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Chapter Ten
Luna
“Do you want any more?”
Bear shook his head and rubbed his stomach. “I was still full from dinner, but I never can turndown waffles and bacon.”
I unplugged the waffle iron and dropped the fork I had been using in the sink. “It’s always good to start the day with a full stomach. Makes for a good day.” A day I had plans for and Bear had no clue about. Of course, I did have different plans when I had woken up, but Ransom had squashed them like a bug. Now, I was onto plan B.
Ransom always claimed that he was trying to keep me safe, but that safety was suffocating at times.
The doorbell rang, and I patted my pocket to make sure I had my phone and debit card. “I can get it,” I volunteered.
Bear shook his head and stood. “I’ll get it, doll.”
And that was exactly what I had hoped he would do.
With each step he took to the front door, I moved to the back door.
He opened the front door, and I dashed out the back. I was almost to Greta’s car when I heard Bear shout my name.
“Put some gasoline on it, girl! You’ve got a lumberjack on your ass,” Greta shouted from her open car window.
“Put it in gear!” I shouted to her.
Greta reached across the passenger seat, swung open my door, and started to roll out of the driveway.
“Fucking run!” Greta hollered.
“Luna! Don’t you get in that car!” Bear shouted.
I glanced behind me and saw I had about twenty-five feet between Bear and me. “Why are you running so fast?” I snapped at him. It broke the laws of physics for Bear to be able to move as fast and be as agile as he was.
“This is what I do for a fucking living,” he gritted out. “Stop!”
His voice radiated through me, but it just urged me to move faster.
I made it to the car that was rolling away from me and managed to leap in and slam the door shut behind me.
“Luna!!”
Greta slammed down on the gas, and we catapulted out of my driveway and onto the road. I watched behind us as Bear ran into the road and shook his fist in the air, screaming my name.
“Girl, your neighbors are going to think you’ve got an angry lumberjack pining after you and you just crushed his heart.” Greta flew down the road and hooted with glee.
I turned back in my seat and slumped. “Oh, my God, I haven’t run that fast since we got caught gigging frogs over off Ol’ Mill Road.”
Greta snorted. “I think it more had to do with the fact that we were both half in the bag and only eighteen. I don’t think they cared we were gigging frogs.”
I laid my head back and sighed. “Whatever.”
“So how much time do you think we have before Bear is catching up to us?” Greta asked.
“Probably a couple of hours. He doesn’t know Rockton, so he won’t know where to look for us.”
“Are you thinking that he isn’t going to sound the alarms to Ransom and the Devil’s Knights?” Greta scoffed.
That, I didn’t know. I was hoping Bear would be too proud to call for help and try to find us on his own at first. “If he calls Ransom, we probably have an hour. But if he reaches out to the Devil’s Knight, you know we’ll be found in no time because those jerks know us.”
Gretta nodded. “As much as I hate to admit, those assholes do know us pretty well.”
“So, we better make the most of our time.” I pointed to the road up ahead. “I want to go to the girls, but we’ll need to take the back way.”
Greta nodded and turned down the next road. “Can I ask just what exactly we’re doing? All you told me in the text was to ring the doorbell and get back in the car. I sort of assumed you were making a run for it, but beyond that, I’m clueless.”
I didn’t really know what we were up to, either. I wanted to talk to the girls and check in on them, but I also wanted to talk to them again about anyone who had contact with Bunny, Tanya, Pam, and Savana. That magazine Ransom had mentioned was stuck in my head.
Ten minutes later, we pulled into the driveway to the duplexes where the girls were staying. My adrenaline was still pumping from making a break for it from Bear, and I could tell Greta’s was too.
“I think we should sneak into the back and try to get around Leo’s guys.”
“Oh, fuck,” I moaned. “How did I forget about Leo’s guys?” I was such an idiot. I had forgotten that Leo was helping out by having his men keep an eye on the girls from the club.
“No,” Greta shouted. “No! We walk in like we belong there, and these guys won’t even know that we basically escaped from your house.”
“Girl, do you mean to tell me that you think we are going to outsmart some mafia guys?”
“Girl,” Greta mimicked. “Do you not remember that we have the head of the mafia wrapped around out little fingers?” Greta rubbed her steering wheel. “We are driving my birthday present from him.”
I chuckled and nodded. “Okay, you’re right, but I don’t know if this is going to work.” Jesus, normally, I was the one cooking up these plans, but for some reason, I was the one naysaying it. What the hell was wrong with me? I swung open my door and got out. “You know what? You’re right. Let’s do this.”
“That a girl,” Greta called. She got out of the car as I rounded the front of it. “Walk in there like you own this place!”
I wasn’t going to take things that far, but I was going to act like I belonged there. We climbed the steps, and I knocked on the door.
“You know, Uncle Leo really does have some nice places here. Why did we refuse to live here?” Greta questioned.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Because we didn’t want Uncle Leo to think that we just had our hands out to him constantly. You know him buying us those cars was too much.”
