Page 29 of Devil's Marker

“R.C. What the fuck? You haven’t been here two days in a row since you were six,” Boss said.

Cue leaned into Win. “Just wait it out. This is nothin’ unusual. The two of them like to fight. With each other, I mean.”

She went from cool as ice to fuming in less than three seconds. “Yesterday I forgot to grab the cigars that idiot gave you.”

“What idiot?”

“Whichever one of these numbskulls gave you cigars. That idiot.”

Cue shook his head. “Feel sorry for the man she settles on.”

Win smiled.

“Ya know someday somebody’s gonna teach you a lesson. You can’t talk to grown men like that.”

She stepped forward and put her hands on her hips. “Show me some grown men and I’ll take that under consideration.”

Win barked out a laugh at that, which caused everybody in the room, including Boss and R.C., to turn and stare at him.

“Do not encourage her,” Boss said in a tone more serious than he’d heard used before.

“Yes, sir,” Win said automatically.

Boss looked back at R.C. and narrowed his eyes. “You do not have permission to touch my cigars, missy. But since you’re here, you can make yourself useful.” Her face fell into a gape. “New member here,” he indicated Win with his thumb, “from SoCal. Came with what he could carry, which means he needs to go shoppin’ for clothes and stuff. Take him to get what he needs in your car.”

“What?!?” She added indignation to incredulity.

“You heard me.”

“No,” she said flatly, shaking her head. She looked at Win, then back to her father.

“No?” Boss asked quietly.

“Got stuff to do.”

“Yeah. You do. I just gave it to you.”

“I mean…”

“I know what you mean. Take a look at the man. It’s the least you could do.”

She huffed out a breath, looked at Win and said, “Get in the car.”

She started toward the door. When she got there, she turned and saw that Win hadn’t moved. “Didn’t you hear me?”

“I did,” he said, turning back to his beer.

“What’s the problem?” she said to his back.

“Only one person in this room I take orders from. And it’s not you.”

Boss turned his back to his daughter and grinned broadly at the onlookers.

“I can’t make him come, Pop,” she complained, still standing by the door. Snickers traveled all around the members at the double entendre. “Oh for Christ’s sake,” she said, “grow the fuck up.”

Boss turned back to R.C. “If I were you, I’d invite Mr. Garrett to take a ride.”

She blew out an exasperated breath. “Mr. Garrett. Would you care to take a ride?”

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