Payback (Dueling Devils 2)

“Long time no see, Demon. I should’ve known this wouldn’t be a visit for pleasure.” She gave him a smile.

But he couldn’t’ miss the sadness in her green eyes. The startling jewels were a throw back from her Jamaican heritage.

“Only you could look this good just climbing out of bed,” Lefty said.

Gia laughed. “You always know the right thing to say, don’t you?” Gia accepted Lefty’s hug and stepped back to let them inside. “Come on in the kitchen, I can get us coffee. I feel like I’m going to need caffeine for this. “

They followed her through the darkened house into the top of the line kitchen. He’d been privy to her cooking skills enough know the equipment wasn’t just for show. The bitch could make a mean meal. He took a seat in a stool at the black and white marble counter top.

“Cappuccino work?” Gia asked, glancing over her shoulder from the monstrous black and chrome machine that took up a good chunk of space on her kitchen counter.

“Yeah, that works,” Demon answered.

“Lefty?”

“Make it two. You know I’m easy.”

“I know all too well, Lefty.” Gia winked. “What kind of information are you looking for?” She grabbed a large white mug, placed it under the tap, hit a few buttons and the machine whirred to life, sounding like a waking dragon.

“What do you know about Louis Castile?” Demon asked the question of the day.

Her shoulders tensed. “That he’s fucking insane.”

“Gia. I don’t like the way you just responded to that,” Lefty growled.

“He doesn’t take no for an answer very well. A few months ago, he got tired of the girls on the floor and decided I was on the menu.” She rolled her eyes and scowled. “I told him no a million different ways, but he keeps coming around, giving me the creeps with those dead eyes of his.”

“You won’t have to deal with him much longer,” Demon promised.

Gia turned. “Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Sidewinders made a move last night. Came by my house and started a war.”

“Jesus,” Gia whispered. “What the fuck was he thinking?”

“That’s what I want to know. You see him chatting up any of the other M.C.’s Have your girls heard him discussing any deals?” Demon asked.

“No, he’s almost always with his crew, or alone. Offhand, I can’t say what the girls might’ve heard, but I’ll start making my rounds and asking them. It’ll take me awhile. You know how many we keep on rotation and they live on club time, totally different from the nine to five.”

“Wake them up. You’re a lot kinder than me. I have no fucking problem going door to door and dragging them out of whatever coked up stupor, drunken binge they’ve found themselves in,” Demon warned, flexing his muscles as she set their mugs in front of them.

Not all strippers were the same. Some girls needed the cash flow to take care of family or put themselves through school. Others were hot messes who lived for the next high and easy cash. Those were the ones who ran a little business on the side. They did their best to keep that out of the club, but what they did on their free time was all them.

“I know a girl who…has a special relationship with Louis. If anyone knows something, it’s her. But you have to give me time to sober her up. You barge in and scare her half to death she’ll clam up, maybe even go straight to him.”

Demon clenched his jaw. He could give a fuck about scaring some whacked out of her mind bitch.

“Trust me D. I wouldn’t fuck around with the kids’ safety, you know that.” She lowered her voice and met his gaze.

“I’m trusting you with this.”

“I know. I’ll have everything you need by noon today. I promise. Now, let me get you guys something to eat before you hit the road. I have some Johnny Cakes I baked last night.”

Demon’s mouth watered at the thought of the sweet flavored bread. His stomach growled.

“Drink the Cappuccino. You look like you need it.”

Any other bitch he’d call out on semi bossing him around, but he liked Gia. They had an understanding when it came to important shit. He’d bought into her club and took it to another level. It’s how they met in the first place. He curled his hands around the warm cup, mentally plotting his next move once they left. It was time to head to the warehouse and take stock of their equipment. Some of the sister chapters should be rolling in soon.