“You right, you right,” Greta mumbled. “I mean, you might just be mad because I’ve treated mine so well and I haven’t had to get a loan for a new car.”
“And you might just be mad that I’m rolling around in a car that is only two years old and not seventeen.”
Greta stuck out her tongue at me. “You weren’t complaining about my seventeen-year-old car when you were running from the lumberjack.”
The front door swung open, and Coby stood there. “Luna!”
“Hey!” I smiled.
Coby moved to the side and opened the door wide. “We didn’t know when we were going to be seeing you again since you were kidnapped the other day.”
I stepped inside the house and saw that there were two guys in the entryway with their eyes on Greta and me.
I pushed my shoulders back and smiled wide at them. “Hey, fellas!”
They both grunted but didn’t say anything.
“Oh, my gosh, your arm!” Coby exclaimed.
Dear Jesus, I needed to get away from Leo’s guys and make Coby stop talking about the kidnapping.
I moved my broken wrist behind my back. “I am more than okay. King asked me stop by and check on you girls.”
Greta choked and clutched her hand to her throat. “Oh my, this brisk air is just getting to me. Do you think I could get a glass of water?”
Coby smiled brightly. “Of course. A few of the other girls are in there, too.”
Greta stepped next to me and whispered, “Did you really just say that King told us to come here?”
“I panicked,” I hissed. “You weren’t helping me.”
Greta glared at me. “I think you might be beyond help right now.”
We moved into the kitchen, and thankfully, Leo’s guys didn’t follow us.
Margo, Minx, Nic, Jesse, and Avery were all surprised to see me. I tried to steer them away from me being kidnapped, but it seemed to be all they wanted to talk about.
Greta sat at the kitchen table and kicked her legs out in front of her. “What a shitshow,” she muttered.
I rolled my eyes and managed to move over to the table and sit down.
“You guys all look great,” I noted.
“Girl, we are getting our shit back in line for when the club reopens,” Minx sighed. “We got word that it’ll be another week or so.”
The club. Man, did I miss it. It had only been three days since the last time I was there, but it felt a lot longer than that. “That’s good.” I had no idea who had told them that, but it was right. I had to assume that Hero had been in touch with the girls after the menu tasting.
Well, it was right, but I needed to get on the ball to hire a chef. I added that to my to-do list. It was already on there, but it was now moved to the top. I was sure that Bristol would help out for a little bit, but she had her own job.
“I have a cousin who might be a good cook,” Margo offered. “I mean, right now she cooks at the Olive Garden over in Braxton, but she’s looking to work closer to home.”
“Oh, uh, well,” I sputtered. I had an agenda of things I wanted to talk to the girls about and this was not one of them. Hell, that was pretty much how things always went though. “Why don’t you have her come to the club on Tuesday for an interview?” I suggested. That would give me enough time to schedule other interviews that day also.
Margo pulled out her phone. “I will let her know right now.”
“Two hours,” Greta sang.
I nodded and sat up straight. “I actually came over to talk to you guys about the other girls.”
“Is it about the memorial service?” Minx asked. “I hope it is.”
I opened my mouth and then shut it. Another thing I needed to add to my to-do list. The girls had mentioned before that they would like to do a joint memorial service, and I was all for it. Then, I was kidnapped. Crazy how everything can change in the blink of an eye.
“We could do it at the clubhouse after Sultry Knights reopens. I’m sure the club won’t have a problem with it at all,” Greta volunteered. “And you know Meg and Bristol will make some awesome food that all of the girls would have loved.”
We all nodded somberly. I used to have twenty-seven women who worked at the club, and now, it was down to twenty-two. Five people gone just because they worked at Sultry Knights.
“Do any of you remember Bunny or any of the other girls wanting to be a mechanic?” Greta asked.
They all shook their heads.
“I mean, I’m sure Bunny would have loved to have dated a mechanic to get free repairs, but that’s about it,” Nic laughed. “I remember a year ago when her pipes burst in her trailer, and she went on the prowl for a plumber to hook up with to get it fixed for free.”
“I remember that,” Jesse gasped. “I was shocked as shit when she did it and had everything repaired for free.”
Greta sighed. “Now that is called using what the good Lord gave ya.”
“What about the other girls?” I asked. “Did any of them date mechanics? Even if it was way before they were killed.”
I knew my girls, but I didn’t know each of them on a deep personal level.
“Uh, well, I think Pam had mentioned she dated a mechanic one time, but I don’t think it lasted very long.” Margo frowned. “I really don’t know why this is important to finding out who killed them,” she sighed.
I didn’t know if it was. That was what was so frustrating about all of this.
Maybe it was time to shift gears and try a whole new angle with the girls. “What about guys at the club? Was there ever someone who gave you the creeps or just seemed off to you?” I asked.
The girls pondered thoughtfully.
“To me, that would be half of the guys there,” Greta muttered. “And maybe even Zig and Zag.”
