“I don’t know.” Even though the drinks have filled me with invincibility, I still have to meet up with Eduardo later, and I have no intention of screwing that up.
“I’m sure by the end of the night, she’ll change her mind,” Maxie pipes up.
I take another sip of this delicious potion, and my earlier anxiety is replaced with a warmth and empowerment that I could do anything.
Diesel taking that bitch Chantel to the private rooms—who cares?
Diesel staring at me, not fifteen feet away—who cares?
Diesel totally ignoring me—fuck him.
In another time or place, maybe I would’ve cared, or at least had the option to care, but not here and certainly not now when my future hangs just out of reach.
CHAPTER 13
DIESEL
What the ever-loving fuck does Martina think she’s doing? That must be her third margarita. Yeah, I’m the asshole who counts drinks. Worse, the prospect is drooling all over her.
“What the fuck is that prospect’s name?” I bark at Blood.
“Which one? We got about four here tonight.”
“The asshole behind the bar.”
“You mean the one who’s been hitting on Martina since she sat down?”
“Yeah, wiseass, that one.”
Smoke rises in his seat for a better look. “Oh, yeah, took him on two weeks ago. Where you been?”
“Working my ass off in the gym.” I throw Smoke a look, and he glares at me. I usually have mad respect for my prez, but watching this shit go on right in front of me is too much. “What’s his name?”
“Jared,” Blood says. “He came down here after the chop shop he was working for in Oceanside got raided. He ducked out, and ran his ass down here to Tijuana. Land of theMisfits.”
Blood and Smoke laugh at his joke, but I’m not finding anything funny right now.
Like a lot of guys, including myself, the prospect is hiding out in Tijuana. None of which we care about as long as he pours drinks and keeps his hands out of the register. So far, so good. It also doesn’t hurt that he is young, good-looking and keeps the female clientele happy.
I just don’t like that he’s keeping Martina happy.
“The guy can hot-wire anything. He’s already checked out our garage and made some improvements, but he’s laying low ‘cause he can’t chance getting arrested again.”
“Again?” I question.
Smoke shrugs. “He also had a shit-ton of parking violations and other priors.”
“So, he’s a fuckin’ criminal?”
Smoke and Blood cock their head at the exact same time. Fuckin’ annoying.
“Says the guy who ran his ass down here after beating the piss outta some Kansas City mobster.”
“Totally different.”
They both break up laughing, and I shoot them both a death glare.
“Don’t go giving us the fisheye just ‘cause he’s gonna get his dick wet tonight, and you’re not.”
