Page 99 of Bad Boy Next Door
“Keag—”
“Just hear me out, okay?”
“Keagan!” Angel stumbled into my brother—more like tripped—and fell into his arms. “Did you come to see me dance?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Keagan answered while setting Angel more solidly back on her feet.
“Really?” She rubbed her tits against him. “Wanna go out back? I’ll do whatever you want, Keagan. For free.” She looked up toward the window in front of Stan’s office. “Nick will cover for me. Right, Nick?” Her eyes widened. “Or we can have a threesome!” Her hand gripped the back of Keagan’s neck, and she rubbed his chest with the other.
“Sorry, Angel. We’re both off the market.” Keagan took her hand off his neck and put a few inches of space between their bodies.
“You want to go, Nick?” Angel asked me. “Or you still fucking that Jade bitch?”
“I’m totally off the market.” My chest warmed just thinking about Jade. So did my dick.
“But you’re single, Keagan.” Angel pouted.
“Sorry, Angel. Got a girlfriend. If she found out I was even talking to someone as hot as you…” He shook his head.
“Angel.” Melodie joined us and took the other dancer’s hand. “Come on. Your set is next.” Melodie winked at me as she pulled Angel away.
“That true?” I asked.
“What?”
“You got a girlfriend?”
“Nah.” Keagan chuckled. “Hell’s gonna freeze over before I get tied down.” He leaned back against the wall. “You’re happy. I see that, but too many girls, too little time. That’s my motto.”
And the motto fit. It was hard to imagine Keagan with a full-time girlfriend. I’d never seen him with the same woman more than twice, maybe three times.
“So what’s up?” I asked. “I know you didn’t come to see the show.”
“Got that right. Although…” He looked up to the stage as Angel stepped onto it. “If Angel stopped doing drugs…” He whistled an exhale. “Gotta admit. She’s pretty fucking hot.”
“They’re all hot.” I shrugged. “What’s going on?”
Keagan pushed off the wall, then checked the hallway to the entrance, making sure no one was listening. “Job’s on. Tonight. Be at the Oakland docks, four a.m.”
I shook my head. “How many ways do I have to say no?”
“Look.” Keagan leaned in, his hand on my shoulder. “It’s low risk with a six-figure payoff—foreachof us—but if you want to be stubborn…” He shook his head. “We can pull it off with four, just leaves the Ferro entrance unguarded.”
“That’s all you need me for? A lookout?”
“If that’s what you want, sure. I’ll play the muscle guy for Shane’s connect and shift Mac to the gate.”
My stomach tightened. The idea that my absence would leave my brothers exposed—four guys on a five-man job—that they might get hurt, or arrested… “I dunno, Keag. You know how I feel about this.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “It’s all good, Nicky. Just wanted to give you one last chance. I talked to my guy in Local 886, and he confirmed Shane’s intel. All the containers coming off that ship are rich, easily a half mil in electronics in each.”
“I have to tell you”—he drew a long breath—“when I heard that, I had to catch myself. Tempting to go for more than one, you know? Can you imagine? Millions. We’d be set for life.”
Raising his eyebrows, he shook his head. “Doesn’t pay to get greedy. The guys Shane’s double-crossing are doing all the risky shit. All we need to do is nab the truck at the gate. Should be cake.”
I watched the club floor for a while, glad to see that Tonya and Jenni had worked out their differences, both serving drinks at the moment.
This would be the first big job my brothers had done without me. As badly as I wanted out, it felt strange, and if they got hurt or caught I’d feel like shit. Keagan’s plans were always airtight. His five-man plan was probably flawless.
“Will we see you?” Keagan broke the silence.
“I need to think.” I couldn’t believe I was considering caving.
“Well, think fast, little brother. Text me by three if you’re in.” Giving me a hug, he whispered, “We need you, Nick. Just one last time.”
