“I know,” I sighed because I knew them well. The Green Zone was neutral, the Switzerland of the greater Las Vegas area, which meant she couldn’t do anything to help or hurt any of the crews that operated within it.
“This is plenty,” I told her sincerely. “Just drop me off anywhere,” I said as another coughing fit took over.
“Stay here,” she said as she pushed the gearshift into park on the old car and stepped out. “You need food and water.”
“And smokes,” I called out to her. “I haven’t had a fix in days, and I need…something, Tits. Please.”
“And cigarettes,” she mumbled before slamming the driver’s side door behind her.
I sat up slowly, grunting through the pain in my side to see where we were. It was a free-standing convenience store that sat just off the interstate with a duo of payphones out front. I was tempted to make a call to my father, because a small part of me wanted to believe he was still looking for me, but I knew better.
Too much time had passed, and he’d moved on, probably gave the reins to my brother like Brendan always wanted. They’d forgotten all about me, most likely. Or worse, they didn’t want me because after all this time, I might have revealed organizational secrets to put the Rhymer family and The Crusaders in danger.
Either way, I was a woman without a home.
And I had to get the fuck away from here.
Chapter Nine
Charlie
“You throw one hell of a party, Ashby!” It was tough to be heard over the loud thump of the bass music below, where curvy girls with big tits shook and shimmied to the music while hungry and horny men tossed one, five, and twenty-dollar bills onto the stage.
Jasper smiled and leaned in, the amber liquid in his glass sloshing around as he did. “It’s not every day your kid brother gets married.” He shrugged it off, but he wore a wide smile, either from too many drinks or just because who didn’t like to hang out with his boys while naked women danced below.
“Lucky Lopez is a damn good place for a man’s last night of freedom!”
I tossed my head back and laughed at his words, true as they were.
“No shit. There’s some hot ass down there, that’s for sure. But this VIP room, it’s the shit, Jas.”
The room was mirrored glass on three sides so important guests could see out into the club, but no one could see inside. “It’s pretty fucking perfect.”
“Right?” He snapped his fingers and a server in nothing but a silver thong and fuck me heels, teetered over with a smile.
“What can I getcha, Mr. Ashby?” She blinked up at him with long lashes and a smile that said she’d be happy to get him anything he needed.
Jasper barely paid attention to her, his gaze focused on the redhead with a wide smile serving up drinks in the corner. She had the attention of no less than four different Reckless Bastards, not to mention three of the four giants who provided security for Ashby card games.
“More whiskey for me and another dark beer for my friend,” he said, ignoring her attention.
Deflated, the waitress rolled her eyes and glared at me as if I was the reason she couldn’t get any play. “Well?”
“No thanks, I’ll just have Maureen mix up something for me since she doesn’t mind doing her job.”
The girls at Bungalow Three would never act this way toward a paying customer. They were always smiling and happy, tits poked out and lips formed into a perfect pout. Shit. Now I was thinking about the girls who’d been snatched. Again.
So far neither Jag nor Jameson had found anything on the dark web, no evidence of our women anywhere. It really pissed me off I hadn’t been able to find them, more so that I couldn’t even enjoy Virgil’s bachelor party because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“Hey man, you all right?”
I looked at Jasper and shrugged. “Yeah man. Just club shit I can’t seem to turn off.”
He flashed a knowing smile and clapped me on the back as we made our way over to the long table filled with booze. “It’s a job that has no days off, I’m afraid.” Jasper laughed and cut through the crush of men, working hard to get another of Maureen’s throaty laughs.
“Mo, how about a shot of something strong for Charlie? And a beer chaser.”
“Comin’ right up, luv.” She winked and turned away, a small blush staining her cheeks.
“Interesting.”
Jasper glared at me and shook his head. “There’s nothing interesting about Mo. Got that?”
A bark of laugher escaped just as Maureen—or Mo—set a shot of whiskey and a long-neck of beer right in front of me and said, “Drink up, my friend. Virgil’s getting married!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mo!” Virgil groaned out loud as a cheer erupted from every man in the room, pushing him toward the table where Maureen had lined up four shots. “Four?”