She snapped her mouth shut, chewing her lower lip. For a brief moment, her shoulder bumped against my chest as she leaned into me.
Then she shrugged my hand off, rubbing her arm.
“Wrap it up, everyone,” I announced. “Let’s clear out so Prez can rest.”
I lifted my chin in Psycho’s direction, indicating he had the first watch on Hillbilly. It wasn’t going to be easy, keeping the Sweeney issue quiet. At the first sign that we might be hiding something from Hillbilly, he would be like a dog with a bone, hunting down answers. Psycho knew how to disappear like a ghost when he wanted to, and I was hoping those skills would come in handy now.
We still didn’t have Sweeney’s money though. With less than twenty-four hours to go, it wasn’t looking good.
Lila and I were the last ones to leave. She gave Hillbilly one final squeeze, then tore herself away.
In the driveway, she paused at her car door, gripping the handle. She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath.
She looked…drained. Like she was seconds away from melting to the floor with a sob.
“Lila?” I said, concerned.
“I need a drink,” she rasped. “Something strong. Something that will…make me stop thinking for a little while.”
I nodded, rapping my knuckles on the hood of her car.
“Would you like some company? Or would you prefer to drink alone? Not that I would leave you alone, but it’s the thought that counts.”
Her eyes slid open and she fixed her gaze on me.
“Are you going to sneak a peek down my shirt?”
I arched an eyebrow, surprised that her tone almost sounded…inviting. Or maybe that was my imagination playing tricks on my mind.
“Do you want me to?”
She hedged for a moment.
“I’ve come to expect that from you. When an opportunity presents itself, you take it, right?”
Ah. So that’s what she was after—some semblance of normalcy.
“Get me drunk enough and I might even be brave enough to feel you up,” I replied.
Lila huffed a dry laugh and pulled her door open.
“No touching the goods, remember?”
Chapter six
Lila
The world was spinning, my head was throbbing, and my vodka bottle was almost empty. I held it up with a frown, examining the last swallow of liquid swirling at the bottom.
“I think I need another one,” I said, slurring.
Pretty Boy snorted.
“What you need is solid food. You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
I grumbled under my breath.
“You’re not my nanny.”
