Page 45 of Illicit

“Possessive,” he mutters. “Even more interesting.”

“Wouldn’t you be?” I throw back.

“The only thing I’m possessive about is cold, hard cash. Pussy can be replaced. If you want, I can prove how easily. You can have your pick of the litter.”

I’m not sure how much more bullshit I’ve got in me to give. Bringing Teagan here was a mistake. No case is worth this, and definitely no stranger is worth it either. Not when I just got her back.

I feel my cell vibrate in my pocket. I have every notification on silent other than one. The only one that matters.

Phone numbers are captured and downloaded. We can get the hell out and hope that we can find Heath Hayes the old-school way. Nothing will make Taylor happier.

“I’m done.” I put my hands to Teagan’s slim waist and we both stand at the same time. “You know what we want and how to get hold of me. I’m willing to pay, but I’m also a busy man. Don’t waste my time, Robichaux. It pisses me off.”

Jules juts to his feet, dumps the butt of his smoke to the floor and twists the toe of his boot on it. “Twenty grand.”

Teagan is smart enough not to gasp or agree and lets me negotiate. But she does fit herself to my side as she keeps her mouth shut.

“Fuck that,” I bite. “I’m not asking you to fly him home in a private jet. I’m asking for a location. Five Gs.”

For the first time since I laid eyes on him, Jules actually smiles and huffs a laugh. “You don’t fucking know who I am.”

“Everyone knows who you are,” I spit. “But handing over a location on the globe is easy shit. Take the cash and move on.”

He crosses his arms and is lasered in on me now. “You’re right. Everyone knows who I am. Why is it that no one in my circle knows who you are? I’ve asked around.”

The cell vibrates again. Teagan feels it too since it’s sandwiched between us.

I need to get this shit done. “Open your eyes, Robichaux. You think a lot of yourself, but your circle is not that big.”

A commotion comes from behind me. Someone just won big, and someone else just lost bigger. Everyone wants to know when the girls will be back so the party can move to the next level.

If I’ve ever had a cue to exit, it would be that.

Jules rolls his eyes at the poker table. All of a sudden, he looks like he wants to wrap this up as much as I do. “Ten. That’s my last offer. You put up the cash, I’ll tell you where your woman’s pawpaw is. Take it or leave it. I don’t want to ever see you again.”

I lift my chin. “You’ll hear from me tomorrow with a time and address. I’ll have your cash.”

“Get out,” Jules demands.

As if he’ll get an argument from me.

I turn Teagan, and we head for the door. She never lets go of me. When we make our way through the crowded bar and hit the front door, fresh air has never tasted so good, which is fucked because that doesn’t come close to the tensest situation I’ve ever been in.

I shift Teagan to my other side and grasp her hand so I can get to my cell. She has to double time it to keep up with me but stays close.

“Ten thousand dollars?” she hisses. “How are we going to come up with that amount of money?”

“Not now,” I order in a low voice.

Taylor answers on the first ring. “We’ve got eyes on you. You’re good. No one’s following yet. But we’re curious how you’re going to get the boss to fork over ten K for something that isn’t a drug buy.”

I look around and pull Teagan into a mass of people who were waiting on traffic to cross the street. “I’ve got a plan. Just make sure we’re not being followed.”

“You’re good,” Taylor says. “I’ve got two cars ready to follow you. Take the long way home just to be sure. We’ll meet first thing in the morning. I can’t wait to see how you’re going to talk the boss into this.”

“I’m not worried,” I lie and disconnect the call without saying goodbye. Teagan picks up her pace as we cross to my car.

I beep the locks and open the passenger door for her, but she doesn’t get in. She turns to me. “Is everything okay?”

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