Page 23 of Pitbull
“All I’m trying to say is, at least with Claudia you can make amends.”
He leveled his eyes on her and Anke couldn’t help shivering.
“Let me make you some dinner,” Anke said. “It’s the least I can do.”
“You’re going to cook?”
“I can too cook!” Anke was incredulous. “I mean, sure it won’t be gourmet but I know my way around a kitchen.”
Pitbull smiled. It was the first time he’d directed that beautifully, warm ray of sunshine toward her. She took it, memorized the way his eyes danced, the deepness of his dimples and stored it in the back of her mind.
“I’ll find what I need—now, git.”
“Okay.” He headed toward the living area. “I’m not saying I don’t believe you. But just in case, there’s a fire extinguisher—”
“Daniel Hunt! Out!”
Pitbull smirked.
Anke knew for sure she needed a change of panties.
While he waited for dinner,Pitbull sat in his office with his phone on speaker. It was late by then and he figured the others were either sleeping or spending time with the loves in their lives. Beast had Miracle, Barbie had Crash and he remembered Zero was seeing a woman from Bonn. Mouth, on the other hand—well, he seemed to be the lonely one. He hadn’t been with anyone for as long as Pitbull had known him.
Pitbull spun the gold cross around in his hand, staring at it as though he thought it would give him the answers he needed. But the more he stared at it, the more blank space opened up inside his mind.
His ringing phone pulled him from his head and he reached for it without thinking. “Yeah?”
“It’s Tex.”
“Hey. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
“I swear, you and Mel are sharing a brain today.”
Pitbull laughed. “I consider that a compliment, my friend.”
Tex chuckled.
“Listen, I found something out today and it worries me.”
“Oh yeah? You wanna share?”
“I’m going to come in tomorrow to brief the others but…” Pitbull glanced toward the door to ensure he was still alone. “There’s a bounty on Claudia’s head.”
“The hell you say!”
“I don’t know what for and I don’t know who started it. But, Tex…”
“This is bad—very,verybad.” Tex muttered.
“I know. Trust me, I know.”
“What in the actual hell did she get into?” Tex asked. “How much?”
“One Million euros.”
“Jesus! You don’t just throw that kind of money around,” Tex said. “What in the hell?”
Pitbull sighed. “Whatever Claudia is into could, quite possibly get her killed and we have no idea where she is.”
