Page 18 of Devil's Marker

“Texas, yeah. But I’m south Texas. Beaumont.”

“Well, then, you should know.”

Win nodded. “Looks like you’re doin’ alright for yourself.”

“Can’t complain. But like Joe Walsh said, sometimes I still do.” He chuckled.

“You were sayin’ somethin’ about potential trouble?”

“Well, it’s Saturday night. We got a celebration goin’ on tonight. Everybody’ll want to meet you.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Is it Saturday?”

Boss chuckled. “Yeah. A long haul will do that to ya. Get a shower and some sleep. Things’ll be lively ‘round here tonight.”

“Okay.”

“My pride and joy’ll be here. And about my daughter.”

“I know. Stay away from her.”

“I was gonna give you a courtesy heads up, but not ‘cause of what you’re thinkin’. I was gonna tell you that if you meet her and reach out to shake with your right hand, you’d better be clutchin’ your ball sack with your left. Girl don’t like bikers. At. All. She’s determined to marry a stockbroker or some such nonsense and wants nothin’ to do with our kind. She’ll tear you a new face. So, forgettin’ I’m her daddy, man to man, watch out. Consider yourself warned.”

That was a new one. Some woman’s father was tryin’ to protect Win from his daughter.

Huh.

“Her mama ran off when she was little. I think maybe she believes it was ‘cause of me. The life. Ya know? My little girl. She’s smart as a whip. Beautiful. Likes things her own way.” He seemed to snap out of a reverie. Standing he came round the desk to walk Win partway to the door. “Come out to the thing tonight. I’ll see you there. Introduce you around. Meantime, go on and tell Cue I said to get you set up proper.”

“Thanks, uh, Boss.”

He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”

Win turned and reached for the doorknob just as the door came crashing in and collided with his face. That was the first blow.

“Jesus, Daddy! It smells like zombies have been in here havin’ a cigar party. What is the matter with you? Even if you don’t give a damn about your health, this smoke…” She waved her hand in the air like that would make a difference before continuing the shouting. “And the smell is disgustin’, is hard on this museum quality work of art you have hangin’ in this beautiful office. Pearls before swine, I tell you.”

“Do not give me that pearls before swine shit. I’m your father, missy.” Boss matched her volume decibel for decibel.

“You may be my father, but if it wasn’t your birthday I’d kick your ass for this. I told that cocksucker, Cue, not to allow any cigars into this building.”

“You think you’re gonna interest some Wall Street dandy with a mouth like that, little girl?”

“You need to be more worried about what you’re puttin’ in your mouth than what I’m sayin’ with mine. You know damn well you’re not supposed to be smokin’ those fucking cigars.”

“It’s my birthday. I got a box of Havanas.”

She stopped still. When she spoke again, she spoke quietly, sounding every bit as dangerous as the biggest bad ass biker Win had ever encountered. “Where is it?”

“None. Of. Your. Business. You know what is your business?”

She narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“The man whose nose you just broke stormin’ in here without permission like I’m your little bitch.”

“Do not use that word around me, you toxic, smelly, fucking old biker.” She went still again as if she was replaying the last few sentences. “What?!?”

The second blow was when she turned around.

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