Sly (16 page)

Now my instincts were telling me to get the hell out of this hotel and find a safe place to crash where Kagan couldn’t find me. Except all the safest places would take me too far away from Sly to do him any good if Kagan decided to finish the hit without me.
 

I hung up with Lewis and had the makings of a plan. As much as I wanted to avoid it, Kagan and I were going to need to talk. I didn’t trust Lewis as a reliable conduit of information. I pulled back the curtains and checked the parking lot. No sign of Kagan’s SUV or anything out of the ordinary. That didn’t mean he wasn’t out there. I’d bet my life he was.
 

I waited one hour. Then I grabbed the ice bucket and headed outside and down to the machine. I took slow, deliberate steps, trying to look as casual and complacent as I knew how to be. I whistled and swung the bucket in a wide arc as I slowly walked to the machine.
 

It happened when I bent low to shove the bucket under the ice shoot. Beefy hands tried to grab me from behind but I was ready. I twisted sideways and brought the metal ice bucket up hard, making contact with a solid jawbone. Not enough to knock my would-be assailant out, but hard enough to push him off and send him stumbling backwards.
 

“Jinx? You’re not even trying very hard, are you?”
 

“Fuck!” Jinx rubbed his jaw and cursed for a few more seconds before he straightened. He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at me. “You know, you’re getting to be a real bitch.”
 

I shrugged. “And what was that? Were you going to try and throw me over your shoulder and drag me off?” I scanned the parking lot in both directions. If Kagan had anyone else watching, they weren’t in the immediate vicinity. I pulled my gun out from behind me and leveled it at Jinx. I didn’t think he’d be dumb enough to make another move on me but it wasn’t worth the risk.
 

I stepped forward and pressed the barrel of my gun between Jinx’s shoulder blades as I turned him around. “We’re going for a little walk,” I said.
 

Jinx grumbled but took a few halting steps forward. He outweighed me by more than one hundred pounds, but he had the good sense to understand I’d have no problem putting a bullet in his spine if he tried anything.
 

When we got to my room, I gave him the keycard and had him open the door. I kicked it closed behind me and directed him onto the bed, keeping the red laser sight pointed smack in the middle of his eyes. I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of zip ties I liked to keep handy.
 

I moved around Jinx. The problem here was how to get him tied with only one free hand. A slow smile curved Jinx’s mouth as he realized my predicament.
 

“Aw, shit.” I shrugged. Then I tapped Jinx in the temple with the butt of my gun and down he went. I hogtied him with the zip ties and waited. It only took him about ten minutes to come around.
 

“Good!” I said, when Jinx’s eyes started to flutter. “Now we can talk a little.”
 

Jinx struggled against the tight plastic bindings. I had him on the floor between the two double beds.
 

“You fucking cunt,” he said.
 

I sucked in a breath. “I really don’t care for that word, Jinxy.  It’s just crass.”
 

He snorted and coughed but his bindings were secure.
 

“Here’s what I need from you.  I need to talk to Kagan,” I said. “But after what you just tried to pull, he can shove it up his ass if he thinks I’m getting into another car with him. Neutral turf. Got it? There’s a waffle joint the next town over. McGee’s. I’m guessing he knows it. I’ll
meet him there this evening. Six o’clock. And if he sends you or anyone else back to try and grab me up, they’ll get gut shot, not just a goose egg. Got it?”
 

Jinx rocked back and forth trying to sit upright. I knew he’d eventually figure it out but it might take him a good hour. More than enough time to get the hell out of here. “You’re gonna get that sweet little ass of yours killed and I think I’m going to enjoy watching.”
 

“Oh, I just bet you will. Six o’clock. Tell him that. And if he doesn’t show, he can consider this little contract of ours null and void. And if he tries to hurt me or hire someone else to poach from me, there’s going to be a body count.”
 

“Well, how the hell do you expect me to tell him anything like this?”
 

