Page 77 of Jackal

Lacy’s eyes went wide. “Shh. Like I was saying,” she said as she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder, “he had a thing, and Eagle was there. So Lynx was ordered to drive us up. When we get there, we’re met with this guy in a suit who’s eyeing us like steaks.”

Daisy nodded in agreement, not cutting in this time.

Lacy continued. “So he does this weird kiss-our-hand thing, but he lingered too long, if that makes sense. But then Eagle came down the stairs and saw him holding my hand and shot him dagger eyes.”

“When was this?”

“Before you came and before their little break, break-up,whatever we’re calling it,” Daisy said.

“Well, I agree he’s creepy, but I thought something happened.”

Lacy shrugged. “Well, Daisy was taken to see Falcon, and I had to go sit with him and some other guys while we waited for them. Eagle eventually joined us again, but Petrov had me sit right by him and kept smiling and asking me questions. Eagle was grinding his teeth so bad I could hear it,” she said with a grin.

“Charming. So he’s a ‘boss’,” I said with air quotes, “and a tad skeevy, but nothing really happened? You guys never have good tea.”

Daisy chuckled and Lacy knocked back her beer.

“I’m going inside for a few. This humidity is killing me,” Lacy said as she stood.

Daisy and I followed her in, and we found Jeannie and Katie inside chatting. “There’s our bride-to-be!” Jeannie said before hustling to the bar. Sugar handed her a pile of things we’d stored back there for her.

Jeannie placed the faux tiara on Lacy’s head, then helped her put on a sash that said ‘Bride.’

“You guys, how sweet!” Lacy squealed.

I winked at Sugar, who I had spoken to about music earlier. We couldn’t go clubbing, but we could still give her the effect. The guys didn’t have to always have classic rock playing.

Love Shack came over the speakers and we all laughed, but then took to the open area and started dancing around. Coop moved the tables for us, and we took up the space, being silly, dancing, and drinking.

After a few songs, Mama Hen brought out a sheet cake and put it on the bar. Sugar lined up some birthday cake shots. She and Daisy had some beef, but she was nice to me and was a great mixologist.

I made sure Lacy had a shot, then the other ladies all grabbed one and Sugar rushed to make sure nobody’s hand was empty.I turned and gave her a look, but she seemed confused. “You too, hoe. Take a shot with us for Lacy. No woman left behind!” I shouted.

Sugar looked at Daisy, and for a moment, Daisy gave her stank eye. But then she grinned. “Pour a fucking shot, Sugar. C’mon!”

Sugar’s face lit up and she poured another. Mama Hen was beaming.

I lifted my shot. “Okay, okay, okay! Shh! To Lacy, may he always treat you like a queen, may his dick stay hard, and may his tongue keep working if it doesn’t,” I yelled over the party music.

Everyone laughed but raised their glasses and we all took our shots together. It was delicious. “Those are dangerous,” I said as I put the shot glass on the bar.

Sugar nodded as she collected the glasses. “Oh yeah. Too many of those and you’ll be buying Buicks.”

“You’ll what?” I asked, giggling.

Daisy grabbed my shoulder. “You know, that sound when you puke your guts up. Buick, Buick, Buick!”

My face twisted. “Oh, gross. I’ll never be able to look at a Buick again without thinking about that!”

Mama Hen was cutting the cake when Falcon came in and grabbed a chair, pulling it to the middle of the floor. We glanced around, wondering what he was doing. This was supposed to be our girls’ night.

But Falcon gripped Lacy’s shoulders and guided her to the chair. Daisy was right there, trying to get his attention, but he pulled out his phone as Lacy was seated, then tucked it away before he grabbed Daisy and walked back to the bar.

Jackal came in and stood by me, and then a few more guys followed him in. Lacy was sitting in the chair, asking Falcon what she was supposed to do with her hands up, confused.

I was confused, too. That was until Eagle came bursting insideand ran up on her like Magic Mike.

He started dancing around her, albeit a tad awkwardly, but we all cheered and some of the men whistled and hooted.

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