High Voltage (Ramsey Security #3)

“Don’t you care what happens here?” I ask while pulling on my boots.

“Not really.” When I frown at him, he turns off the TV. “The way I see it, these people fighting over Common Bend will fight no matter what we do. They’re all assholes wanting the same thing. Sooner or later, they’re going to fight it out. Whoever wins will only keep the town for a while before they fight again. Someone else might win, and then they’ll fight again. As long as you have more than one asshole claiming the same thing, the battle won’t end. What you and I do won’t mean shit.”

“I guess, but I still feel bad for the people in the crossfire.”

“Me too. We help the ones we can, but I won’t pretend like they’re so much better off with Cooper than they are with Black. They’re slaves to one faction or another. We can’t fix that part, and you’d be a fool to want to.”

“Call me an idealist, but I want the good guys to win.”

“What if there are no good guys?”

“Then the least-awful guys.”

Sliding off the bed, Dino walks to me. “And you think that’s Cooper’s crew?”

“Yeah, I guess. The prostitute Black killed didn’t die on Cooper’s watch. Ruby wasn’t attacked on his watch either. The meth heads we killed didn’t work for Cooper. I’d say he’s the least horrible of the choices.”

“What about your boyfriend, Hayes?” he asks, caressing my lower lip again.

“He works too hard already, and I worry taking on Common Bend will keep him from snuggling with me at night.”

“Not funny,” he growls.

“You started it.”

Dino sighs. “Yeah, I did, but you were supposed to be offended and say you found Hayes repulsive. Do I need to give you a script to follow?”

“Couldn’t hurt,” I tease while grabbing my gun holster. “I guess we should visit my boyfriend and see what kind of mess he made.”

“Don’t look at him.”

Laughing, I strap my gun under my jacket. “Heaven forbid.”

“I don’t want him looking at you either.”

“Then you better flirt with him so he has something else to focus on.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Dino says, disappearing into the bathroom.

While waiting for him to clean up, I check my phone for messages. Restless, I text Ruby to see if she’s still safe.

She replies cryptically, “Bikers in my house isn’t my idea of safe. No cops at least.”

“Do you need help?” I text back.

Ruby only texts, “LOL.”

I don’t know why she finds my offer funny, but figure I’ll learn soon enough when Cooper’s guys meet with the Serrated Brotherhood’s guys. Imagining all of the dick measuring I’ll soon witness, I realize I’m in for a long few days.





16


Dino

The Big Baby Roars

Arriving at Hayes office, we find the brunette temp from our last visit missing. A blonde woman sits at the front desk, and I doubt she’ll survive the rest of the day. She flinches every time Hayes yells at someone in the back room, and the asshole screams like a tantruming toddler. Hell, I suspect she’ll run for her life within an hour.

The woman pretends to care if we have an appointment. Minka ignores the temp and walks to the back room. I give the chick a smile, but she only grimaces at the sound of Hayes yelling again.

Hurrying after Minka, I don’t want her alone with Hayes. Not because he’s pissed. She can handle his giant ass in a fight. I’m more worried about him deciding that fucking a sexy assassin will distract from his problems.

Minka is already sitting in a chair when I walk into the room. Hayes is still on the phone. His back is to us, but he clearly knows Minka’s arrived because his yelling is a few decibels lower. I frown at his attempt to show her respect.

Sitting next to Minka, I glance around Hayes’s office. He has a million sticky notes on the walls and his desk. Everything in the room is stacked on more mess. The guy needs a maid, receptionist, and mommy to clean up all of this bullshit. Too bad he’s awful and can’t keep anyone around. I bet even his mom hit the road after spending an hour with him.

“Fix it,” Hayes says and then hangs up.

The giant idiot turns around and leans back in his long-suffering chair.

“What the fuck were you two fucks doing while Black shot up my town?”

“Sleeping, probably,” Minka says.

Reaching for her hand, I add, “Fucking is more likely.”

Minka smacks away my hand. I want to be angry since I’m trying to make a fucking point with Hayes. Instead, I laugh because of Minka’s expression. The chick can’t wrap her head around my need to claim her. Does she not know how the world works?

“Your office looks fine,” Minka says.

“It’s a big concrete hunk. My house is a fucking house, darling.”

“Don’t call her that,” I grunt.

Minka rolls her eyes, but I catch her smiling too. Hayes is less amused.

“Is it possible for you to stop thinking with your dick for a few minutes, playboy?”