I smiled and leaned down. I patted him on the cheek and dodged neatly when he tried to bite me. “You’ll figure it out. It’s going to be a workout for you, but the landline on the bedside table works just fine when you find a way to get to it. Ya got kind of a tortoise-and-a-hare choice, my friend. The quick route would be to bust through those ties. It’ll hurt like hell and you’re gonna get some nasty cuts in the process. Then there’s slow and steady wins the race. Pace yourself and you’ll be able to crawl there.”
 

“Fucking bitch. Kagan’s gonna make sure you suffer good and slow for this.”
 

I nodded. “Sure. Just make sure you tell him about the meeting. I don’t really appreciate being kept waiting. It’s just rude, you know? Very unprofessional.”
 

Jinx grumbled low. Beads of sweat dotted his brow and his skin was flushed. I had mild concern he’d work himself into a heart attack before he figured out how to use the phone.
 

“It’s going to be okay, Jinx. I promise. Deep breaths. Count to ten then make your move. Do you think you’re going to join us for dinner? I’d be happy to order you some pancakes before you get there.”
 

“Fuck you,” he said, his breathing labored. It occurred to me to maybe help him along by cutting a notch in one of the ties. But then he lobbed one more “cunt” at me and I decided against it. Instead, I patted him on the shoulder and wished him luck.
 

I checked my phone on the way out. It wasn’t even noon yet. Jinx was taken care of and the hotel parking lot was empty. Jinx had apparently pulled watch duty all on his own. Unlucky for him. I headed down to the lobby to pay my bill and check out. Now I just had about seven hours to figure out a way to save Sly’s life and my own.
 

Chapter Fifteen

Sly
 

If Scarlett and I had spent the last twenty-four hours in a cocoon, without her, reality had a way of crashing back in and kicking the shit out of me. It came in the form of a wicked scowl on Colt and Sawyer’s face when I showed up at the Den. Tiny was with them. Big bastard that he was, Tiny hated confrontation. He just gave me a sad puppy expression.
 

“Glad to see you, boss,” Tiny said. “We were starting to get worried.” It would have been easier if Colt and Sawyer had just laid into me. Tiny just made me feel bad. I hated letting him down.
 

But never mind Tiny’s feelings. I was getting damn sick of answering to a committee. “Am I the only one who
doesn’t
get to take a day or two off every once in a while?”
 

“You’re off your game,” Colt said. “You’ve barely been to the Den all week. Nobody’s saying you’re not entitled to some
you
time, but you gotta admit the timing isn’t great.”
 

I didn’t like his tone or the scowl across his face one damn bit. “You telling me you can’t run things for a little while without me hovering over your shoulder?”
 

Colt let his breath out hard. He shot a look to Sawyer and Tiny and they took the hint. There was an uncomfortable silence, then the two of them made awkward excuses to leave the room.
 

So we were going to have it out, Colt and me. It wasn’t even noon yet and already I needed a stiff shot of bourbon.
 

“What’s going on, man?” Colt said.
 

Before he laid into me, I took a seat behind my desk. Among other things, he needed to remember who was in charge. He was getting bold and a part of me couldn’t blame him as much as it pissed me off. But this club only had room for one alpha wolf.  Colt took a seat in front of me. His scowl dropped a little as he realized this was turning into a formal meeting. This was my office, my club. He knew I’d listen, but I wouldn’t be lectured by him or any of the others.
 

“Is there something happening?” I asked. “Any problems with the fighters? The promoters are getting paid on time? The beer distributors? Food deliveries are running smoothly?”
 

“Yeah. Sly, all of that’s fine, it’s just . . .”
 

“Just what? What the hell, Colt? You’ve been riding my ass ever since Dex left.”
 

Colt narrowed his eyes at me.  “You really think the shit with your bike was just some fluke, Sly? I mean, really?”
 

I shrugged and folded my hands behind my head. “Honest? It’s not something I’m giving a whole lot of thought to. That was weeks ago. Nothing weird has happened since. I’m not being careless. I’m watching my back.”
 

