The Fear That Divides Us (The Devil's Dust #3)(34)

“What’s up with you?” Lip asks dryly, sliding onto a stool next to me.

“Nothing.” I bring the tip of the beer bottle to my lips. “Where’s Cherry?” I question, keeping my eyes on the TV.

“Dunno. She’s not at the house, and I can’t get a hold of her. Seems to be a trend with her since I got out of the joint,” he grumbles, running his hands through his hair. I bite my lip, wondering if I should bring up her wanting me to go to that shitty trailer park. I think better of it and decide not to. I don’t know if Cherry is cheating, or what is going on, but I know I don’t want to be in the middle of it.

My phone vibrates, catching my attention. Reading the name on the screen has my eyes widening.

Cora.

I haven’t heard from her in years. She only calls when she needs me to boost a car. My tongue darts and licks along my bottom lip at the thought of a little action, making me answer it.

“Cora,” I greet casually.

“Bobby, baby, how are you?” Cora answers, her voice holding a sense of authority and class. Which is exactly what she is; she’s just an educated, classy outlaw.

I met Cora when I was around sixteen. I saw a Corvette sitting in an empty parking lot, located right next to some docks, and decided to take it for a joy ride. Twenty minutes later, Cora, her father, and their men pulled me from the car violently. Apparently, they had just stolen the car and were in the process of loading it on a shipping container before I took it. She was impressed with how I hotwired the car, no damage to the ignition. She threw me a wad of cash and became my mentor for years.

“Good, what’s up?” I ask, getting to the point.

“I need you for a boost. You’re the only one I trust for the job,” she breathes into the phone.

“When do you need it by?”

“Tonight,” she clips quickly. I sigh. This is why she is calling me. She needs someone quick, and efficient. That would be me. I can boost a car and get it where it needs to be without a scratch and in a blink of an eye. Been practicing since I was a kid.

“Text me the details of the car’s location and all,” I request, taking a sip of my beer.

“The location is wherever you can find me a black Lamborghini,” she informs, her tone giving off a hint of sass.

“A motherf*cking Lambo?” I shriek, wondering if I heard her right.

“Is that a problem?” she asks, her voice silky as she speaks through the receiver.

“No, I’ll find one,” I answer, hanging up. I haven’t stolen a car in a while. I’d be lying through my teeth if I said stealing cars was not one of the biggest rushes of my life. The feeling of being caught at any moment, and the luxury your ass is sitting in when you’re going 100 mph. My heart is slamming against my chest in excitement just thinking about it.

I look over and see Lip staring at me with a huge grin on his face.

“What?”

“I want in brother,” Lip remarks, nodding.

“No,” I laugh, shaking my head. “I work alone,” I inform, watching my phone.

“I know where to find a Lamborghini,” he show tunes, reaching over the counter, and swiping my beer.

“You and Cherry are perfect for each other. You’re both a pain in the ass,” I sneer, making Lip laugh. “Fine,” I reply exasperated, grabbing my beer from his hands.

“The Ivory Gentlemen’s Club is full of those arrogant f*ckers driving nice ass cars, with fly-ass women hanging off them. Not sure how you are going to get the car being as busy as it is though,” Lip informs, shrugging. I smile and take a sip of my beer.

“I’ll figure out a way. I always do,” I smile wolfishly.

***

Lip parks his car in a garage around the back and follows me. I head toward the back of the gentlemen’s club, smiling at everyone who walks past.

“What the f*ck is the plan, man?” Lip whispers, jogging to keep up with me.

“Shut up and follow me,” I whisper back.

We make our way through the kitchen, nobody even noticing we are in the damn place, even after Lip steals a fry off someone’s tray in passing. We travel to the back of the club until we come across the employee lounge. I slowly step in, making sure it’s empty before continuing in. I notice a TV in the corner and gray lockers along a wall, stickers slapped on a few of them. I start opening lockers and searching through the coat racks.

“What are you looking for?” Lip asks, opening a locker beside me.

“A valet jacket,” I mutter, opening another locker.

“Like this?” Lip asks, holding out a red velvet jacket.

“Perfect,” I whisper, grabbing it from his hands.

“There’s two in here,” he mutters, grabbing the other one.

I slide the velvet jacket onto my shoulders, the fit very snug.

“You look ridiculous,” Lip laughs.

“It’ll work,” I state, pulling at the fabric bunching tightly around my biceps.

Lip pulls on his jacket, and shuts the locker. “Now what?” he asks, adjusting the collar.

“We find us a Lambo and hope it’s black,” I mutter, heading out of the lounge.

“Hey, Mike is going on break,” a guy in a matching red jacket says, entering the room, mistaking us for working here.