Page 43 of Petty's Crime

The idea of being with RoseLyn, of pretending to be someone special to her for even a few hours is both exhilarating and frightening at the same time, and I don’t understand why. All I know is I can’t do it.

“No, Prez. I’m not right. There must be someone else.”

Red barks a laugh. “I’m trying to think who’s got experience of anything other than fucking and am coming up short. You’re married, Petty. You must have dated and wooed Britney before you put a ring on her finger. I’m sure you must remember how that shit works.”

And look how well that worked out.But I can’t deny he’s right. I was the perfect suitor when it came to Britney, and she pulled me in hook, line and sinker. Enough so I was never going to show a vulnerable side to any woman ever again.

Now I fuck ‘em and leave ‘em. Far less complicated. But he’s reminded me of another excuse, the one I actually should have started with. “I’m married. Britney wouldn’t like it.”

“I’m not a fool, Petty.” Red’s laser eyes focus on me. “Britney might have convinced us she’s the perfect woman, but you’ve made it clear you’re holding yourself back. You’re off kilter with Britney back in your life, and have admitted you sleep on the couch and feel trapped in that apartment.” He pauses and his mouth twists. “Can understand it. You had no time to get your head around the idea of her coming back. Maybe some distance for a couple of days might help you get your head straight and decide what you really want.”

I’m all for a time-out, but not in this circumstance. “And you think Brit would be okay with me pretending to be another woman’s boyfriend?” I can just imagine how that conversation would go with her.

Red slams his fist on the table. “She doesn’t have to know what you’re doing. Club fuckin’ business and none of hers. And I’m not asking you to get your dick wet. Just telling you to act friendly in front of RoseLyn’s parents.” He continues to stare me down. “Your woman got a problem with the club and the work you do for it?”

She’s got a problem when it comes to RoseLyn, but he’s right, I needn’t tell her that’s where I’m going. All I need to tell Britney is this is club business.

But I don’t evenlikeRoseLyn. How can I pretend to be in love with her? She’s not my type.She’s got a great ass, and that voice when she sings…Pity she won’t be singing her way to Texas, then we might have a chance.

I’ll be away from Britney.

“I don’t know if RoseLyn will accept the suggestion.” I’m weakening and Red knows it.

“She will if you do your job right and persuade her.”

I look down at my hands. How can I convince RoseLyn to go home to her parents and take me along with her as a pretend suitor? How could we possibly make it work?

“You gonna let me down, or you gonna do this?”

I won’t let my prez down. I can’t. After inwardly grimacing at Britney’s probable reaction if she ever finds out the truth about where I’m disappearing to, I raise my chin toward my prez. “I’ll do it.”

But how to persuade RoseLyn?

I decide to enlist help.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

RoseLyn

Avery unladylike snort laugh makes me reach for a tissue and blot my nose. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I chuckle again waiting for Bart to join in, but my manager just watches me quietly. A kernel of warning settles inside me. “You can’t be serious.” I feel my eyes opening wide.

Bart grimaces. “I don’t know what else to do, RoseLyn. It’s costing us a fortune to keep all this security going. Something’s got to give, and it doesn’t seem likely it’s going to be your ex. If there’s anything that can help, then we’ve got to do it.” He breaks off and rubs his forehead.

“By getting me out of the way and using a decoy to catch him.” That’s the first thing I have to process, and perhaps the easiest part to understand. “I don’t like it, Bart. It’s putting another woman in danger—”

“She’s one of their kind. She knows the risk in that life.” My jaw drops, as Bart shrugs. “The Devils are hardly choir boys.”

“You thought their contract was a good one.”

“It was cheap,” he cries. “You needed protection, and it seemed to work out. But we can’t ignore their reputation.”

“I don’t like the thought of a woman putting her life on the line.”

“Better her than you,” he snarls. He visibly calms himself down, and his tone grows more reasonable. “They think by controlling the situation they’ll keep her safe, and they’ll catch Saul and end this thing once and for all.”

Or Saul might be enraged if he finds he’s being toyed with by a girl wearing a wig and pretending she’s me.

Breathing in deeply, I offer an alternative. “If you’ve got so much confidence in them being able to control the narrative, then why use a decoy? Why not use me?”

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