nothing that didn’t directly profit her. If this went down the way I planned it would, she stood to make a huge profit.

But more than that, she hated the Dixie Mafia. Janey was the type of person that wanted full control and couldn’t settle for a sidelined position. I was guessing that being so out of control in that car with Ray that night had taught her never to let someone else do the driving. She’d walked away from it once, but she might not again.

“It’s an interesting idea,” Janey said.

“You can’t be serious,” King snapped. “This guy is an animal.”

I sneered at him. “Go ahead. Say that again. I’ll break your fucking skull.”

“Jesus, enough you two,” Janey said. “King, get the fuck out.”

King glared at me, spit on the ground, and then hobbled out the back door.

Janey walked over toward us, looking at me curiously. “You don’t seem like the same guy you once were,” she said.

“I’m not,” I admitted. “And you’re not the same girl.”

“No,” she said. “We’ve both changed a lot.” She looked at Hartley. “Why is he doing this for you?”

Hartley looked surprised. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I honestly don’t.”

“You’re pretty; I’ll give you that. But this man is offering to dismantle a very dangerous and powerful gang. All for what, some peach farmer’s daughter?” Janey shook her head. “I’d never do it, no offence. Nobody is worth this much effort.”

“You don’t understand a thing about me,” I said to Janey, “but I think I understand you. Getting control of Knoxville is your dream, isn’t it?”

“Something like that,” she said, nodding.

“I got you your money. I’m for real, Janey. Come into business with me. I’ll give you Knoxville, and you’ll give us freedom.”

She stared at me for a second, considering, and finally laughed. Her face shifted from an intense and dangerous stare to her old cheerleader smile. “Okay then,” she said. “Let’s do it.”

As she reached out and shook my hand, I couldn’t help but feel like I was shaking hands with a snake.

But it didn’t matter. All I knew was that I couldn’t steal that shipment from her, not really. My next best move was to topple the mafia, at least locally, and hope that they’d be too disorganized to realize that it was me who set them up. Then once Hartley’s debt was paid, we’d be out of this, and Janey would have her power.

All in theory, of course. I needed to get the heads of the Dixie Mafia together in a single room, and I needed Janey to uphold her end of the bargain.

A lot of loose ends, a lot of possibilities for failure. But this was the best course of action.

It had to be the best, because I was committed to it.