Page 231 of Back in the Saddle

Once the door closed, Persia advised, “You gotta give ’em room to swing their dicks.”

“Even if they don’t know you’re givin’ ’em room,” Genesis chimed in.

“They’ll think they claimed the space.” That was Skyla. “They never figure out you cleared it for them.”

“You got Javi, you got Titus, you tapped a direct vein to the street, bitch,” Jinx said. “You get that, you play the game the way they make the rules.”

I didn’t like being left out, but I took in their wisdom.

Then I sipped my martini.

Genesis did too, before she said, “Girl, I don’t know what kinda magic you got.” She lifted her martini glass. “I mean, it’s vodka and olive juice, so how can it go wrong? But you make it so,soright.”

“Thanks, sister,” I said.

“I’m feeling peckish,” Persia announced. “I hope, while those boys go kick ass, Titus lets us order a pizza.”

“Indian,” Genesis put in.

“Shit, now I want both,” Persia complained.

I wondered how our chicken was doing in the Crockpot.

I wondered how Henny was doing all by himself in a new space.

I wondered if Homer was hanging in there.

A vision of the last time I saw Homer outside his tent assaulted my brain, and a sharp stab of pain went through it.

The door opened, and I peered over the back of the couch to see Titus entering, and Eric, hand on the door handle, torso swung in, eyes on me.

“We’re moving out,” Eric said.

I stood again. “I need to go with you.”

Eric did a slow blink along with his brows going up, but he said nothing.

“Homer might need me when you get him out.” I shook my head. “No. He’s going to need me, Turner. I don’t want to go in, but I want to be close.”

“Babe, we’re putting together an approach on the fly, and we’re gonna need every man.”

“Just close. A block away. I’ll be safe. I won’t move a muscle, I swear. You can call me when you’re done.”

“You’re not anywhere near unless we have a man on you, and all we got is Tex and Duke, and it’ll take either of them at least half an hour to get here, and you know, we don’t have that time.”

“I’ll take her,” Titus said.

I whipped around to him, nearly spilling martini, and gave him a happy smile.

“No offense, man, but I just met you,” Eric said.

“None taken. I’d feel the same if she was my baby. So understand, I’ll take care of her like she’s mine,” Titus retorted.

Luna stood. “One goes, we all go.”

Raye stood. “Angels unite.”

Harlow stood. “There’s gonna be a bunch of homeless people who are gonna need a soft touch, so we all have to go.”

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