Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(19)

“Got that meeting later.” Felix shrugs.

“Remind me.” I close my eyes, trying to remember.

“The Gentry boys are scrapping cars, trucks, boats, all of it. Want us to help move it, giving us forty percent of the profit.”

“Hey, you get the right car, get the guts from it, that could sell pretty high,” Machete adds.

I nod in agreement, rubbing my cheeks. I need to shave.

“How well do we know the Gentry boys, though?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer.

Felix twists his lips and gives a half nod. “We’ve done some light dealings with them with some Mary Jane. They pushed it well, made us some cash. Other than that, I don’t have much to go on.”

“All in favor?” I question, looking around the table.

“Aye,” is announced from everyone.

“Hell, what could going and checking it out hurt?” Mac adds at the back of the table, everyone nodding in agreement.

“Next order of business.”

“Dues are all paid, except Felix.” Bones, our Treasurer, points at Felix. Bones is a tall, beefy f*cker. He has tattoos on his left arm of all the bones in his arm, like an x-ray. He’s bald and burly; kind of looks like Stone Cold Steve Austin to me. Bones is good with money, always watching the club’s spending and where shit would be most profitable.

Lifting my beer, I stop right before the bottle touches my lips and grin.

“Better stop hitting up them hoes at the Blackwell Estate and pay your dues, brother.” The Blackwell Estate is an escort service that a family runs out of the city limits. They have some of the hottest *, but it comes with a hot price, too.

Felix laughs and sits back in his chair. “Hey, they love the Felix and what he has to offer.” He grabs his crotch, acting as if he’s as big as James Fucking Deen.

“I’ve seen that thing. Them girls are more excited over your wallet size, brother,” I tease, taking a pull from my beer.

“Which apparently is lacking.” Machete laughs.

“Enough talk about Felix’s dick.” I point at him. “Stick to the * around here. It’s free. Get your dues paid.” Felix grins and gives a knowing smile, ‘cause we all know that ain’t going to happen. Shaking my head, I look back to Bones. “What about others, everything paid?” We have buyers, those who are in our pockets, and now that my uncle has dipped his fingers into my business, we have small businesses we shake down for what we call a trade in ‘protection.’

Bones opens a notebook and looks over it. “Yeah, I think we’re good.”

“I restocked the ammo in the armory. We’re getting pretty low, though,” Gats states. I flick my gaze toward him. His brown hair is a mess today, bags under his eyes. He hasn’t been himself the last couple weeks, but won’t talk to anyone about it. Felix thinks he’s gay, but Gats always has a chick in his room at the parties. I think Felix is just jealous. Maybe that’s why he’s in a funk—he’s * whipped.

“All right, I’ll place an order.” I nod at Gats. “Guess I’ll see you boys later tonight at the Gentry’s.”

“Supposed to be a party. Said they’d have ass and grass.” Felix smiles.

“Yeah, ‘cause that’s what you need at your disposal.” I slam the gavel down and stand, the boys following suit.





JILLIAN


After driving for fifteen minutes, the cab stops at the end of a driveway; this is the only house I’ve seen for miles. There are a bunch of cars parked out front, a couple motorcycles, trucks, and even a golf cart. My mouth curves into a small smile, the golf cart is so out of place I can’t help but laugh.

“Keep the change.” Alessandra hands the cab driver some money, and I get out of the car.

“You sure this is okay?” I question, straightening my top.

“Will you loosen up already?” she huffs. I swallow hard, my nerves on end. “Let's go get you a drink to relax.” She grabs my hand and looks me over. “Maybe we’ll get you two, you look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Alessandra, don’t you think this is a conflict of interest or something. Look at this place, nothing good can come of us being here. We’re law enforcement,” I remind her. She turns, her fingers flying at my hair and face, attempting to primp me.

“Yeah, we’re law enforcement, but we didn’t join the convent. We’re not nuns. And can I just say that because we are law enforcement, as you so kindly put it, we should live our lives to the fullest because you never know when it’ll all be over.”

Her words hit home. Her father died unexpectedly on the job, so she’s seen a life cut short before. If I died tomorrow, there wouldn’t be much to say about my life. 'She was a sweet girl.' 'She was such a good girl, it wasn’t her time.' 'She lived for the Sheriff’s department, being killed on the job was the best way she could have gone.' Not the way I want to be remembered.

She huffs after my hair refuses to sit in my eyes. I think she thought it would look sexy, and it probably does on her, but I just look like I started head-banging.

Heading up the stepping stones, I can hear the house thumping with music, groups of people standing near the front door and off to the side of the house. Taking my eyes off them, I look the place over. It’s a two-story house, most of it made up of floor-to-ceiling windows. Palm trees are planted around the corners of the house. It’s a nice place, but from the sound of it, it won’t be by morning.