Code looked around the table. “I have to say I really admire Anat Gamal. I’d like to meet her someday. She was smart getting out when she did. She didn’t bring much with her, but she made a good life for her and her granddaughter in Los Angeles. They both worked their asses off.”
Player found his heart beginning to pound hard, accelerating until he thought it might burst. Code refused to look his way. He wasn’t meeting his gaze no matter how much Player willed him to. He kept tapping the file he had on the applicant. It was fairly thick. Code always managed to dig deep really fast, using multiple computers to get what he wanted on whomever he was interested in.
“The younger Ms. Gamal was raised in Los Angeles, but like her grandmother, worked while she was in school, holding down several jobs and contributing to paying off the debt they owed to Lizz Johnson. Johnson gave Anat the money to get started. That debt was paid in full. I looked into Johnson’s bank account and every penny was repaid.”
“For fuck’s sake, Code,” Player burst out.
Code ignored him, but there was a faint grin on his face that told Player Anat Gamal was his private dancer’s grandmother.
“When Anat’s granddaughter went to Germany to college, Anat moved to Sea Haven. Lizz Johnson had retired to Sea Haven several years earlier and talked about it so much that Anat decided to retire there. The granddaughter’s paycheck was extremely high, but her overhead was low. Her company paid for travel, living accommodations and just about any other expenses. Both she and her grandmother always lived frugally, so she bought her grandmother the home Anat is living in outright. It’s a beautiful piece of property in Sea Haven, and they don’t come cheap.”
“If they have money, why is she so desperate for a job?” Alena asked.
“Most of the granddaughter’s money is tied up, and she’d take hefty penalties to get it out. That said, she could do it and she’d still be well off. My guess is, she figures she can work and pay the bills and leave the money where it is. These women have been careful all their lives, and they’ll continue to be. They don’t mind hard work.”
Player leaned back in his chair, running both hands through his hair repeatedly. It couldn’t be that big of a coincidence. She couldn’t just drop into his lap like this. “Code? Come on, man. Stop giving me a hard time. Is that Zyah? Is she the one applying for the job?”
Code flashed a grin at him. “The applicant is Zyah Gamal. She lives with her grandmother, Anat Gamal. She’s unmarried and is twenty-seven years old. Smart as hell, Player, and far too good for you.”
“You know this woman, Player?” Czar asked.
“Yes. Hell yes. She’s mine.” He claimed her without a qualm. “Doesn’t know it yet and doesn’t like me very much right now, but she’s definitely mine.”
Czar scowled at him. “What do you mean, she doesn’t like you very much? That doesn’t sound good to me.”
“I might have screwed up with her,” Player admitted.
“Might have?” Preacher echoed.
“Yeah, just a little,” Maestro said, nudging Code. “Came in begging us to look at the security tape after the party. Wanted to see if his dream girl was real.”
“Made her cry,” Destroyer said. “She left in tears.” He crossed his arms and leveled his gaze at Player.
“Can’t have that,” Savage said. “We need this woman to work that store. I’m not doin’ that again.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “You never actually worked in the store, Savage. You, Destroyer, Reaper or Maestro didn’t ever pull a shift.”
“Are you kidding me?” Alena burst out. She glared at Czar. “Are you kidding me, Czar?” she repeated, sounding outraged. “All of us had to pull a shift at that store. Why did they get a pass? It isn’t like Savage is busy or anything. He just sits around sharpening his knife.”
“I offered to cut up vegetables in your kitchen for you,” Savage said. “Don’t be jealous because some of us are manly men and we have to look pretty and be ready to defend you from the evils around you.”
Alena flipped him off. “No one said the lot of you are in the least bit manly.”
Savage flexed his muscles.
Lana laughed and punched him. “They did all the grunt work, Alena. Inez refused to have them scaring the customers in the front of the store where anyone might see them. They unloaded trucks and shelved everything in the middle of the night.”
Alena looked from Savage to Reaper, Destroyer and then Maestro. “I can’t see it in Maestro. He’s so sweet. The others, yes, but Maestro? Why did Inez blackball him?”
“He gave her the death stare the moment she tried him on the register behind the counter,” Lana explained and burst out laughing. “That was all it took. He was sent to do the grunt work with the rest of the scary boys.”