Page 30 of Claymore
He looked paler than the last time I saw him, almost like he did when he was strung out on H, but I knew it wasn’t my damn business to pry. He zipped the duffle bag full of shiny new toys for the Rebels and handed it over to me.
“Thanks, Bud.”
“Tell Tank I’m expecting payment within the next business day. Any later and there’ll be a fee,” he reminded me.
“Yeah, no problem.”
I patted the front door on the way out, watching him get back to whatever the hell he was doing before I arrived.When he ain’t sourcing weapons, he’s probably babysitting them.I imagined he just spent his time shining his weapons like a housewife tending to her overpriced vintage silverware.
I was halfway down the corridor when my cell phone started buzzing in my pocket and I half-expected it to be Tank calling in to ask how the drop went. When I saw Ella’s name pop up on the screen, I was instantly filled with panic.
“Ella? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m calling to ask if you’re more of a baby back ribs or a steak guy,” she said and I heard the sound of pans clanking in the background.
“Ella, you don’t have to cook. Trust me, we can just order in. Wait, how do you even have meat, I—”
“I took a trip to the grocery store. Look, don’t be mad. It was right down the street, and if I don’t get out a little during the day, I get antsy. Now, tell me, Claymore, ribs or steak?”
“You choose.”
“You got it,” she said.
“And Ella?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t ever leave without telling me again, okay? You’re gonna drive me nuts,” I said.
She chuckled. “I’m pretty sure I do that already. I’ll think about sending you a text next time.”
I could practically feel her smiling on the other end of the line and I couldn’t help but smile too.
“You better.”
The duffle bag strap rested heavily on my shoulder as I started lugging it back to my bike when I spotted a ride parked a few feet away. I looked at the sigil painted on the side and my eyes widened.These fucking lions are everywhere, but why here?I rushed to hide behind the vending machine, hearing it whir while the biker’s boots thumped right past me.
I leaned over, peeking around the corner to see he was knocking on Buddy’s door. My jaw dropped when he let him in, shutting the door slowly. I fought the urge to burst right in there, trying to beat the shit out of the both of them in a room full of guns. I pressed my lips together, slowing my breathing, waiting for that fucking lion to leave. Their little meeting lasted forty-five minutes, long enough for me to clear out the entire vending machine.
I tossed the chocolate bar wrapper into the trash near the water fountain, keeping quiet when Bud’s door opened back up again. The lion got onto the back of his bike, pulling out of the lot, and the coast was clear. I rushed right back over to Bud’s door, banging on it.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“Cleaners!” I shouted, knowing he damn well was gonna pop his bald head through the door. The second it opened slightly, I burst right through, grabbing him by the collar. I tossed his ass right out of his own room, shutting the door so he couldn’t access his shiny toys.
“You and I are gonna take a fucking walk.”
He landed so hard his lip burst and blood trickled down his chin. He licked it up slowly as his eyes practically burned right through me. We headed around back to where the large, lush tree stood, away from any onlookers.
“You try anything, I’m gonna beat your ass, got it? We both know you’re nothing without those shiny little toys of yours.”
“They ain’t little.”
“Maybe not, but you don’t have ’em. You’ve always been loyal to Tank, Bud. You’re one of his guys. You had a deal to only supply to us in this part of the goddamn country. No one else. What the fuck are you doing with that Lion?” I asked through my teeth.
“They found me. They asked to cut a deal in exchange for some weapons. I’m just doing business, man. I didn’t know you had trouble with them,” he muttered.
“Yeah, we’ve got fucking trouble. I’m gonna need you to tell me all you know about those assholes.”
