Dino follows behind me, and I can feel his gaze on my ass. Glancing back, I frown hard at him. He grins back and wiggles his eyebrows.
I open the door to a small office complete with wood paneling and shag carpet. The place looks like a 1970’s relic. Who gives a shit about the décor when there’s an honest-to-goodness giant puffing on a cigar behind the desk?
I thought I knew big guys, but Angus Hayes is a fucking tank. Owning the room isn’t even an option since he literally breathes it in. Next to Hayes, Dino is a twerp. Well, a nearly irresistible twerp anyway.
“Don’t even think about it,” Dino says to me while we stand in the doorway. “His dick would tear you apart. Not worth the risk.”
My mouth opens with a really snappy response ready to go, but he interrupts me.
“Fine, fuck him. I only ask that you wait until I’m done with your pussy so that I don’t get the ruined remains.”
My snappy comeback never materializes as we take our seats. The dark-haired Hayes glares at us with his raging, nearly-black eyes. In another world, I might find this jackass attractive, but Dino has blinded me to other men.
Like a drill sergeant, he doesn’t remove his cigar before barking at us. “Why in the fuck are you fuckers dressed like that?”
“We’re incognito, big guy,” Dino says, adjusting in his chair like his dick isn’t fitting right in his stupid dress pants.
“Please ignore him, Mister Hayes.”
“Kiss ass,” Dino mutters.
“Would you two shut the fuck up?”
“Hey, this is a lady over here,” Dino says, jutting his thumb at me.
“Don’t defend me, Linguini. I can handle my own shit.”
“I was raised to be a gentleman.”
“Where’s the fucking off button with you two cunts?”
Frowning at Hayes, I kick his desk. “Watch your mouth. This idiot might be professional enough not to shoot you, but I’m starting my period soon, so all bets are off.”
“Sexy,” Dino says, and he isn’t kidding. Adjusting in his chair again, he acts like his dick is very impressed by my period declaration.
“Idiot.”
Hayes leans back in his chair, causing the poor thing to groan in agony. With the big man angry with us, I feel like a scolded child. I’m a professional, but this guy scares me. If he makes a sudden move, I’ll likely shoot him and run out the room screaming.
“You two fucks finished?”
Dino leans forward. “In school, did the kids ever call you anus?”
I smack Dino as soon as he finishes his insult. Hayes still narrows his eyes, and I suspect we might die soon.
“Here’s how it works,” Hayes says, breathing too heavily to be healthy. “I run White Horse. Nothing happens here unless I sanction it. As long as you shits remain in my territory, you won’t get shanked. I can’t protect you outside of White Horse. I made that fact perfectly fucking clear to Johansson.”
“We’ll be fine, steak man,” Dino says.
When I roll my eyes, Sausage gives me one of his deliciously smarmy grins.
“What are your thoughts about this new sheriff,” I ask Hayes, hoping to find an ounce of professionalism in this train wreck meeting.
“I think he’s a fucking con. Everyone thinks he’s a damn saint, caring for old ladies and Girls Scouts and shit. I know he’s a killer, and his new, better cops are assholes.”
“Know how?”
Dino leans over and loudly whispers, “You’re sexy when you work.”
I ball my hand, ready to punch him, but he only leans back and snickers. Hayes chews on his cigar, and I again think we might need to shoot our way out of this office.
“What the fuck is wrong with that fucker?” Hayes asks me.
“He’s in heat, and I don’t think his mom hugged him enough.”
“Or maybe she hugged him too fucking much.”
Dino loses his smile. “Hey, now. I will put up with a lot of shit from a hot woman, but no one talks about my mom. The woman is a damn saint.”
“Can I say she did a good job, or is that off limits too?”
Relaxing again, Dino smirks. “That’s fine. Compliments are always welcome.”
“So,” Hayes says, standing up and making me reach for my gun under my jacket, “this cop comes into town, and he’s all friendly smiles and kissing babies. Like the fucker is running for fucking mayor.”
Hayes clearly loves the word “fuck.” I can’t hear anything he says except that word. I need to pay attention, though, since Dino clearly isn’t.