Page 72 of Diamonds in the Mud

“She’s not wrong,” someone said. I turned and looked at Remy. He was probably the oldest member of the gang. Usually he just hung out with his old lady, Candy.

“No, she’s not.” Felix nodded. “I’ll see to it.” He sipped the beer that Rayne had purchased for the table.

“What about her?” Remy asked, motioning to where Rayne had just disappeared. “Now that Jameson isn’t keeping an eye on her, how do we know she’s not poking those pretty little tits where they don’t belong?”

“She’s not. She’s way off course.” Felix smiled. “I have someone watching her. If she gets close, I’ll know about it.”

I instantly wanted more information, but then Felix started talking about another party at his place. This party, according to Felix, was going to be the big one.

Most people involved in illegal activities liked to show off their wealth with the scum that worked for them. Felix was no exception.

The elaborate parties he hosted were filled with booze, drugs, guns, money, and, one time, a fight-club event.

“Jameson,” Felix said, gaining my attention. “Tonight I need you to pick up the party favors for tomorrow night’s festivities. I have a little surprise in store for this party. Something different.”

I nodded quickly as Felix turned to the next member and rattled off more requests.

It wasn’t the first time I’d picked up drugs for Felix. Most of the time it was small stuff. I figured this would be no different.

I knew the drill. I’d get a text message minutes before with the location and time for the pickup. It still made me wonder why he didn’t use any of the drugs at the Nest. Since Evelyn’s death, Declan had remained hidden. I didn’t even know if the man knew of her death yet.

Felix and Ben weren’t talking about it and something told me not to ask. I was on their good side and needed to stay that way. One positive thing about Declan being away, besides not having to deal with him, was that I was now Ben’s number-one guy. Which made me number three in the entire operation.

When a few more members walked into the bar and Felix had finished delegating for the party, everyone scattered.

I headed over to play a round of pool and desperately tried to avoid Izzy. At least for a little while.

It was funny that Bayou Brews and Blues was where the Reapers chose to hang. The dimly lit bar was a place where they felt they could let loose. They acted as if they were home.

Tonight, the air was thick with the scent of beer and whiskey and the sound of laughter, music, and the cheers of the patrons glued to whatever ball game was playing on the television sets behind the bar.

Felix was in top form that night. He walked around and gave each member his attention, his presence commanding respect from everyone. It was as if Rayne’s earlier challenge had stoked his need to feel important.

As I nursed my drink at the far end of the bar, I saw Henry Taylor stumble into the place. I could tell that he was very inebriated. After glancing around, he pushed his way over to Felix, who was sitting a few barstools from me, talking with Nadia.

Henry jerked Felix around and exchanged hushed words with him. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Henry’s face was twisted with rage and when he started to raise his voice, Felix yanked the man into the hallway right behind me.

“I trusted you!” Henry’s words echoed in the dimly lit hallway, making it so I could hear them perfectly. “And you repaid me with murder!”

My heart skipped a beat. Was Henry accusing Felix of being involved in the murder of his wife, Sharon?

I strained to catch more of their conversation, but the noise of the bar swallowed their words, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As the tension continued between Felix and Henry, Izzy practically fell in my lap. She flashed me a dazzling smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Oops,” she giggled as her breasts pressed against my arm. “Hey there, stranger,” she purred, leaning in close enough that I could smell the scent of her perfume mixed with the unmistakable odor of alcohol on her breath.

I offered her a polite smile, trying to keep my distance. “Hey, Izzy,” I replied, my voice carefully neutral.

But Izzy wasn’t one to take a hint. With a careless laugh, she gestured wildly, sending her beer sloshing over the rim of her glass and onto my shirt. “Oops,” she giggled, her fingers trailing dangerously close to the buttons of my shirt as she attempted to wipe away the spill.

I jumped up from the barstool and stepped back instinctively. “Izzy, don’t you think you’ve had enough?” My voice was firm but gentle as I gently pushed her hands away.

But Izzy wasn’t about to give up so easily. With a petulant pout, she glared up at me, her eyes flashing with anger. “You’re such a buzzkill, Jameson,” she spat, her voice rising above the sound of the bar as she stumbled away, leaving me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I wondered what other trouble she would get into before the night was over. For now, I had more pressing matters to attend to—like figuring out what the hell was going on between Felix and Henry.

I’d missed a lot of the conversation and now, as Felix and Henry parted ways, I debated following Henry and trying to get more out of him.