“We’ll replace it. Let the cleaners do their thing. You figure out what we need to be back open as the bare minimum. You keep kickin’ ass at this, you’ll find yourself a manager position.” He arches his eyebrow, and as fun as that would be, I still have something else in mind for when I’m through with school.
“I can do that, but only for a little while. I want to open a studio or offer classes on stripping as a workout or even to get the new girls started.” The only people who know about my idea are the women closest to me in my life: Selena, her mom, Maria, Laney, and Laney’s mom.
“That so? I might have to talk to the club about that. Maybe we can negotiate a few things, and you get to do both.” His hand cups the side of my neck. Thick, calloused fingers I’ve had all over my body do nothing to stop the way I’m responding to him now. I can imagine what he sees: big hopeful eyes, a flush across my cheeks, and my choppy breathing tell Maddox what he’s doing to me.
“Are we going to negotiate with a contract or orgasms?” I find my inner smartass to break up the heaviness that’s coating the air.
“Probably a bit of both. Now kiss me, get to work, so your man can figure shit out, yeah?” God, this man, he’s doing everything he can for me and asking nothing in return. The least I can do is kiss him. Though, he’s already leaning into me, his lips a breath away, and I sit up, my legs going around his waist, wanting to feel his body pressed against mine. My tongue sneaks out, licking at his plush upper lip. It’s all Maddox needs, and then he’s taking over. Hands in my hair, neck arched back, and his tongue sweeping over mine in a dominating fashion. It isn’t until a throat is being cleared, breaking us apart. Even then he gives me a soft kiss.
Fifteen
Razor
“Razor.” Shovel’s voice is sharp after he interrupts my make-out session with Raven. Fuck, that woman has me feeling like a damn teenager.
“On it.” I look at Raven one last time, wink, and then head back to the office. Ruger must have picked up a bit while I was out there, or who knows, maybe it was Shovel. He hates dealing with the technology side, and the man can’t sit still to save his life.
“Ruger found out some shit. We may need Raven later on, not entirely sure yet.” He keeps his voice down the entire time we’re talking. Usually, we’d shut the door and have this meeting where no ears can hear it. That’s not the case today, not with Raven out there alone until the cleaners come, and even then.
“Whatcha got?” I ask, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk.
“Did some digging. Seems Mack has somehow gotten mixed up with the Cartel. Apparently, Raven’s mom, Sara, knows them personally. So, that was definitely her who was cozied up beside Mack. Good news is, he doesn’t have a kid with that Sara bitch, just likes to party with her. Coke and pills seem to be their preference. Bad news is, we’re gonna have to do some quick talking with the Cartel.” Fuckin’ hell, this is a nightmare and a half.
“That who tossed the place?”
“Nope, that’d be Sara. I’m willing to bet she wasn’t expecting to see Raven here, or maybe she was and thought she’d get her in our bad graces.” Ruger is sitting back with his hands clasped in his lap, looking like he was meant to be sitting behind a desk.
“Well, I guess we need to establish territory, which means you, Razor, will be staying down here with a couple of boys. Might keep Ruger here if he doesn’t have an objection. I know Raven can run this place with her eyes closed, but still, we need eyes and feet on the ground,” Shovel states.
“I’m good with that. Looks like we’ll need to deal with Mack and Sara. You okay with me letting Raven know what’s going on? And we’ll probably spend another night here in town, then head to the clubhouse. Makes no sense to be here when the club ain’t open anyways.” Shovel nods his head in agreement.
“You do any more digging than that?” I ask Ruger.
“Oh yeah, hit pay dirt. Let Mack’s baby mamma know it was time for her to get out of town for a few days with the kid. Just got off the phone with her. I think she called him an overused steroid deadbeat or something along those lines. It’s the pits for her. Bet she was struggling as it was, and at least Mack was sending her money, or so she says.” Ruger sounds like he’s got a vested interest in this lady, and none of us even know her.