Page 92 of Ricochet

“I see your wheels turning.”

“They’re always turning.” But they were turning overtime right then and reminded her of the vague reference from Silvio that she didn’t understand. “If I’d heard that there was someone in the club double dipping, what would you think that meant?”

Hawke’s eyebrows arched, and his chin jutted at the bank statements. “This shit.”

“But not this.” She waved thefinancials away.

“Double dipping?” He steepled his fingers. “Drugs? But, hell, we’re almost done with the drug game. I can’t think of anyone stupid enough to stretch that headache out another couple years.”

“Not guns?” Lenora asked.

He pursed his lips. “How do you double dip weapons? It would be a lot harder, more noticeable.”

“True.”

They sat together, lost in their own thoughts before shecleared her throat and gathered her purse. “All right, if Tex isn’t here, I’ve got to roll.”

“Everything’s going to play out the way it’s going to. You know that, right?” Hawke pushed from his chair.

“You mean, when your assholes kill Adelia, you don’t want me acting like a bitch.”

“We have a code.”

She stood and faked a grin. “Mayhem never forgets. I get it, though I’m walking out of hereunderstanding less than I came in with.”

“Welcome to my world.” He walked her to the door, hanging his hand on the frame. “Where you off to now?”

“To visit an old client in federal lock-up.”

He grimaced. “Fun. Anyone I know?”

“You know everyone.”

Hawke agreed with a low laugh. “Give them my best.”

“Sure thing.” Though Hawke would take those words back if he had any idea she was headed togo sit down again with Mayhem’s first president and founder, one of the jerkiest jackasses she’d ever had the pleasure to take money from, Cullen Blackburn.

Cullen had very few selling points other than the fact he was Seven’s father. But now that Hawke had shown him funny bank accounts and Silvio talked about double dippers, he might be the only asshole with enough vision to see what she wasmissing. Lenora’s only problem now would be getting him to talk.

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