Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(146)

“So, Black hits you, and you hit him. Now, what?” I ask. “I’m sure you know Johansson is sending a few of his club buddies to meet with that other club.”

“Bikers like to have meetings,” Hayes says, shrugging.

“Are you done with your revenge?” Minka asks. “That’s what Anthony is getting at. Or do we need to worry about getting hit in the crossfire.”

“Hey, if you f*ckers had handled Black right off, I wouldn’t have woken up to my house getting pumped full of bullets.”

“Did they destroy your yard trolls, big guy?” When Hayes glares at me, I laugh. “Shit, you actually have yard trolls, don’t you?”

Before Hayes can call me something derogatory, Minka interrupts, “We’re hampered by the fact that Black is a cop. Killing him and his main people would draw heat to this area. We all know that. That’s why you didn’t just kill him yourself before we got here. The Hickory Creek club has the same problem. They want to take Common Bend but can’t get rid of Black without worrying about the state noticing all of the dead cops. Now, killing him is no skin off our asses. We don’t live here and won’t be around when the state authorities show up to ask questions. You don’t have that luxury.”

Hayes considers Minka’s point. She forces him to think with his brain rather than his ego. The fact is, we could kill Black and his people by the end of the day and leave Hayes and the bikers to worry about the mess. I would have done that the first day if not for Rafael. I’d have done it the second day if not for Minka. At this point, I’m ready to finish the job and return to Houston with my woman.

“What is it exactly you want me to do?” Hayes asks Minka.

“Nothing. I want you to sit here and do nothing. I’m assuming you didn’t leave the dead deputy somewhere he can be autopsied and questions can be asked.”

“You assume correctly.”

“Let us talk with Johansson’s men and see what the Hickory Creek club is planning. Unless your help is necessary to finish off Black, why get your hands dirtier? It’s not like you’ll grab Common Bend right now.”

“Never say never.”

“It’s a mess right now. The meth organization is broken, and who knows how many people Black’s removed. If you’re going to steal something, why take a piece of shit? I’d personally wait until it’s a functioning criminal enterprise again before I grabbed control, but then again, I’m not a f*cking idiot so…”

Hayes smiles at Minka for too long, and I kick his desk to distract him. His glare finds mine, and I’m ready to throw down. I’d love to shove that cigar up his ass. Before violence breaks out, Minka stands up and heads for the door.

“Anthony and I will let you know if you have anything to worry about.”

“And I would trust you why?”

“Because you saved our lives at the hotel. We owe you. The Hickory Creek club is nothing to us, and Johansson has tied our hands the entire time.”

Whether Hayes believes Minka or not, he nods at her comment. I catch him giving me a dirty look when I stand up. Flipping him off, I follow after Minka.

“There are worse jobs,” I hear Minka tell the temp.

“I guess.”

Minka walks outside where I find her studying the row of bullet holes across the front of the building. Hayes wasn’t kidding about the office being a concrete lump.

“What a whiner,” Minka says.

“Hayes has small balls.”

“I meant the temp receptionist. Imagine being that prostitute doing a cop for free because he’s your boss and then having Hayes show up and kill him. The best part of her day is f*cking ugly men so she can pay her bills. Meanwhile, the whiner inside doesn’t like hearing Hayes yell. Fuck, he isn’t even yelling at her.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “You’re sweet as sugar when you get wound up over other people’s problems.”

Minka gives me a little smile. “I have feelings and care about people. Not all the time or anything, but I care on a regular basis.”

“I know you do.”

“Don’t you?”

“I care about those I care about. I’m not as sweet as you, Apples.”

Her hand grazes where my buttoned shirt rests open and plays with my chest hairs. “You have other qualities, I guess.”

“You guess?” I tease, opening the SUV door for her.

“I don’t want your ego getting any bigger on my account.”

“Too late. I saw your face when I made you come this morning.”

“I saw yours when you came too. That’s why I know I’m the f*cking boss,” she says and laughs. “I thought you’d pass out.”

“You and me both.”

Joining her in the car, I don’t want to meet with bikers. I only want to take Minka somewhere alone and ask her questions about her life. I want to know what she likes and hates. I want to know everything there is to know about my woman.





17


Minka

So Much Testosterone

Dino and I find an Italian place in Hickory Creek that serves spaghetti with big juicy meatballs. I enjoy lunch, but he’s in heaven. When he smiles so big over something as small as a good sauce, I can’t help falling even deeper into the rabbit hole.