Page 16 of Harley

“In order for our silence, you owe us a marker,” Marsha stated.

That was her mistake. Marsha shouldn’t have reminded me.

I grinned. “Think again. Each of your men owes me and the prospects a lot of markers. Now I can ensure my markers aren’t used for anything too terrible, or I can guarantee they are used for something really awful.”

Marsha glowered. Her attempt at blackmail had backfired. I got to my feet, smirked, and ducked Marsha’s slap.

“Do we have an agreement?” I asked.

The women nodded.

“Watch your back, Harley. Revenge is a bitch,” Marsha warned.

I laughed. “Marsha, the biggest one is my mother!”

Marsha tilted her hand from left to right. “Lindsey, Artemis, and Autumn would give her a run for her money. Let alone Casey and Irish.”

“True point,” I said, laughing. “Night, ladies. Have a nice evening.”

I hauled the two carts to the cashier and paid. Luckily, my blacksmithing earned good money, or this would have hurt. A shop assistant helped me get the bags into an Uber back to the hotel. I couldn’t carry this haul through the streets.

A member of staff saw me being dropped off and grabbed a trolley to help me take everything up to Oakley’s room.

Oakley was relaxing on the bed when I let myself in. The staff wheeled the trolley in, I tipped him and sent him on his way.

“What have you bought?” Oakley gasped, sitting up.

“Don’t blame me. I ran into three of the old ladies, and they went crazy. Then Marsha arrived, and you ended up with a cart of toiletries and shit. Let’s get some food, as I’m starving, and then we’ll put this lot away. The hotel offers laundry service, so I’ll have your items cleaned.

“That’s a good plan. Especially the underwear, who knows what pervs have touched it!” Oakley said, and I scowled.

That idea pissed me right off. I grabbed the bag of lingerie and called down to reception to arrange the laundry.

“That took care of that. Could we order some food? I’m hungry,” Oakley asked.

“Why didn’t you get anything?”

“Because I guessed you were coming back, and it was rude.”

That was kind of sweet of her. Mom would love those manners. I checked what Oakley wanted and then called down with our orders.

“I’ve got two brothers, Gunner and Klutz, coming to meet you tonight,” I said as Oakley began rummaging through the bags.

She was admiring a wool dress that Vivie had picked and froze before turning to me. “What?”

“I’ll come in the morning and night to clean your feet. But I can’t do the noon or five o’clock check. And looking at your feet now, they need re-wrapping. There’s blood and puss on the bandages.” I deftly unwrapped her feet and winced. “These need lancing again. There are spots where the infection has built up,” I said.

Oakley drew her feet up and away from me and shook her head.

“Nope, not doing that without them being numb,” she replied.

“Oakley, we must get the infection out; we can’t let it fester.”

“But last time, it stank so bad,” she muttered, eyeing me balefully.

“Yeah, but better out than in. Let’s get it over with, and then we can eat. I think if we do it after food, you might be sick.”

Oakley glared at me as she hugged the dress but slid her feet towards me.

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