Before, this free life of blazing down the road and setting panties on fire while I bombed my guts with booze was plenty.
I still wanted some of that – the riding, the freedom, the fresh mountain air sucked between my teeth. But it didn't hold a flame against my screaming need to see my brand on her ass while she called me her old man.
I'd own this girl. I'd make it work, however many fucks I had to fight.
I'd have it all, everything I'd dreamed about, coming into reach. Or I'd be dead.
VIII: By the Hook (Cora)
“Here.” Tawny pushed crumpled cash into my hands, wiping the last beads of sweat off her brow.
“Thanks. Go get yourself some water.” I smiled, stuffing the bills into my special binder for Meg, before I carted them back to the safe in her office.
The stripper nodded, turned around, and scurried away. I swore she stopped just short of a salute.
They never even tested me anymore. The brush with Tony had only fed the legend. Several girls saw Firefly pounce at just the right time. Now, everybody feared dealing with him, if they took a jab at me.
Sweet victory, I thought, an extra spring in my step as I sat down for accounting.
In the office, I did a quick tally of everything I'd collected this shift. My mouth dropped open when Tawny's tips took it over thirty five hundred.
A new record for my shift!
“Hey, babe.” Firefly chose the best timing in the world to walk through the door. Rather, his huge, rock hard body stopped and filled the entire frame, resting his hands on the sides.
“You're just in time!” And I meant it. I got up, ran to him, and threw my arms around his gorgeous neck.
We kissed. So hard, hot, and sticky I thought he'd kick the door shut and take me right there.
Honestly, I wouldn't have resisted, so high on success I'd let him have anything, anywhere.
The unimaginable was happening. The club got richer thanks to me. I'd found something I was actually good at. Hauling in this kind of cash every night told me that maybe this life wasn't so strange after all – and just maybe, I could make it.
“Fuck, you taste good. What's all that for?” he asked, breaking the kiss reluctantly. His strong hands held on to me.
“I'm happy to see you, silly. It's been a great night for money. Meg and Skin are going to be really happy.”
He grunted. “Yeah, Skinny boy can use some of that shit after the kinda day we've had.”
I looked at him and cocked my head. He didn't elaborate.
Instead, he pushed me gently inside, shut the door, and sat in the chair across from Meg's desk. The normal office chair looked tiny with him filling it, and I couldn't help but smile.
It was either that, or think about everything that mountain he called a body did to me.#p#分页标题#e#
“Finish up. We've gotta hit the road.”
“Okay! We should stop by the store later. I'd like to pick up a few things for the place, especially now that we're both getting settled in.”
I didn't notice his face had darkened until I looked up. Those soft blue eyes were like icy stones. He had the same stare as the one when he'd knocked out Tony Pearson the other night.
“That's gonna have to wait, babe. We're staying at my sister's place for the next week or two, or however the fuck long it takes to wrap up important club biz.”
My fingers came to a dead stop on Meg's keyboard, logging the day's profits on the spreadsheet. What?!
“Sister? I didn't even know you had one! What business? What are you talking about, Firefly?”
“All the boys got into a bad fight with the Torches today. They came here, pissed off about your old man, looking for you. Prez shrugged them the fuck off. They tucked their tails and ran, but that shit won't last long. They're dangerous. Outta control. They'll be back. Means we're gonna deal with 'em on our own terms..”
“But I mean...our place...” I looked down at the dusty computer screen, my heart sinking. “Jesus, my work here...”
“Meg'll hear it soon. She'll work around it, have somebody cover your shifts 'til hell blows over. God willing, you'll only be outta commission for a little while.” He stood, crossed the small space to my desk, and put his hands down flat, gazing straight into my eyes. “No bullshitting, babe. I'm trying to save your life.”
I wanted to cry. Just when I'd started to relax, feel at home with him, and this strange, dirty underworld...
“What's the plan?” I said softly, wondering if I even wanted to know.
“Like I said, my sis is giving us her place for the next week or two. Hannah's a hotshot traveler for the banks, spends half the fuckin' year over in Switzerland or the Virgins or some shit. Her house is nice. Lot bigger than the apartment.”