Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

Estelle laughed. “Yeah, he’d love that. He’s out of town now, but once he gets back, I’ll set something up.”

“Was he the reason I couldn’t get a hold of you on Valentine’s Day?”

“He was, but it’s not what you think. We had an anti-Valentine’s Day. We went to the arcade, loaded up on snacks, and saw an action movie at the theater.”

“How is that not what I thought?” Jole asked.

“It was just two friends hanging out.”

“Sounds a lot like a date to me.”

Estelle rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing romantic there.”

“Yet,” Jole mumbled. “If he looks anything like the bikers on the TV shows, I wouldn’t blame you for hitting that.”

“Jolene!”

Jole laughed. “I’m not giving up on my mission of getting you laid.”

“It’ll happen when it’s meant to and not before. The last thing I need to do is freeze during the act, or burst into tears. I’ll steer clear of that until I’m more stable.”

“What? Crazy sex is the best,” Jole deadpanned.

Estelle snickered, and the tension between them broke. The argument wasn’t over. Jolene wasn’t the type to back down immediately when she felt strongly about something. For now, however, they were okay.

CHAPTER SIX

Snake

He didn’t recognize the tan man with a greying buzz cut and a face full of salt and pepper stubble. The white outfit took care of that. He leaned against his car parked up the street and watched as he went through the process of shutting down the store. He closed alone today. Cracking his knuckles, he watched his sure, rigid movements. This was a man who liked to be in control and maybe had some military training. No one else wore a high and tight. Unless he’s a want to be soldier. The main lights turned off, and the beast inside him lifted his nose and scented the air with glee. Soon he’d be allowed to take his pound of flesh. Pushing away from the car, he made his way to the back of the store. Every day like clockwork the man closed the store down in fifteen minutes, slipped out of the back exit to his late model truck, and went home alone.

The black van held Sharp and Sick. If they couldn’t get the info out of Hiram, no one could. But he’d take his time and work him over for the hell of it first. He prayed he was tight-lipped, so he could stretch the experience as far as it would go. Endgame was the ground. They couldn’t have any loose ends flapping in the wind. He quietly made his way to stand beside the door. The amazing thing about small towns was their lack of electronics. They felt so safe here. They didn’t spend money on cameras and fancy alarm systems, which made this entire thing so much easier.

Minutes stretched like taffy as he rested against the brick wall. The knob turned, and the hinges creaked when the door opened. He pounced, grabbed Hiram by the neck, and slammed him into the brick wall. The man groaned and jerked, but Snake tightened his hold.

“Please try to get away so I can break your worthless neck.”

“Money’s in the register,” he croaked.

“Not your money I’m interested in. You and I are going to take a little walk down memory lane.” Snake stepped back pulling him along. “You make so much as a peep, and I’m not going to care about the talk we need to have. Nod if you understand me.”

Hiram nodded. Sick and Sharp appeared by his side.

“You want us to take him now?”

“No, we’re all going to go for a ride together, the way new friends should,” Snake answered. He shoved Hiram into the waiting van. “Sit down.”

The man obeyed, and Data stepped forward, looping chains around him. He locked the ends of the chain shut with a lock, pinning his arms to his side.

“I don’t know what your quarrel is with me, but I assure you we can work it out peaceably.”

His voice made Snake’s stomach roll. This was the ring leader who’d egged everyone else on. He’d never forget the way he sounded. Bile rose in his throat. He felt like insects and snakes had crawled their way across his body and into the Sahara Desert of his mouth.

“No, we can’t,” Snake promised as the door to the van closed behind him. He sank into the seat beside Hiram, unable to take his eyes off the man he’d demonized over the years. Despite his normal appearance, he saw evil that made the things the club did look like child’s play. They’d found an abandoned shed in the woods thirty miles down the road. Snake remembered the place as a hotbed for moonshine purchasing. Clearly, the still had run dry, or the cops had moved in. They set up their shop and equipment there, sure no one would hear the man scream or have a reason to come there.

Hiram narrowed his eyes. “How do I know you, boy?”

Gritting his teeth, Snake dug his nails into the fleshy meat of his palms. It took everything in him to remain quiet. He needed to wait until they were in the room. Blood was a bitch to get out of upholstery, and he’d promised to make sure this didn’t come back on the club.