Page 156 of Wicked Minds
“What makes you think I know someone like that? I’m just a lowly barkeep.” His tone is measured. Xander and I may be friends by association, but we’re not best buds. I know fuck all about his personal life and he knows crap about mine.
I snort. “Yeah, sure you are.” He arches a single eyebrow in challenge. “You think I haven’t noticed the fact that you’ve never once been bothered by the police? No unannounced drop-ins.No cops bursting in and busting any of us even thougheveryonearound here knowsexactlywhat goes on in here.”
His lips press into a thin line, but he remains silent.
“Or how about how you’ve always got good fighters? Men that belong on the circuit. Names thatmeansomething in certain circles. Who wouldn’t give a shit about some little bar out in the sticks.”
Still, silence.
“Look, man.” I sigh. “I don’t give a shit. You know I don’t care. But I could really use your help. You’d be doing me a solid, and saving a life in the process.”
Grayson’s wide eyes whirl on me, though I blatantly ignore him. He peppered me with questions the entire drive heredespiteme refusing to answer a single one. No fucking way am I reciting this twice. He can just wait until it’s the three of us, and I only have to say aloudoncethat I had to flirt with Riley’s bitch of a mom just so I could find out that the same bitch is trying to sell off her granddaughter to make a quick buck.
Xander’s lips flatten, his stare softening marginally. “Fuck, fine. I know someone who can get you what you want.”
“Thank you.” He nods, and I tack on, “I need the info quickly.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll reach out tonight, alright?”
With another nod and shake of his hand, Grayson and I follow him out of the office, declining his offer of a beer before we make our way through the busy warehouse to the door.
I tilt my chin at Roman, who is on the door tonight as we step outside, and he grunts a goodbye before we climb into my truck and drive off.
“Are you finally going to tell me what this is all about?” Grayson asks as I navigate the back road home.
I shake my head. “Not ‘til Logan is here too. I can only repeat this shit once.”
45
LOGAN
Riley is sound asleep in my arms when my phone lights up. I glance down at her, but she doesn’t stir. After showing her my community program—my single greatest achievement—and the two rounds of mind-blowing sex we had, we came back to hers. We crashed on the sofa, binge-watching TV until she passed out, and I tucked her into bed, climbing in beside her in case she had a nightmare.
Shifting my attention to the screen, I read Royce’s text.
Royce
Need you home first thing in the morning. Gotta talk.
Fuck, that can’t be good. The only reason I’m not asleep right now is because I was waiting to hear about how his meeting went tonight with Riley’s mom.
Absolutely nothing is making sense, and with Bertram up for parole, the last thing we need is Riley’s mom stirring up trouble—assuming that’s what she’s doing. I still maintain her postwas some weird sex thing. I mean, that’s what most people on Craigslist are after.
Me
Is this about tonight?
Royce
Yup.
I roll my eyes at his one-word answer. Man has such a way with words. Bet he has Riley swooning for him.
Royce
Is Riley sleeping okay?
I huff out a laugh. Dude is so fucking gone for our girl. And I’m totally okay with it. He could do with a bit of sunshine in his life, and Riley is the perfect fit for his stubborn broodiness.
