Page 29 of Nicoletta
“Fact is . . .” I widen my eyes. “You need me.”
Smoke focuses on the tabletop, then up at me. “And Bolt?”
I shrug my answer.
“He’s had some bad breaks with women, and I’d hate to see him make another mistake.”
“And I’m a mistake?”
“Ohhhh shit, yeah, you’re a huge fuckin’ mistake, babe.”
“After all this, I don’t think we have much of a chance, but I am thinking about staying in Tijuana. The Harlots have told me about some clinics and women’s shelters in the city that could use my help.”
“Doin’ what?”
“I’m a social worker with a masters in psychology. I also speak fluent Spanish, so I really think I could do some good here.”
Smoke’s silver eyes bore into me. “No shit.”
“No shit,” I throw back at him.
“That will have to be put on hold until we get everything else ironed out. For now, you’re on lockdown, for your own protection.” Smoke breathes deep. “I want to go ahead with the original plan of setting up your father at the country club, but anything you work up has to go through me first.”
“I understand.”
Smoke nods to the knife still on the table. “That’s getting locked up in the safe.” He grins. “I have a feeling it’s going to play a very important role in our little setup.”
He stands, and I stand with him. “I appreciate you hearing me out.”
“One other thing. Tamara’s a good friend of yours, yeah?”
“The very best.”
“How much did she tell you about me and her?”
“Enough to know where to find the Royal Bastards when I came to Tijuana the first time.”
“Let’s keep all that between you and me. It was a coupleyears ago, and Marisol may look sweet, but she can have a wild hair when it comes to me and other women.”
“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”
His lips curve into a sly smile, and I think I might just have something on an outlaw biker.
His face sobers. “Don’t count Bolt out too soon.”
I nod, but I know how this will go down. A man like Bolt needs to save face and will hate me lying to him all this time, plus invading his space and his privacy with a murder weapon.
CHAPTER 11
BOLT
I’m downing my second shot when Smoke walks into the main bar with Nicoletta. He nods to Blood; the two of them exchange a look, then head to our table in the back.
“Looks like you’re going to be stuck with me for a little while longer.” She tries to sell it with a smile, but I don’t react. Instead, I push off the bar and angle her toward the back.
We silently climb up the flight of stairs. I nudge her down the hallway, and by the time we enter my apartment, the air crackles like a live electric current wiggling and jolting between us. The kind you can’t capture, and you sure the fuck can’t touch for fear of getting singed.
I slam the door behind us, and when she tries to move around me, I crowd her, wrap my arm around her waist and haul her to me.
