Their tempers instantly stink up the place again. Dino wraps an arm possessively around my shoulders, and I give up on keeping his hands off of me.
“Amateurs or not, these are still cops,” Dino says, tightening his hold on me. “Johansson and his crew can’t exactly ride into town and kill them all without getting the attention of the state guys.”
“Hair gel has a point,” Hayes mutters.
“This is my natural style, beef boy.”
“Will you two shut the fuck up already?” I nearly yell. “You’re making my period kick in early. Trust me, once that happens, all bets are off on which one of you lives.”
“Don’t worry, Apples. You’re sexy enough for me to ignore a little blood.”
Shoving him away from me, I storm off towards the front of the hotel. I know Dino will growl at Hayes. Cussing will ring out. Threats exchanged. I don’t give a shit, though. Even if they pee in a circle to claim territory, I’m uninterested.
Someone took a shot at me. I’d really like to shoot back, but I’m hamstrung by laws and rules and other normally pointless shit.
Dialing Rafael, I enter the hotel to find the staff indifferent to the mess outside. If the police are coming, I don’t hear sirens. Hayes runs a tight ship in White Horse, and a shootout at the local Hampton Inn isn’t news.
I’m in the elevator by the time he answers, but I don’t explain the situation until in my room.
“I agree we’re likely dealing with amateurs,” he says, “but I agree with Dino that Cooper killing cops remains a problem.”
“Cooper killing them is a problem but not us, right?”
“I wouldn’t send you to play recon on a nothing job, Minka. We need to turn Common Bend upside down and shake out all of the loose ends.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s what Memphis wants.”
Sighing, I flop into the chair. “I hate working for outfits. They have unrealistic expectations.”
“True but I did work for Memphis for a long time. I’ll run interference so you don’t get stuck in their web. Can you work with Dino to dismantle Black’s organization?”
“How clean does Johansson want Common Bend?”
“Black has likely put new people in charge of the main parts of the town’s businesses.”
Kicking off my boots, I wish I had something to eat in the room. “The pharmaceutical side shouldn’t be difficult to clean. I don’t get the sense Black knows anything about safe production. If his new people don’t either, they’d likely blow themselves up. We can just speed that along.”
“Let me know if you need anything. I can send supplies or people. I’m also only a few hours away if you need the big guns.”
“Listen to you brag,” I say, laughing. “Do you think Troy will fly in and Dino can return to Houston?”
“Doubtful on the latter, but I’m sure Troy would help out.”
Imagining Dino and Troy growling at each other, I decide I can’t handle more testosterone.
“No, let Troy play cuddles with his woman. Dino should provide a decent human shield.”
Rafael remains quiet for a minute, and I feel him thinking. Rolling my eyes, I wish I could slap him through the phone.
“What?”
“Dino is sweet on you. He might make mistakes based on those feelings.”
“Sweet? He’s a dog in heat. I’m sure that’s not a new experience for him.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, princess,” he says, and I hear him fighting laughter. “Call if you need anything. Otherwise, have fun.”
9
Dino
Fly Me to the Moon
The corpses on the ground taunt me. Killing them would have impressed Minka. She likes a strong man, and I am a strong man, but this stupid bear-sized fucker decided to ruin shit. I ought to kick his ass for ruining my big moment, but he’s carrying a shotgun like he knows what I’m considering.
“Nicely done with the skirt,” he says, clenching the cigar in his teeth.
Realizing what he means, I frown. “How did you know? Are you stalking us?”
Hayes taps at his throat and then points at mine. “The hickeys are a dead giveaway.”
Fixing my shirt collar, I shake out my shoulders. “The girl knows what she wants.”
“Or she’s bored in a small town.”
“Fuck off, Mountain Man.”
“Big talk for a guy standing in someone’s piss.”
I look down and realize the dead guy relieved himself at some point.
“I ain’t sorry to leave behind the days of cleaning up my messes,” I say, wiping my shoes off on the guy’s chest. “Good thing I have the help to do it for me now.”
Hayes grunts, but his focus is on approaching guys dressed in painter gear.
“Scrub it down, boys,” Hayes says, resting the shotgun over his shoulder and walking away. “Watch your back, Piss Feet. I won’t always be around to do it for you.”
I want to flip him off. No, I’d rather beat the shit out of him. Maybe shove that shotgun up his mountain-man ass.