Page 60 of Triple Threat

This was not the time.

Plus, her cleavage was flawless, and I found it hard to be nasty to a woman so artfully assembled.

“Le Generale is most pleased with your quality of work. Very thorough. Very effective,” she nodded. I gestured, and the bartender brought me a second glass of the battleship gin, and one for her. She picked up the glass, swirled it, and delicately sniffed it. She smiled.

“It is very good, especially if you like gin,” I offered her a toast. She clinked her glass against mine. “To missions done and cheques cleared.”

“Very much yes,” she said.

“I will admit that we rarely ever do follow-up consultations.” I gave her a small nod.

“I imagine that your employers seldom ever have anything to complain about,” she said, taking the first sip. She pursed her lips and made a pleased sound.

“I certainly hope there are no complaints,” I said, giving her another one of my high-wattage smiles.

“You are correct, there are no complaints,” she said. “Rather,le Generaleis so pleased with the quality of your work he wants to offer you more.”

“My associate and I are open to new opportunities.” I took another sip.

“That is most excellent.” She smiled. “Le Generalewould like to bring you and your associate into the fold. You are brisk, efficient, thorough, and by his tastes, accordingly cruel when the case calls for it.”

“Cruel?” I asked.

“He quite enjoyed what you did to Reese, with the wire and how he was left to hang until death. He never liked that one and was actually pleased when the younger split from the elder. He was given a free hand to dispose of the prodigal son while keeping the faithful father.”

One of the other attractions of the Tobacconist were the match girls. These waitresses strolled through the business carrying a tray loaded with matches, lighters, and samples of some of the house goods, and other small things that the dapper visitor might require. I knew from past experience that there was a compartment on the bottom of the tray that had condoms.

She smiled at the two of us, her hat jauntily askew, and her uniform vintage burlesque inspired. Roan would be in fucking love with this place, it was so much his vibe. Kaijin picked one of the sample Cubans from the tray. She gave me a dragon’s smoldering eye, so I picked up one of the silver case lighters and flicked it to life.

She let me light her short cigar and the way she looked up at me, her cheeks pulling in and her lips on the tip could not have been less subtle. What was she willing to do to get me to give her a yes? Given the look on her face I was fairly certain that if I said yes to whatever her offer was, I could probably have every inch of her.

And that she would very precisely remember everything and when the time was right, she would extract her pound of flesh in retribution. It might be worth it, if she was as skilled at what she was insinuating with the cigar.

“Are you offering us a retainer?” I asked, picked up one of my own samples from the tray. I knew this would be expensive, but we had been very well paid. I lit my own and gave it a few puffs. It was sharp and acrid, and it took most of my self-control to not immediately start coughing it back out.

Tear gas training made suppressing cigar smoke easy.

“More than a retainer,” she said, smoke forming a halo around her head. “An invitation to join the Cartel Escadrille.”

“To join?” I asked.

“Yes, following the elimination of the disloyal members of the Cartel we have openings, and an idea to reorganize. Considering how much we paid you, you can correctly assume that you stand to make drastically more money.”

“My partner and I are freelancers; we don’t join anyone’s personal crusades or factions.” I gave her a slight bow.

“This is not an offer you want to reject,” she said, her eyes narrowed.

“I find it deeply difficult to a beautiful woman no,” I said.

“Then don’t. Mister Lachlan, don’t,” she said. Her tone was half sex and half menace.

“Gwendolyn,” I said. “I can talk this over with my partner, but I already know the answer. We are independent contractors. We have done short-term retainers, but that’s all.”

“You should talk this over with your partner. I can offer you many different incentives, beyond financial opportunities.” Her fingernails were long, exquisitely lacquered, and there were animals on them, but her fingers moved too fast and I couldn’t make them out. The craftsmanship was as flawless as the rest of her.

I prayed that she had some elaborate Yakuza style tattoos across her body, that would make it perfect.

“We appreciate the offer, but very politely decline,” I said. “Can I get you another drink?”

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