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"They're your enemies because they give you nicknames, or only your enemies give them to you?" Cooper asked teasingly.
"Both," Jake said. "Would it surprise you to learn this Tony Jones doesn't seem to exist?"
"I'm shocked," I said sarcastically. "How many other people who bought real estate in the area in the last few years also didn't exist?"
"Apart from us?" Jake quirked an eyebrow at me. "I'm guessing the number is higher than zero. I’ll look into it."
I nodded. "Go back as far as you can. We don't know how long this has been going on." We should have suspected it, but the uneasy peace seemed to have kept Dagen in his box for the most part. My father used to say 'complacency is your enemy.' He was right about that. He was a very good example of where complacency got you. In his case, it was with his brains spread across the wall.
"If Tony Jones doesn't exist, then can we go and talk to him?" Cooper asked.
"I feel like that sentence shouldn't make any sense," I said. "I think it would be a good idea to go and take a personal look at his establishments."
"I wish he owned a bakery, or a donut shop." Jake stretched his arms over his head. "I could use some sugar right now."
"You'll have to settle for a trim," I told him dryly. Now that he mentioned sugar, I would kill for one of those custard and apple filled pastry things. Jake couldn't even object to it, since apples were a fruit. At this point, if he objected, he might get a pie to the face, courtesy of my hand. Knowing him, he’d wipe it off and eat it. Also knowing him, he would prefer to cream pie my pussy than have me cream pie his face.
"Newspaper stands usually sell snack food," Cooper said helpfully.
"Let's go there first," Jake said quickly. He opened the drawer beside him.
"If you're about to pull out an apple and give it to me, I'm gonna stuff it up your ass," I growled.
He closed the drawer again.
"If I had a drawer, I would keep jelly beans in there for you," Cooper said. "Do you like the black ones?"
I grimaced. "No. Yuck. I like the red ones and the white ones. And the purple ones. But if you did that, Jake would eat them all."
"Only to save you from all that sugar," Jake protested. "Not all heroes wear capes."
"Some of them are going to wear their face on the back of their heads if they don't back the fuck off," I said with mock sweetness.
"I'd like to see that." Cooper grinned.
Jake narrowed his eyes at him. "Who the fuck's side are you on, Murder Puppy?"
"Hers," Cooper said without missing a beat. "I'm sorry but you've seen her ass."
"Many times," Jake agreed. "I never get tired of seeing it. But mine is pretty impressive too, don't you think?"
"Of course," Cooper agreed. "But if yours is a ten, hers is a fifteen. I'm sorry, that's just the way I see it. Besides, she's the boss."
"Exactly," I said. "Always take the boss's side, regardless of the awesomeness of their ass."
"But an awesome ass doesn't hurt," Jake said.
"No it doesn't," I agreed. "Right then, let's go to this newsstand. I have a sudden need to satisfy my craving for jellybeans. And maybe get a magazine."
Did they even sell those at newsstands anymore? So much was digital these days, newsstands probably sold more snacks and bus tickets than papers.
"We should take Ben along with us too," Jake said. "With Dagen sniffing around, I'd rather be safe than conspicuous."
I considered that for a moment. I would rather be both. Nothing says 'look at me.' like walking down the street with three hot guys.
"Can you ever be inconspicuous?" Cooper asked. He watched me as I stood. "I don't know about anyone else, but I can't take my eyes off you when you walk into a room."
The feeling was entirely mutual.
