Page 92 of Riot

“You know, if you showed one ounce of kindness toward your employee, you might find they actually work more productively,” Callaghan offers.

Tag narrows his eyes, this could get ugly. The last thing we need is him up on assault charges and then Detective Asswipe will never be off our case. “Yeah, like you're not thinkin’ with your dick. She’s off limits, now beat it.”

Callaghan, to his detriment, is not deterred. “You take care now.” He gives me a chin lift as he turns to leave.

Tag and I stare after him until he disappears out the way he came.

“What was all that about?” I question.

“Beats me, but I’m gonna phone H.”

“No need,” Stella says. “I already texted him.”

Tag turns and heads her way, pointing his finger. “Don’t even think about it.”

She frowns. “Think about what?”

“Don’t give me that shit,” he barks. “Callaghan.”

“What about him?”

I try to interject, but Tag’s on a mission. “She’s got absolutely no interest in?—”

“Nobody’s askin’ you,” Tag grunts.

Stella sighs. “I don’t know who died and put you in charge of my life,Thomas,but I’m a grown ass woman and I can do what I want. I was being nice, that’s how I was raised. No point pissing off the detective who hates us anymore than we have to, right?”

“No cussin’” Tag warns. “H will be blamin’ me for your foul language when you get home.”

“I’m actually moving into the apartment above the bakery,” she tells us. “Indi hasn’t used it for ages, and Dad was weird about me moving out before I’d decided about college.”

“How you goin’ with all of that?” I ask. Obviously not good if she’s chosen to work here.

“Well, I’ve decided to take some night classes and get some experience here. I love industrial design, too, well, anything to do with the mechanics of how things work, but I’m not gonna go to college for however many years when I really want to?—”

“We don’t need your life story, woman.” Tag’s not exactly known for his verboseness, and his attention span at listening is even worse.

“Wow, someone’s cranky today, grumpy pants. How about I run out and get us some wraps for lunch and you’ll feel right as rain again.”

“That’s not because Callaghan’s still parked in the lot, is it?” I thumb behind me.

Tag scowls, looking over his shoulder. “Damn asshole.”

“Why do you hate him so much?” Stella asks. “He’s just doing his job. I mean, I know he snoops around, but he puts away the bad guys.”

I glance at her. “Sometimes we get into situations, Stell. And sometimes we have to put out the trash, that can lead back toany one of us. Your dad was in Mississippi and some shit went down.”

She folds her arms over her chest. “Shit like…?”

At least I’m glad she doesn't know all the details. The women of the club might talk, but they’re still wary of how much they tell Stella being she’s the baby of the women and Harlem being her pops.

“Like none of your business, woman. Now go grab those wraps.” Tag pulls out his wallet and shoves some money at her. “And an iced coffee.”

“Is there gonna be a thanks with that?”

He grumbles.

She holds a hand to her ear. “Sorry, a little louder, I didn’t quite catch that.”

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