“A cat can’t disapp…”
Jessa sucked in a breath. She looked at the box and shook her head. She thought about the last thing he ever said to her before he was arraigned and put away.
Don’t worry, my little kitty, I’ll be back for you.
Slowly, Jessa grabbed at one of the loose flaps of the box. She knew what she was going to find inside but yet she had to see it anyway. She did her best not to scream and cause a scene, but she did fall forward, into the wall, catching herself with her other hand.
There was only one person she could call. A man she swore to herself she would never ever see again.
She had to call the man responsible for her best friend’s death… she had to call Blaine…
three.
Blaine kicked open the door and everyone stood to applaud him. He put his hands out and nodded. “Bring it in, boys. Bring it in…”
Behind him, Miller pushed through the door and gripped Blaine’s shoulder tight. “You done yet?”
“I’m just getting started,” Blaine said. “I think I have everyone beat.”
“Don’t forget,” Miller said, “I stole the Chief’s wife and baby. I think that takes the cake over getting a blow job in jail.”
“True,” Blaine said. “But I didn’t get a blow job in jail. I was face down in some sweet, nasty stuff too. They couldn’t get the cell open fast enough. I pulled the one away from my face and looked right at the new chief and shot my load into the other one’s mouth.”
“Wait a second,” Trev said. “You came while staring at another guy?”
“Yeah,” Blaine said. “Well, no. Yeah. I mean, it was the chief. You know? Like a… like a big fuck you to you…”
“That’s weird,” Gaige said.
“Really weird,” Miller said.
“No, no,” Blaine said. “You guys let that woman suck on your dick for a few minutes and watch what happens. The pope could have come into the cell and I wouldn’t have been able to stop.”
“Oh, Christ,” Miller said. “Just sit the fuck down so we can talk.”
Miller closed the door behind him. Everyone at the table took a seat.
Blaine sat down and rubbed his chin.
What a fucking night.
He was running on empty right now. He sat in jail until almost two in the morning. That’s when they all got released. At the same time. They went back to the strip club so Blaine could get his motorcycle. He had room for one of them to come with him…
“So I see we have a new guy in charge of the Frelen PD,” Miller said as he made fists and put them on the table. “Blaine was the lucky one to meet him.”
“Yeah, lucky,” Blaine said. He and Miller looked at each other. Not a lot of people knew Blaine’s deepest secrets. Not that he had any ties to the law or justice, but it still stunk on him a little. “The guy’s an asshole. As expected.”
“We’re his first target,” Miller said. “And why not? It was no shock the relationship we had with Jerry for all those years. Keeping the balance between good and bad. We did the dirty work and the PD came out looking brave and clean.”
“Fuck them,” Nate said. “Everything we just went through with Jerry…”
“None of that matters,” Miller said. “They knew he was fucked in the head. That’s why the suicide was accepted and let go. They won’t memorialize Jerry. They won’t talk about him. They’re pushing to move forward. But I’m sure somewhere in the back of their minds, they blame us.”
“It’s been a bloody and rough time,” Blaine said. “But it’ll settle now. There’s no more shit outside. Eight Under has been kept under control for a while now. Coast Road has nothing since we took their deals away.”
“Now we just have the entire PD looking at us again,” Shay said. “Like we’re ants under a magnifying glass.”
“Except there’s no sun,” Miller said. “They’ll come hard, but they have nothing. I need all of you to keep your noses clean. No getting busted at the titty bar…”
“Whoa,” Blaine said. “Let’s get something straight. It’s not a titty bar. It’s an entertainment establishment.”
“And they entertain you with their tits out,” Landon said.
“Not just their tits, man,” Blaine said. “Not for me. You can’t imagine…”
“Oh, we can,” Gaige said.
“Why did they bust up the place?” Trev asked.
“To flex their muscles,” Blaine said. “They were checking for licenses. For issues. Alleged rumors of prostitution and drugs. They wanted to shake down the dancers.”
“Looks like you got mouthy,” Gaige said and touched the side of his face.
Blaine touched the swollen cut on his face. “You know me, man.”
“Always an opinion.”
“One of them hit one of the girls,” Blaine said. “I don’t go for that shit.”
“Christ,” Shay said. “He’s pushing power, huh?”
“He’s trying to create rank,” Miller said. “Trying to show who is big, little, whatever. We can push back. We will push back. He’s not going to find anything he thinks.” Miller slowly sat down. “But we still have to survive.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Blaine said. “I know that tone, Miller.”