“No you’re not! Shit, Sly, you’ve been riding and driving alone for days. It’s a bad idea, man. It’s
our
job to watch your back. Tiny’s scared shitless, you know? And you can’t really blame him. He’s got his own little PTSD brewing after the trouble we had not so very long ago.”
 

I let out a sigh. “Look, I’m sorry. I hear you. I’m just not willing to hide in some hole with a tinfoil hat over this.”
 

“No one’s asking you to do that. We just think you need to stick close to the club right now.”
 

I rubbed the flesh between my eyes. These were my brothers. Colt had been with me for fifteen years. But dammit if I was going to let whatever the hell that was out on that cliff make me run scared. I’d fought too long and too hard to make this club safe and legit. We were going to stay that way no matter what.
 

“What do know about this girl, Sly?”
 

Colt leveled a look at me. One of the reasons I had always trusted Colt’s counsel above all was because he was never afraid to say what he thought. Though at the moment I wanted to pretty much throat punch him for it.
 

“What do you want me to say?”
 

Colt leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees. “Look, I’m not trying to say you gotta run who you fuck past a committee.”
 

“Yeah? Cuz that’s what it’s sounding like.” My temper flared. I didn’t like where this conversation was heading.
 

“Just with things being how they are ... we just shook off the Pagano family. Dex is out for a while. Then there’s what almost happened to you. It’s just, now’s not the time for you to be taking chances.”
 

“What chances are you worried about?”
 

“Shit, Sly. You want me to come out and say it?”
 

My blood simmered. I stayed seated but balled my fists at my sides. Colt didn’t break eye contact. He was about one of three people who would meet my rage head on. His dark eyes narrowed and tension went into his shoulders. He was ready if I decided to make this into something else.
 

“Look,” Colt said. He tore a hand through his hair, making it stand up in black peaks. “She came out of nowhere, all right? I’m just concerned. And I’m concerned that
you’re
not concerned.”
 

I let out a breath and did a mental ten count. “What do you want, Colt? Obviously you and the rest of the guys have been talking about this when I’m not around.”
 

Colt tapped his knee with his fist. “Not like that. No one’s been talking shit behind your back.”
 

“But they sent you in here to talk to me about this?”
 

Colt nodded. “Yeah. They figured I was the only one besides Dex who was brave enough and stupid enough.”
 

I couldn’t help but laugh. “So what then?”
 

“Why don’t you just let us ask around? See if we can find out if she’s connected to anybody we need to know about.”
 

It was in me to rail at him, tell him and the rest of the club to mind their own fucking business. But the rational part of my brain knew I’d be saying the same things if Colt and my positions were reversed. Scarlett had given me non-answers and half answers since the minute I met her. My instincts said she was good for me. But I’d be lying if I said I was sure my instincts weren’t clouded by my dick where she was concerned.
 

“You in love with her?” Colt asked. I hadn’t expected that.
 

I shrugged. “I’m in something with her. She’s got my head turned around. I won’t lie about that.”
 

Colt nodded. “And that’s a good thing, boss.  I’m happy for you. But since she
does
have your head turned around, let us do what we do and look out for you. She’s legit. I’m sure she is. Let’s just make sure. You know you’d do it for me.”
 

I knew Colt was right. As much as I was starting to care about Scarlett, my club was my club. These were my brothers. I would lay down my life for them as they would for me. I wouldn’t—couldn’t—let anything in that would hurt them, even if it came wrapped in Scarlett’s sexy package.
 

So, I told Colt what I knew about her. The more I talked, the more serious Colt’s face got. The truth was, I knew very damn little about her. A niggling sense of dread crawled up my spine and again I had to suppress the urge to bash the messenger on this one.
 

“Don’t sweat it, boss,” Colt said when I was done talking. “I’m sure she’s gonna check out just fine. I gotta feeling about her too.”
 

“Oh yeah?” I arched a brow. “What kind of feeling is that?”