“Can’t get in the club so don’t know her take, but my guess, yeah,” Roam replied.
Why would a dancer be giving this guy her tip money?
“He’s got somethin’ on ‘em,” Sniff answered my question and I focused on him. “Don’t know what and Roam only saw that one hand over her cash, but that’s what we reckon.”
“You see these women do anything else?” I asked. “Anything that he might be making them do? Anything that he might be holding over them?”
I got two negative shakes.
Crap.
“You want us to stay on ‘em?” Sniff asked.
“Only if Shirleen knows you’re doing it and she’s cool with that,” I answered.
They looked at each other then they looked at me.
Sniff grinned.
Roam looked focused.
But I knew from their reactions that Shirleen would say it was okay. Then again, she was raising badasses who she would prefer used their badassness for good rather than evil, so she wouldn’t say no.
I lifted my hand and waved it out in a “move along” gesture. “Go forth, get permission, keep your eyes on these girls and report in to me frequently. If you don’t already have it, get my number from Shirleen.”
This got me nods.
“And keep Darius in the loop,” I added.
More nods.
“Thanks, guys,” I finished.
Another grin from Sniff. A chin jerk from Roam.
Jeez.
Roam chin jerking.
Save me.
They took off.
I hit the bar.
I’d just downed my tequila shooter when an arm wrapped around my belly from behind, a pair of lips touched my neck and my man’s voice sounded in my ear, “Havin’ fun?”
I turned in the curve of his arm, looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah. You?”
“Mm-hmm,” he mumbled and his eyes slid down to my chest. “Best part is watchin’ you in this dress.”
It was a wedding, but still, I went clingy, baring and sexy.
It was my way.
This time though, not black. Lavender
“I aim to please,” I told him.
“You do well,” he replied.
I smiled.
He bent in and touched his lips to mine.
“Herb!” we heard snapped (loudly) from across the yard.
Good news.
Trish felt the need for round two.
Leaning into Ren, I turned my attention to the Midwestern contingent of our posse just as Tex boomed, “Jesus Jones, woman, leave him be!”
“Ugh! Why am I surprised? You men stick together!” Trish shouted back.
“My people are Italian, loud and fuckin’ crazy,” Ren whispered to me. “And still, your people beat mine by a mile.”
I looked up at him. “I know. Aren’t we lucky?”
