Sean chuckles low. “Yeah, I don’t think they’re going to like that answer.”
My head tilts. “I thought you were the big boss man?”
He scowls and shifts in his seat. “Everyone has someone above them.”
I shrug. “I don’t. Unless it’s some woman riding my dick.”
The way his nostrils flare, he doesn’t like that. “Regardless, all this shit”—he gestures to the powder on the table—“comes from somewhere. There’s always someone further up the line calling the shots.”
“What message did you come here to deliver, since you’re making it clear that you’re just the errand boy?”
“Like I said. They’re cutting your take by ten percent.”
I stand and fasten the button on my suit jacket closed. “No, they won’t, and if they try, they won’t be running anything through my clubs anymore. You’re not the only piece of shit who slings dope, you know.”
Sean stands too. “I told them you’d say no.”
“Good. Then they won’t be surprised.” Without waiting for him to respond, I make my way to the door. Once my hand is on the knob, I turn and look at him over my shoulder. “Make sure that shit is off my table before you leave this room.”
Then I head back to my office. No one stops me, as I’m sure my mood is written all over my face.
This shit with Sean is a problem. I’ll be surprised if whoever Sean’s dealing with accepts my no. Which means I’m going to have to come up with a contingency plan.
Shouldn’t be that hard. As I told Sean, he’s not the only player in town.
The biggest challenge will be doing so while I’m spending half my time in Wisconsin.
I wanted to move things along with Hattie slowly so that I don’t spook her. So that when all the pieces are in place, she’s primed and ready to accept my offer. Instead, as I reach my office, I pull my phone from my pocket and pull up my lawyer’s number. I don’t give a shit if it’s Saturday night. He always answers my calls.
Of course, he answers on the first ring. “Saturday night? Really, Bastion?”
“I want the timeline moved up. Make them an offer they can’t refuse. I want this deal closed in the next three weeks max.” I hang up and slam my office door shut behind me.
Just like when she was in my life, Carla’s reappearance has meant nothing but emotional turmoil for me.
I flew back into Wisconsin last night. I hadn’t planned to be here until Tuesday morning so that I’d meet Hattie at the café that evening, but I changed my mind last minute on Sunday afternoon. I want to spend today and tomorrow trailing Hattie. I need to really know this woman if I’m going to be able to manipulate her.
She leaves for work at the exact same time as she did the day I broke into her apartment last week. Creature of habit. No big surprise. She’s a con artist’s dream.
Hattie drives straight to work in her shitty little sedan—no stops for breakfast or coffee. When lunch rolls around, a bunch of her colleagues leave to grab something, but not Hattie. She must pack a lunch or not eat at all. I should’ve guessed that Hattie’s a brown bagger.
At the end of the day, she appears a little bit after the majority of her coworkers have already departed, and I sink down in my seat when she pulls out of the parking lot. Once she’s passed me, I start the car and follow her. She heads to Carla’s salon.
Seeing the two of them together through the front window makes my chest tighten, squeezing the breath from my lungs. They laugh as if they don’t have a care in the world, and I grit my teeth. Then Carla takes Hattie to the back of the salon, but when they return, Hattie’s hair is wet, and it’s clear that she’s here for a haircut.
I hope Hattie doesn’t cut her long, dark hair too much.
What the fuck is that thought about?
The steering wheel creaks as my hands tighten around it. I force myself to let go and shake out my aching hands. That’s a habit I need to stop.
Nothing eventful happens while Hattie gets her hair cut, and she gives Carla a long embrace before she leaves.Relax, ladies, you’ll see each other soon.Carla runs her palm down Hattie’s cheek, and my nostrils flare.
I follow Hattie back to her apartment, where she stays for the rest of the night.
The next morning, I trail her to work. Once again, she leaves at the exact same time and doesn’t deviate from her route to work, nor does she leave at lunch.
I abandon my post mid-afternoon to prepare for our meeting that evening.
