Duke(11)

She rolled her eyes and turned her tablet on. “The house across the street from the property you like the most has been on and off the market several times in the past couple of years without selling. The woman is asking more for it than it’s worth, but there may be a way to make it worth the cost, if you’re willing to put in a little more effort.” She brought the picture up, as well as the history. “With your brother in the construction industry, if you can move the house to another property, in a better section of town, it’ll sell in a heartbeat and should easily recoup moving costs and then some. We’ll have to be careful with the right location, and find a deal on some land, but that could get you either the bike shop or the bar right across the street.” She pulled up another listing. “This is the property right behind it, so it’s adjacent, even though it’s on a different street, which happens to be a main thoroughfare and would get lots of eyeballs. You can put the sign for both the bike shop and bar here, and route people to the other through the parking lot.

“Hot damn, you’re a fucking genius.” Duke was smiling at Brain when he said it, but she didn’t want him to get his hopes up yet.

“If we can get the lady to sell, and if she doesn’t jack the price up because we’re coming to her.”

Duke sat up, pulled his arm away and reached for his wallet. “Brain, change clothes, no cut. Go with her to talk to the woman. You know our budget, make a decision.” He looked down to Gen. “Take a contract, see if you can get her to sign something today. If we like the house we might just move it across the street, use it for ourselves. Make that decision later. Do you own a pair of jeans?”

“I own two pair of jeans. Why?”

“Two? Seriously? That’s it?”

“Yeah. Why?”

He shook his head. “I want to take you for a ride on my bike tonight. Interested?”

The question sent more heat to her already warm girly parts, but she never dated clients — not even when she’d known them decades and once crushed on them.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Keith.” Her voice was soft, she didn’t want to be mean. She took a breath as she swiveled her head to Brain. “I’ll get the check, go back to my office to make a few phone calls, and let you know what I worked out. If I can swing a meet, I’ll pick you up at the hotel later this afternoon. Where are you staying?”

“Beautiful.” Duke’s voice was gentle but demanding this time, and Gen turned back to him. “Brain did the research, found us the best Realtor for our needs. I didn’t know it was you until we arrived. We’d protect anyone working for us, man or woman, but I’m gonna go the extra mile to make sure you’re safe. This means Brain’s gonna go get changed, and I’ll hang with you while you make the phone call. We’ve made some noise and worn our cuts, and I’m sure we’ve drawn attention. I don’t expect trouble yet, but you’ve been seen with us so we need to stick with you while you’re downtown. Brain will look respectable but not too high dollar for the two of you to talk to the homeowner. He’ll talk to you about strategy before you walk in the door, so you’re both on the same page during negotiations. I’ll be sitting in your car making sure the two of you are safe in the house. None of this is open to discussion.”

“If you want my best work, you can’t make those decisions. I need at least two hours in my office, at my computer, before I make the phone call to the homeowner, and that’s assuming Drake has someone sitting in their office with time to give me a rush job.

His lips turned up at the corners. “Drake? You know Aaron Drake?”

“No, haven’t met him. Tyler Hastings set me up with them when he found out who I was using before. Drake Security does much better work. Costs more, but totally worth it.”

Duke had waved the server over and handed her a credit card. Gen instinctively knew arguing would be pointless, but had to say something. “I told you this was my treat.”

He smiled. “You did.” His gaze shifted back to Brain. “She’s gonna get Drake to give her the skinny before she makes the phone call. Does this girl kick ass, or what?”





Chapter Five





Gen put her nine millimeter on her nightstand, the extra magazine beside it, undressed and got into her pajamas, crawled into bed, and pulled her laptop onto her legs to look up the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club. She looked up news articles, tax records, and found their Twitter hashtag and spent some time looking through feeds.

She didn’t find out much. They organized rides, supported several charities, and their bike shops seemed to be highly respected amongst those needing their services. There was a news article about them rescuing a schoolteacher from a gang rape a few years before, and two of the members had been arrested and stood trial for beating the tar out of the rapists. Apparently, the jury couldn’t find them totally not-guilty, but also didn’t have it in them to send the men to prison long-term for it. Their guilty verdict was for the misdemeanor portion and not the felony charges, and came with a ninety-day jail sentence, but the men had been out in six weeks.