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“It’s not just any quarter.” He stopped and glared at me, then barked, “This one has a bullet hole in the center.”
“All right, no need to get all worked up about it. I’m sure we can make another one.”
“I don’t want another one.” Jagger went back to digging in the sofa as he said, “I want this one. It means something to me.”
“And what makes this one so special?”
“My old cellmate, Tully, gave it to me.” He leaned back on the arm of the sofa and continued, “He had it in his pocket the day he was shot and kept the damn thing. Said it brought him luck, so he gave it to me the day I met with the parole board. I had it with me then and every day since.”
“You got no idea where you lost it?”
“No clue.” He shook his head. “I always put it on my dresser with my wallet and keys, but a few days ago, it came up missing. I’ve looked everywhere for the damn thing.”
“I’m sure it’ll show up.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s been bugging the hell out of me.” He stood and started putting the cushions back on the sofa. “Hell, everything is all fucked up, and I don’t see it getting better any time soon.”
“I hate to say it, but I think you might be right. The whole mess with Misty and Candy has all the girls on edge, and they have so many fucking questions that none of us can fucking answer.”
“I hear ya.” Jagger ran a hand down his face in frustration. “Would’ve helped if Shotgun had gotten something more out of that Kordarius kid.”
“I don’t know, brother. That kid took a helluva beatin’. Either he didn’t know shit or has some gargantuan balls and high pain tolerance.”
“Who’s got big balls?” Country asked as he sauntered into the room with Rafe and Widow. “I mean, besides me, of course.”
“Not today, Country,” Jagger grumbled. “I’m not in the fucking mood.”
“What’s wrong, brother?” Country gave Jagger one of his goofy smirks. “That time of the month?”
Jagger didn’t respond. He just stood there and glared at Country.
“Whoa.” Realizing he was barking up the wrong tree, Country raised his hands in surrender and said, “Okay, o-kay. I’m done.”
“Good.” Jagger turned to Widow and Rafe and asked, “Y’all happen to have seen a quarter with a bullet hole through the center?”
“No, not that I can recall,” Widow answered.
Rafe shook his head as he replied, “Me either.”
“Well, damn. I give up. The fucking thing is just gone.” Jagger started out of the room but stopped dead in his tracks when Sophie appeared in the doorway. “Hey, babe. What are you doing here? I thought you had an appointment this afternoon.”
“I did, but it got canceled.” Frustration marked her face as she explained, “That client I’ve been working with at the prison got into some more trouble last night and landed himself in solitary.”
“Damn, this guy’s had a rough go of it, huh?”
“Apparently so. He’s been there for almost a week, and to make matters worse, they didn’t notify me. I still wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t gone for our weekly appointment.”
“That’s fucked up, but I’m not surprised. That place is a fucking joke.” Jagger shook his head with irritation, then asked, “Who is this guy anyway? Maybe I know him or know someone who does.”
“You know I can’t tell you that. I’ve already said too much.” Sophie stepped over to Jagger and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “It’ll be fine. I’ll get it sorted, and until I do, I can spend more time with you.”
“Sounds good to me.” He took her hand in his and led her towards the door. “We’re going to the kitchen to grab some dinner. I’ll see you boys at the club.”
“See ya.”
Widow waited until Jagger was out of earshot before he turned to me and asked, “You working tonight?”
“Nah, I got plans, but I’ll be close by if anyone needs me.”
“Plans, huh?” Country snickered. “That mean you worked things out with your little jailbird?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, how about that.” Country crossed his arms with a smirk. “Our boy has done gone and got himself a lady.”
Rafe chuckled as he asked, “Does this poor girl have any idea what she’s getting into?”
“She knows enough.” Like Jagger, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with my brothers’ nonsense. “I’m out.”
When I turned to leave, Rafe asked, “You got a prospect going with ya?”
“Yeah, Davies is tagging along.”
“Good deal. You two be careful.”
“Always.”
I left there and, with Davies following close behind, headed out to the parking lot and on to meet up with Raelyn.
It had been over a week since I’d last seen her, and I was eager to spend some time with her—even if it was hanging out at the animal shelter. When I pulled up to the address she’d given me, I was more than a little concerned by the state of the place.
