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He grinned. "What can I say? I'm a man of simple pleasures."
Xavier shook his head. "Sorry to break it to you but unrequited love, or whatever it is between you two, looks far from pleasure."
He paused for a few seconds. "She'll come around."
He wondered how his friend had the heart to endure the advances Ashley was making at Xavier, or everyone for that matter, or how he was patient enough to wait for her, but as long as it didn't concern him, he couldn't bother. He changed the subject before he could suggest Stewart get over her. "What does Sean want?"
Stewart shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Just be grateful I'm coming with you for moral support instead of hitting the whorehouse."
Xavier threw him a dirty look. Out of all the gang members, Stewart was the least disgusting, and that said a lot about how filthy the others were.
They belonged to a gang that earned enough to make a fortune for themselves, but world domination wasn't in their plans for the foreseeable future, so they kept themselves out of the mud as much as possible. Sean liked to keep everyone in line, but Xavier thought of himself as a free bird in his cage. He was good at what he did, and if the gang leader wanted to keep his best assassin, he had to put up with him.
They stopped at the gate as the guard opened it for them. The town's sheriff walked out the same time they entered, his pockets bulging with money—a payment for his undying support and turning a blind eye.
They entered the house. It reeked of cigarettes, alcohol, and bad decisions. Sean was playing cards with Rais, his glass of bourbon sitting on the table in front of him. Ashley sat in the farthest corner with Jake, probably planning their next heist.
"You called?" Xavier's voice echoed through the house, stopping the murmurs.
Sean's bald head was still dropped toward the table his cards were placed on as he squeaked, "Xavier! My boy!"
"You," his voice lingered with irritation, "called?" Sean had a weird way of breaking bad news, and it always began with him being too cheerful.
"Yes!" Sean left the game in the middle, got up, and his forty-something-year-old self walked toward Xavier.
Despite the wealth he possessed, his button-down checked shirt was torn where there had been a pocket over his chest. Nobody understood why he loathed them enough to tear them from his shirt. They usually wondered why he didn't get shirts with no pockets at all. Weird is what he was.
Sean's head tilted, his green eyes studying Xavier who let out a sigh and raised his eyebrows at how overdramatic the bald man was being.
When the leader continued examining him without a word, Xavier said, "What?"
Sean smirked, looking at him from under his eyebrows. "You've received a humble application. Three thousand dollars. Cash."
Again with the same horseshit."No."
Sean's right eyebrow rose and his smile faltered. "Pardon?"
"I know, you're all worked up about your fifty percent, but she is here. You know when she—"
"Ah..." Sean licked his lips. "Your plaything is around nowadays. Xavier, wouldn't you offer the acquaintance of your girlfriend with your gang mates?"
Xavier cringed. "Are you done?"
"Hmm," said Sean, "Father used to say that there are two types of people everyone should avoid. A woman that holds you back and a friend that stabs you in the back."
Xavier closed his eyes, battling himself on the inside whether it was okay to strangle Sean only because he was lame and annoying.
"Social job," said Sean after a few seconds.
"I won't when she's here. I think I've made this very clear." Xavier took a step toward the shorter man.
"What if I order you to do it?" asked Sean calmly.
"Then I would refuse and leave the gang." Xavier turned on his heels, glancing once at Stewart who was looking at him with wide eyes.
Before Xavier could take a step forward, Sean spoke, "Aren't you familiar with the fact that whoever withdraws from the gang usually ends up in a coffin?"
Xavier turned back around, his eyes burning. "Are you threatening me?"
