Page 15 of Deadly North

“Jesus Christ.” Gigi shakes her head. “Assholes attract assholes, I guess.”

“Hey,” I protest. “That’s not a very nice thing to say about your cat.”

But Gigi has turned away in disgust. She doesn’t bother saying goodnight, just flees down the hall toward her bedroom.

“I guess she doesn’t wanna talk about it anymore,” I tell Tedward. He chirps in agreement.

I hang out with the cat for a few more minutes, until he decides to jump off the couch and follow Gigi into her bedroom. Removing my cut, I drape it across the back of a chair, then pull my wallet, phone, and keys out of my pockets. I keep my gun on me, until I can get Gigi’s front door fixed tomorrow morning.

My phone buzzes on the side table with a text. It’s, Fury, asking for a status update. I tell him everything’s copacetic over here and that Gigi’s gone to bed. Tossing the phone back on the table and go to find the bathroom so I can take a leak. Just as I get to the bathroom, the door opens and she comes out of it. She’s in an oversized T-shirt that stops just below her ass, and nothing else. She looks cute, and sleepy, and goddamnit if she doesn’t look sexy as hell.

Gigi startles when she sees me. “Sorry,” she mumbles. Her breath smells like mint toothpaste.

“No need,” I reply, my voice sounding thick in my ears. “G’night.”

“Night.” Gigi turns away from me and walks quickly down the hall, giving me a view of her naked legs and the curve of her ass under her shirt that gets my cock’s immediate attention. She disappears into her bedroom and slams the door behind her.

I let out a soft groan.Fuck. Now I’m gonna have that image in my head the whole night.

I suppress the urge to jack off in her bathroom — hey, even I’m not that much of a pig. But taking a leak ends up being a little more effort than I expected it to be. I’m still half-hard as I do a quick perimeter check and make sure all the doors and windows are locked. I push an easy chair in front of the front door so I’ll be able to hear if anyone tries to push it open.

Then, stretching out on the couch, I pull Gigi’s grandma’s quilt over me and try to get some rest.

First thing in the morning,a couple of our club brothers arrive to fix Gigi’s door. She stays in her room for the whole thing. When they’re finished and gone, she still hasn’t come out. It seems pretty clear she’s avoiding me. I decide to give her a break. Now that her door can lock again, I’ll set myself up in my truck outside her house, instead of hanging out in here.

I go to her bedroom door and rap on it a couple times with a knuckle. “Hey. You awake in there?”

“Just a minute,” her muffled voice replies.

“Don’t worry about coming out,” I call back. “Just wanted to let you know the front door’s fixed. I’m gonna head out to my truck. I’ll leave my number on your kitchen counter. Text me or call me if you need anything.”

The door opens a crack. Gigi pokes her head out, looking bed-rumpled and gorgeous. I get a tight feeling in my chest, for some reason, seeing her that way.

“Did you get anything to eat?” she asks. “Any breakfast?”

“I made some coffee. There’s still over half a pot left for you, if you want it.”

Gigi screws up her face in a look of concern. “You’re not going to eat anything, though?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve got some beef jerky in the truck. Don’t sweat it.”

Gigi looks like she wants to say something more, but seems to think better of it. She pulls her head back inside and closes the door. I go back into the kitchen and rummage around in her cupboards until I find a travel mug. I fill the mug half-full and snap the lid on. I didn’t sleep much last night, so I’ll probably need it.

Outside, I start up my truck and do a U-turn, parking it across the street and one house down. I want to keep Gigi safe, but I also don’t want to make my presence to obvious. I’d rather catch these motherfuckers in the act if I can.

Surveillance work is dull as hell, so I settle in for the wait. She mentioned she’s not working today, so I’m expecting to be here for a while. I eat a stick of beef jerky and drink the coffee. I turn on my radio from time to time to catch the news or break up the monotony. I play a couple mindless games on my phone. The only time I leave is to take a leak in some bushes. When the beef jerky isn’t cutting it anymore, I call one of our prospects and have him bring me some fast food. I get a text from Gigi, asking if I’m okay out here. I reply that I am, and ask her if she’s okay. She doesn’t answer.

The light is fading at the end of the day. I’m still in the truck. Gigi still hasn’t left the house. Just when I think we might get through the day without incident, my phone buzzes.

I think I saw someone out at the edge of the backyard

Stay in the house. I’ll go check

Before I can get out of the truck, a loud crash echoes from the back of Gigi’s property. I’m out in a flash, gun drawn. My legs are pumping hard as I round the corner at the back of the house. There’s no one in the yard, but as I look back toward the house, I see a rock-shaped hole in one of the back windows. I rush inside to see Gigi standing in her kitchen, visibly shaken but unharmed.

She’s staring down at the rock about the size of a cantaloupe.

Whoreis written on it, in what looks like magic marker.

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