“Hush,” I whispered. Greta filled in on bartending when I needed her, but that wasn’t more than a couple times a month.
“They’re fucking weirdos,” Greta hissed.
“This coming from the Queen of weirdos,” I laughed.
Greta flitted her hand in front of her and bowed her head. “You may just call me Queen Greta.”
“I have a guy who sits at the corner of the stage every Tuesday and Thursday,” Minx volunteered. “He’s never tried anything, but the way his eyes follow me the whole time can be a little uneasy.”
“Has he ever paid for a private?” I asked.
Minx shook her head. “No privates and he always gives me a ten.”
“Hey, big spender,” Greta laughed. “I get tipped better than that being a bartender.”
“Yeah,” Minx agreed. “Not exactly the best tipper, but he’s consistent.”
“I think I’ve seen him before,” Nic added. “He always orders a seven and seven. Only one the whole night.”
Greta scoffed. “I think you need to put a drink minimum, Luna. These guys are getting the goods for less than twenty bucks a pop since they come in on Tuesday and Thursday when there isn’t cover.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not doing a drink minimum. We’ve never had a problem filling the cash register every night.” That was the one thing we didn’t have a problem with. The guy Minx was talking about was few and far between. I had already done the math, and the average customer coming into the club spends between seventy-five to one hundred and fifty. Even on a slow night, the club is making out.
Avery pulled out the chair next to me. “About three months ago, I had two guys come. They ordered sodas for both of them and then just watched the stage all night. Neither of them tipped the girls or got anything else to drink. I didn’t really think much about it then, but it was pretty strange.”
“Did they come in again?” I asked.
Avery nodded. “Four times after that, I think, but then, the club closed.”
“And they only drank soda and never tipped?” Greta asked.
“Yeah.”
Greta tapped her hand on the table. “Drink minimum,” she sang.
I rolled my eyes and held up my hand in her face. “When it comes to animals and reptiles, you’re the voice of reason. For titties and beer, leave it to me.”
Greta leaned forward and licked the palm of my hand.
“What is wrong with you?” I snatched my hand away.
Greta beamed proudly. “Put something in my face and I’m going to lick it.”
“Like, anything?” Nic asked. “Because I have had some things in my face that you couldn’t pay me to lick. Mmhmm, no way girl.”
Greta shrugged. “I mean, I have some standards.”
I rolled my eyes and wiped my hand on my jeans. “I feel that those standards are pretty damn low,” I grumbled. My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket. “Oh, shit,” I gasped.
“Is the jig up?” Greta asked.
“It might be.” I turned my phone to Greta, and she busted out laughing.
“Girl, Meg calling you could either be her warning us to get our asses moving because the club is onto us, or she’s calling about some obscure thing that only she would care about, but she thinks you would remember.” Greta clicked her tongue. “You gonna answer it or not?”
I stared at the phone until it stopped ringing.
“Risky,” Greta whispered.
I shoved my phone in my pocket. “We need to get going, girls, but if you think of any other guys who seemed off, text me. We need to find out who is killing women attached to Sultry Knights before he kills again.”
“But we’re safe here,” Jesse insisted. “I mean, we have two armed guys in each house guarding us.”
“You’re right, but you never know what is going to happen. Just always be prepared, okay?” I totally agreed that nothing should happen to the girls while they were living in the duplexes, but that didn’t mean they should let their guard down completely.
Greta and I said goodbye to the girls and walked out. The two guys who were guarding the door eyed us closely, and one pulled out his phone as I shut the door.
Greta walked briskly to her car with me right on her heels.
“You see that?” I asked her.
“Joe Soprano eyeing us and making a phone call? Yeah, we’ve been had, Luna.” She slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. I dropped into the passenger seat and slammed my door shut.
“So, what the hell do we do now?” I asked.
Greta laughed. “I fucking love this.” She rubbed her hands together. “We can either go back to your house with our tails between our legs or make a run for the border.”
“The border?” It didn’t mean ducking out on Bear meant I had to run for the border of the country.
“Yeah, you know, Taco Bell.” Greta’s stomach growled, and she laid her hand on it. “You called me right before I was about to make a bowl of cereal with cottage cheese.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Please don’t tell me you put the cottage cheese in the cereal.”
Greta shrugged. “Fine, I won’t tell you.”
My phone rang, and Ransom’s number popped up.
“Yeah, we’ve been had.” I hit the decline button and laughed. “I don’t know if it was Bear or Leo’s guys, but I think our fun for the day might be coming to an end.”
“And it’s only nine thirty,” Greta complained. “I really think we should try our luck and grab something to eat.”
I rolled my eyes and scrolled to a number on my phone. “Now you are thinking with your stomach, but I’m okay with it.” I hit send on the number and put my phone to my ear.
“You’re calling him?” Greta screeched.
I shook my head and waited for the call to connect. “Hey, Birdie, it’s Luna. I was just wondering if you were free today.”
