Page 28 of Red, White, and BearCat Blue

“Bloody ‘ell!” Mars cursed. “Lower ya voice, mate. Ya nearly took out me eardrums. That’s wearing a military grade earwig, ya are. It’ll pick up not only your voice but the voices of anyone standing close by. Ya don’t ‘ave to yell.”

I felt kind of sheepish. Of course, he was right. “Sorry, man.” Mickey had mentioned it, but I’d totally forgotten because it was super exciting being sent to talk to Josiah like some…undercover agent or something. Admittedly, I felt kind of bulletproof even though that kind of thinking was exactly what could get me hurt if Josiah ever found out.

“That’s okay,” Mars replied quietly. “You’re new to all this.”

I thought back on their instructions. “Just go in there and act normal,” Mickey had said. “Whatever you do, don’t touch the earwig or they’ll know you’re wearing it.” I’d nodded, feeling practically giddy with excitement. Being a part of something good was a weirdly different feeling than I normally had, especially when I was talking to Josiah. He’d always been a condescending fucker on a grand scale.

I’d met him quite by accident after stealing a Mercedes one of his guys had been eyeballing. I hadn’t even known he’d targeted the same car I had until after I’d gotten into it in record time and driven away. Less than a minute later, I’d come to an abrupt stop on the street when a gorgeous Ferrari had blown past me and swerved in front of me so fast, I’d been forced to slam on the brakes. I can still remember the smell of burning rubber as I’d very nearly smashed into the Italian sportscar.

When Josiah Sterling had stepped out of the driver’s seat with a massive grin and walked over to my window, my heart had been hammering in my chest. I’d had no idea what the hell he was doing or who he was. He’d gestured for me to roll down the window and when I’d refused, he’d drawn a gun and pointed it at my face with an evil gleam in his eyes.

“Roll it down!” he’d shouted through the window.

I’d nearly shit myself right then and there. “Who the fuck are you?” I’d asked as I’d finally lowered the window.

He’d stared, looking down at me with a predatory grin and flashing, black eyes that were scary enough for me to rethink my tone. “Josiah, and you just stole my ride.”

“T-that’s not your ride?” I’d asked, pointing to the Ferrari.

He’d laughed, waving the gun at the sports car. “That one is also my ride.”

“Fuck.” I could still remember swallowing around the lump in my throat, praying that the barrel of his gun wasn’t the last thing I’d ever see when a bullet crashed through my forehead.

He’d laughed. “That was pretty smooth.”

“Wh-what?”

“I timed how long it took you to get into the Mercedes,” he’d said, sounding almost like he admired me.

“Thanks?” I might’ve taken the time to feel flattered if I hadn’t been staring down the barrel of a very large gun.

He’d laughed again. It wasn’t a nice laugh. The sound of it sent shivers down my back. “What’s your name?”

I’d swallowed. “Um…Cam.”

Josiah had glanced around and finally slid the gun into his jacket before leaning over with both hands on my door. He’d been only inches from my face when he’d spoken next. “Let’s talk somewhere less conspicuous.”

I’d swallowed again. “Where?”

He’d straightened, still wearing that scary grin, and gestured to the Strip. “Meet me at the Four Queens in Downtown. Do you know where that is?”

Of course, I did. The Four Queens was one of the first hotels ever built in Vegas and still had one of the best steakhouses I’d ever been to. Hugo’s Cellar was in the basement; I knew it because I used to take my mom there every year for her birthday. “Y-yeah.”

“Good.” He’d slapped his hand on top of the Mercedes. “Go around back. Ernest is the lot attendant. Tell him you’re with Josiah and he’ll take this baby off your hands. Meet you at the back entrance,” he’d said.

“Uh…I was gonna sell it,” I’d told him. I remembered thinking he couldn’t just take the car from me. He had a gun, but there was nothing stopping me from driving off.

“You’ll be compensated for your trouble, Cam.” He’d stared at me with those glittering eyes and something about the way he carried himself had made me not want to question what’d amounted to his orders.

“Y-yeah, okay. See you in twenty minutes,” I’d stammered.

He’d pounded on the roof of the Mercedes twice more, before spinning on his heel and walking back to the Ferrari. I could still remember how his expensive shoes shone under the moonlight. I remembered thinking I had no idea who the fuck this Josiah was but hating the fact that I was slightly attracted to him despite him being at least fifteen years older than me. Something about the way he carried himself…effortless and slick and almost entitled, wasn’t normally my thing, but he’d had an innate power that was undeniable. It’d been like I couldn’t say no to the guy, and I hadn’t known why.

That’d been six months ago, but Josiah still had the same effect on me. Maybe it was the way all his guys deferred to him. The power the man had, had been impossible to ignore that night, and it still was.

Normally, I would’ve hated that, but somehow, being in Josiah’s orbit also meant I was important. He’d complimented my skill at getting into the car, but there’d been more to it than that. I’d known it had something to do with how he’d paid attention to me.

He’d commanded respect when he spoke, but it wasn’t only that. I’d found myself wanting to be good at the jobs he sent me on. It had nothing to do with feeling threatened, even though, at times, I had felt that way. It had more to do with feeling important to someone. I’d never been important to anyone after my mom forgot who I was.