Page 73
Thierry
Fate must be fucking with me.
Surely, this girl can’t be the trespasser Julio had me come out to investigate. What would he want with some young homeless girl who clearly doesn’t have her shit together? She’s about as threatening as a mewling kitten caught in a storm drain.
I lift the burner phone to my ear, and for whatever reason, my muscles tense at the sound of Julio’s, “Hello.”
“Searched the whole house. There’s nothing. Whoever was here must’ve skipped town.”
“Empty? No half-naked girl walking around?”
So, the girl did land on his radar. Shame.
Wish he would’ve mentioned that little detail earlier in the evening, and I might not’ve felt slapped upside the head when I realized it was her. Still, the lie is already in play. Can’t go back on it now. “Think I would’ve taken notice of that. Aside from some empty chip bags and some mice, no. Not a trace of any girl.”
“What a waste sending you there. My apologies, amigo. People get worked up over nothing, sometimes.”
I watch her exit the house, wearing low cut shorts and a clingy tank that shows off pert nipples. Not exactly nothing.
“De nada. If it puts your mind at ease,” and keeps you off my back, “I’m happy to do it.”
“Ah, good. I’ll let you get back to your evening. My flight takes off in about twenty minutes. I’ll have Aric swing by there in a few days. Just to be sure no one comes back.”
His comment peels my attention from those toned thighs, and I frown at the implication. The dirty fed? “If you’re concerned about something, or someone, I’ll check back again.”
“No, no. I should’ve sent Aric in the first place. I just don’t trust him as much as you, but you have more important things on your plate right now.”
It’s a good thing he didn’t send Aric. I saw the way he was eyeing her earlier in the night, during the card game. In an effort to play nice, I look the other way when he hooks up with the occasional dancer from Saints, but the asshole can’t be trusted, as far as I’m concerned. “This girl must be pretty important.”
“Yes, well. You call me if anything changes.” The lack of response is far from reassuring, placing me in a very precarious position for having lied to his face.
“Will do.” Clicking out of the call, I ease back in my seat, contemplating the consequences of my choices. Namely Frannie, as she would suffer the brunt of it, should Julio become privy.
The girl loads up her sleeping bag into the piece of shit truck that looks like it’s on its last leg. Turning her down tonight was probably the most dick-numbing thing I’ve had to do all week, but with Julio’s sudden interest in the girl, shacking up with the next potential target doesn’t sound like such a good idea. Particularly if I end up having to turn her over to him at some point. For now, I’m curious enough to keep her under wraps.
She takes her time arranging her belongings in the truck, and through the back window, I see her scoot over to the driver’s seat.
The faint sound of an engine refusing to turn over leaves me inwardly groaning.
I crack the window down beside me, and the muted hum sharpens into the chug chug chug of a truck that won’t start.
Goddamn, this woman is a walking disaster.
Flailing arms signal what I’ll assume is a small tantrum, before she falls forward and rests her head against the steering wheel.
A minute, or more, passes, and she climbs out of the vehicle, arms crossed over her chest, only pushing those distracting breasts of hers further up toward the dip of her tank top. Coming to a stop just outside my door, she seems to fidget, looking everywhere but at me, until I roll the window down entirely.
“Won’t be going anywhere tonight. Sorry. It’s misfired a couple times now. Not sure if it’s the distributor, or what.” Lips tight, her brows wing up. “Looks like I’ll be staying, after all!”
That’s not an option. She has no idea I just bullshitted one of the most dangerous men in all of Louisiana for her. One who might just decide to have someone pay me a visit at the club to test my loyalties. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.
“Grab your things. I’ll drive you.”
“Where?”
“A hotel.”
“Hotel? I don’t have the extra cash to drop on a night in a hotel, in case you haven’t noticed.”
