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Through the years and me getting outta the gang, they were by my side. Both still worked their illegal jobs and, therefore, both had an ear to the streets at all times whereas sometimes my information was weeks or months too old to matter.
"Fuck man," Breaker said, shaking his head with a smile after we had discussed the situation for a while.
"What?"
Shoot laughed. "You watched the two of us go through it and you don't know what?" he asked.
See, Breaker and Shooter used to really enjoy the company of women too, many different women. Then Breaker met Alex. Because he was paid to kidnap her. Long story short, they ended up together. Then Shooter had to go back to Alabama to handle some family shit. He met Amelia. Amelia got herself wrapped up into some trouble that Shoot tried to get her out of. Lots of action and shit with both of them that ended up leading to serious relationships.
"That's not what's happening here."
"Sure it ain't," Breaker agreed, lips twitching.
"What do you give it?" Shoot asked Breaker. "Week? Two?"
"For what?" I asked, knowing I would regret doing so.
"Until you're completely pussy-whipped," Shoot supplied.
And that was exactly when Elsie decided to come in and bring me morning coffee. Which, well, was sweet as fuck. I'd never had a woman go out of her way to bring me anything before.
Then my ma showed up and dropped that flavor of the week line with Elsie within earshot. I mean I love my ma, but I seriously wanted to throttle her for that, especially when I walked into my kitchen and Elsie backed herself into a corner, eyes wide, looking both terrified and horrified at once. And I didn't fucking like that one bit.
I could see in that moment that she wasn't that girl. She wasn't the girl guys used and threw aside. She was class. The men who courted her, courted her. And the men she maybe fucked just for a fuck, guaran-fucking-tee they wanted more when she was done with them. That was what she was used to and the thought that anyone saw her as a disposable fuck toy really bothered her.
I didn't like the idea either.
So yeah... things were a bit more fucking complicated than I was used to.
On top of that shit, Shoot and Break hadn't heard anything. Nothing about Elana or anything about some extortion or kidnapping ring in the area.
So short story... things were fucked.
I was hoping Sawyer dug something else up. He might have been an ass, but he was an ass that got shit done. If there was someone I was comfortable with being on the job, it was him.
If all else failed, I was willing to cross over to my old streets and start causing some chaos until I got the answers I wanted. Enzo would flip shit, but that was too fucking bad.
I focused on work, never finding anything that I could concentrate on quite like I could drawing or tattooing. But as soon as I shut the shop, she came rushing back.
She was in.
Under my skin.
And I didn't know what the fuck to do with that realization.
So I went to the grocery store, like I had planned.
Then I went over to Elsie's.FourteenElsie"Hey Elsie, wait up," Shane Mallick called as I skirted the front desk. I paused, turning, brows raised. Sure, he'd been my personal trainer once upon a time, but we barely shared more than hellos and goodbyes anymore.
"Yeah?"
"Got something for you," he said, reaching for something under the desk and coming back with an envelope.
Alright. Truth be told, now that I knew he was some kind of knee-breaking loan shark... I kinda felt a little weird taking anything from him. But he was holding out the envelope like he expected me to take it. So I did. The front had my name on it but that was it. I slid a finger under the seal, opened it, and pulled out the sheet of paper inside.
Curious, I unfolded it.
It was from Paine.
I knew this because it was another drawing.
This time, a perfect replica of my kitchen. Except there were grocery bags on the island which absolutely did not belong there seeing as I did not keep much in the way of food in my house.
"Uh oh. I know that look," Shane's voice broke in and my eyes sought his guiltily. It was then that I realized I was doing the goofy grin again. I had to make sure I didn't do that in front of Paine. Seriously.
"What look?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Oh fuck off babe," he laughed, giving me an amused smile. "You know exactly what look. You're so fucked. Paine, babe? Shit."
"It's not like that."
"Sure it's not."
"It's not," I insisted.
"What'd he give you?"
Seeing no reason not to share, I showed him the picture. "It's my kitchen."
