High Voltage (Ramsey Security #3)

Hayes growls so loudly Dino finally rolls his eyes.

“Ruby called me to ask for help since Black got nervous about you talking to her. He sent his deputies after her. She’s hiding out and wants me to save her ass. If I say no, she’s planning to turn to the Serrated Fuckers.”

“I’ll be honest and admit I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Hayes exhales loudly. “Ruby lives in Hickory Creek Township and knows those Rutgers shitheads. If she calls them for help, they’re going to take an interest in Common Bend. While I don’t give a shit about them taking out Black, I’m sure your boyfriend does. That means you need to go to the Bend Over Bar and help Ruby.”

“I think you’re confused about the boyfriend thing. I’m dating Dino, not Johansson.”

“Are you trying to piss me off?”

“Is that a real question?”

“I’m hanging up now. You do whatever the fuck you want.”

Once Hayes hangs up, I look at Dino.

“I’m your boyfriend. Interesting,” he says, smirking.

“Don’t get excited. I consider anyone who fucks me more than twice a boyfriend.”

“So, what was that about?”

“We need to find that bartender from the strip club. The cops are after her. Apparently if we don’t save her, she’ll call the biker club from Hickory Creek.”

“So, let her call?”

“That’s bad for Cooper Johansson,” I say and then add when Dino shows no concern, “The guy paying us.”

“Oh, yeah, the paycheck thing. I have a nice nest egg, so one less payday won’t kill me. Let’s stay in bed.”

“Ruby might end up dead before her biker friends show up.”

Dino sighs. “I guess I don’t want to get a pretty girl killed.”

Laughing, I slide out of bed. “Was that an attempt to make me jealous?”

“No. In fact, you ought to get used to me calling women pretty. I like to flirt.”

“We’ll see if I care in a week.”

“Kneepads.”

I flip him off before running into the bathroom to pull on clothes. Returning to the bedroom, I find Dino dressed like he’d spent an hour getting his hair just right.

“Men suck.”

“Don’t we?”

I switch on the cameras in the room and grab Dick Richey’s phone before following Dino out of the room. We make our way down the stairs and use the back exit. Before we head to the bar where Ruby’s hiding, I decide to stop and pick up a few bottles of whiskey. Dino grins at my stash, understanding we’re about to make a mess for Sheriff Black.

I dial the Sheriff’s Department and leave a message for the man in charge, who is conveniently unavailable to take calls.

“Dick Richey wants him to know the bad people have a video of the bad stuff. They put it in an envelope. I don’t know what to do. I’m going to light a cigarette and think about it.”

I hang up and smack a laughing Dino. “What?”

“Was that accent supposed to sound Australian?”

“Yes.”

“Good thing you’re beautiful.”

“Shut the fuck up and get us to the bar before they kill that girl.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Dino presses down on the accelerator as we race into Common Bend’s city limits. We both put on ski masks and gloves. On the way to the bar, I spot a parked cruiser. Dino sees it too and slows down.

“My brother played with fire,” Dino says as I light up one of the Molotov cocktails. “He burned down our garage and ended up with scars on his forearm and leg. Lucky he didn’t end up crispy.”

“Did you have a point?”

“No.”

Grinning, I lean out of the window and throw the flaming bottle at the bottom of the cruiser.

“Nice shot,” he says, speeding away as the cop car goes up in a blaze.

“I played softball in high school.”

“Glad to know you changed teams before we met.”

I frown, not understanding. Once I get the softball equals lesbian thing, I punch him in the arm.

“Don’t be a pig.”

“Yeah, no promises there.”

The Bend Over Bar is as classy as the name implies. We spot an empty police cruiser parked halfway down the block. I assume the car’s owner is at the bar. I suspect he’s parked so far away to keep Ruby’s disappearance off the books.

Once I set the cruiser on fire, Dino pulls into the bar’s lot and parks around the back.

“No way will we get out of this without firing a shot,” Dino says, checking his weapons.

“No, but let’s try to avoid civilian injuries.”

Dino gives me a nod before we leave the SUV. Slow and sneaky won’t work in this situation. We need to get inside and control the situation.

Keeping his gun visible, Dino pulls open the bar’s door, and I hurry through. The heat and stink of the strip club hit me first. Next, I hear the sounds of people arguing. Turning a corner, I recognize the cops from the files given to us. The off-duty officers argue with the bartender.

“She ain’t here,” says the grizzled man.

The taller cop crosses his arms. “I heard different.”

“You heard wrong.”

“We’re going to look around.”