“Something funny?”
“Fuck yeah, it’s funny imagining you trying to force Shell to take the money. Do it, Prez, but make sure I’m there to see her crush those cantaloupe-sized balls of yours under her tiny foot. Oh man, the guys are gonna love this.” Jig was giving him a shit-eating smile typical of Maverick.
“Look, jerkoff, by my count, she’s given this fuckwad at least eighteen thousand dollars to cover her pop’s debts. Our old president, who was apparently doing some shady deals behind our backs. In what world should she be out eighteen thousand dollars when she needs to buy her girl the fucking world?”
Jig sobered in an instant. “I hear you, Cop. Loud and clear. And I agree, she deserves every dollar back, but I also know her. She’s proud as fuck, stubborn as a damn mule, and does not accept handouts.”
“So, you got a better idea?”
“Sure do,” Jig said just as Mav and Zach showed up at the door.
“Hey, Boss. Jig,” Mav said as he barged in, uninvited. “Heard what you guys were talking about. Wanted to come in and offer our help.”
Copper ran a hand down his face. “This ain’t a fucking locker room, boys. I ever catch you spying outside my door, you’ll spend a few weeks lower than the prospects.”
Zach rolled his eyes and sat on the edge of Copper’s desk.
He was losing fucking control. Last night, Shell hadn’t been intimidated by him, now his guys were acting as though it were lunch hour in High School. Copper ran a hand down his face and growled. This wasn’t some joke. This was Shell’s livelihood, her safety, her life. Maybe he was too close to his men. They didn’t fear him.
“That’s fucking enough,” he roared, slamming his fists down on his desk. Every single object on the desk flew into the air including the full mug of coffee. “Fuck,” he said as it landed on the floor, spilling hot liquid and shattering.
The three men in his office stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Prospect,” he bellowed out the open door. Then he looked at his guys. “Quit the bullshit. I want Shell out from under these assholes thumb, and I want her money returned. Yesterday.”
“Sup, Prez?” LJ stuck his head in the door.
“Clean this shit up,” he said, pointing to the mess.
“On it.” LJ disappeared into the hallway.
There, that’s how they should all be acting. President says jump and they don’t ask how high, they just jump the fucking highest they can.
“Sorry, Cop,” Zach said. “I promise we’re taking this seriously.”
“You know we all love Shell like family. We’ll get it straight.” Mav was serious for once.
“I wasn’t saying Shell won’t take the money back. Just that she won’t take club money. So, we don’t give her club money. We get it back from Joe,” Jig dropped his feet to the ground and leaned forward.
“Yes!” Zach clapped once then rubbed his hands together. “Louie would be more than happy to get in on that action. Joe’s a dick.” As club’s enforcer, Zach was the one who paid visits to clients not repaying their loans on time. His favorite form of message delivery was a baseball bat he’d nicknamed Louie.
“All right,” Copper nodded. “Church Thursday at eight. We’ll discuss it then.”
A commotion in the hallway had them frowning at each other, then filing into the central area of the club room.
Shell stood at the bar, hands on her hips. Her hair was damp and a little wilder than usual like she’d run right out of the house after a shower. “Swear to God, LJ, if you don’t tell me whether Copper’s here, I’m going to shove one of those bottles up your—”
“I’m right here, babe. No need to sodomize the poor prospect.”
Shell spun slowly until she faced Copper. Those gorgeous blue eyes had narrowed to slits, and he could practically see sparks flying from her head.
“Oh boy,” Zach murmured. “Someone’s in trouble.”
“Yep,” Mav said, failing to disguise his chuckle. “You piss off the fairy, Cop?”
Mav had it right; she looked like a tiny, furious fairy.
“Don’t you tell me what to do, Copper.” Shell stomped over to him. She held up her hand, fist full of the money he’d left on her dresser. Ahh, should have known that wouldn’t sit well with her. “What the hell is this, huh?”
“Babe—”
“Don’t you babe me, Copper. Was this all a little game to you? Think you can butter me up? Sleep in my bed and, what? I’m so pathetic and desperate I’ll just take your handouts?” She shook her head. “I wake up to find a stack of money on the dresser like I’m some kind of whore. Well, you can take your money and shove it. I am not a charity case!” She screamed the last sentence as she tossed the crumpled money at him.