Page 27 of Petty's Crime

I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he’s reduced me to a nervous wreck, and I’m determined to go on stage tonight and sing.

Petty’s loquaciousness seems to end as he takes a seat on the chair and starts scrolling through his phone. I’m quite happy to continue without a conversation that leaves me on edge, not quite certain what he’s getting at, or how he thinks.

I shower and get into the swing of my normal routine. I’m on time when Petty escorts me down to the car and we drive to the club.

Petty surveys the surroundings before allowing me out of the car, then walks close alongside as we approach the rear entrance. More than ever I realise how vulnerable I am, and I breathe a heavy sigh of relief when I step over the threshold and the security door snicks shut behind.

“You’ve been crying.” Kylie greets me with her accusation as soon as I open the dressing room door. She eyes Petty pointedly. “Well, I suppose your peace didn’t last long and I can see you have something to cry about.”

I snort back a laugh while Petty ignores her. Instead, he pushes in and starts checking around, going into the attached bathroom and sliding the shower curtain back.

“I already checked it,” Kylie calls out with an exaggerated roll of her eyes.

But I’m just pleased, knowing now Petty’s not just checking for a lurking assailant, but for anything one might have left behind.

When he’s satisfied and has stepped out to position himself outside the door, Kylie waves her hand at my eyes.

“So what’s got you upset? Is it Petty?” The last she says in a loud stage whisper.

Her accusatory pointed glare at the closed door puts me in a better humour and I chuckle as I take my seat in front of the mirror. As she starts applying my makeup, I give her the shortened version. “Saul escalated matters. He came to my house and left snakes inside.”

Her hands stop in midair. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Nope.” When she goes to speak, I wave into the mirror to get her attention.

Her mouth works and she swallows a couple of times, as though she’s lost for words. Eventually she finds some. “Snakes? Alive?”

I wish they’d been dead. “Alive, yeah. Rattlesnakes. My living room was covered in them.”

“Oh my,” she squeaks, then shakes her head. “You call the cops?”

I shrug. “No point. Even if they believe Saul’s behind it, they won’t be able to find him. No one can.”

“So that’s why dark, handsome and obnoxious is back? Because your ex has again raised his head? I thought he was taking some personal time to reconnect with his wife?”

Inwardly I grimace. I feel guilty about that. I’ve presumably taken Petty away from what should be his happy reconciliation time. But it’s Red, their president, who decides who to send. If Petty needs to blame anyone, that’s the direction his finger should point.

“I presume Red called him back in,” I reply. “Because the other bikers were tied up removing reptiles from my house.”

Pausing, holding a handful of my hair, Kylie looks thoughtfully at my reflection. Her mouth quirks. “And he hasn’t any other hotties to assign?”

I snort. “When I see him next, I’ll ask if he can put all of them on rotation.” I grin at her in the mirror. “But I get first dibs, remember?”

She pouts. “I’m always the fucking bridesmaid.”

“Look, how about I put them through their paces, then I can give you the rundown of who’s worth going for?”

We both know casual sex is something I don’t do, but Kylie plays along, sighing dramatically.

“You would be saving me a heap of trouble. I mean, who wants to go to bed with someone who can’t bring his A game?” She pauses, then asks with a gleam in her eyes, “Did you put Cobra through his paces?”

Our heads turn in unison at the growl coming from the other side of the door.

Grinning widely, I respond, “I certainly did.” The growl turns to a bark.

“And?” Kylie prompts, smothering her laughter.

As the door handle starts to turn, I give her the details. “He can make really good coffee.”

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