Page 19 of More Tricks

“That depends who’s going to be at the fight… Dax, the enforcer, or Two Tricks, the newly discovered Queen of the Hidden Empire?” Tilly inquired. “Because I’ll tell you what, the Tricks name holds more weight to it than you probably ever wanted it to.”

“What kind of opponent would add to the draw?” I pressed, the wrigglings of an idea playing in my head.

She took another pull on her coffee, thinking, then set down the mug. “That’s what you need to find out. You and Void need to scour the internet for the baddest motherfucker out there right now, and you need to own his ass. I’m talking about the scum of the earth that people love to hate and won’t give two shits when you kill them.”

“Damn, maybe we do need you on this trip. Any way your men would let you come with us?” I asked with a chuckle.

“You let me see to that if I feel the plan needs me. Having an entourage would be helpful, keeps you in the limelight so others can do the work around you,” Tilly said, then pointed at me with a knowing look. “Unless you can’t handle not being the one who does the behind-the-scenes work. I know you tend to be as much of a control freak as Eagle is.”

“Wow,” I said with mock hurt, clutching my chest. “Shot fired. I’ve been hit right in the feels, man.”

She just laughed and shoved me with her hand. “I’m sure you’ll survive. Now was there another reason you came by other than my brilliance, of course?”

“Nah, just wanted to make sure you and the guys were good,” I admitted. “When you don’t make friends easily, and you lose them as fast as I do, it makes you more attentive, I suppose.”

“Then put your mind at ease because we are all just fine here. I also don’t plan on ditching you as a friend anytime soon, so toss that thought out in the garbage where it belongs. We women who live our lives on our own terms have to stick together in this world. Just be prepared to get a lot of shit for having as many men as you do,” Tilly reminded me. “I only have two, and the looks I get are rather entertaining, to be honest, but can be frustrating after a while. Yeah, I know you don’t give a flying fuck what people think, but it wears on you.”

Tilly made a good point making me remember Agent Eggers’ reaction and the nurse at the hospital. People could be so closed-minded to anything that wasn’t deemed normal. Even if I say fuck the status quo, others won’t be as quick to let it go. New York would be an interesting experience if the plan I had brewing worked.

The sound of someone opening the back door of the house pulled me from my thoughts, and I spotted Void. “Eagle’s five minutes away. Figured you’d want to be at the house when he gets there.”

That wasn’t really a question. I was more than ready to have Eagle back home. There was something about not having all my men in one stop that was driving me crazy. We’d all agreed that us splitting up never seemed to be a great option. So once Eagle was back, I’m sure there would be a conversation about that along with many other things.

Kissing Tilly quickly on the cheek, I gave her a wink. “Thanks for the brilliant idea, T, but I’ve got to go greet my man. You know how whiny they can be when they’re hurt.”

“Good luck, babe. Let me know if you need any more help,” she called as we walked around the back of the house.

I knocked my shoulder into Void’s arm and looked up at him. “Did you talk to him or Dani?”

“It was a call from the car phone, so they were both there, and for your next question, he sounded fine. Pissy, but that’s to be expected since they wouldn’t let him walk out of the hospital. He had to be wheeled out,” Void answered.

Snickering, I grabbed his hand and swung it between us. “Let’s see who’s the worst patient, him or me.”

“Oh, it will be him. You could be reasoned with,” Void said, giving my hand a squeeze. “Just remember not to take anything he says personally when he’s like this. Sometimes his temper gets the better of him.”

Well, this was going to be interesting. Let’s hope he still loved me after experiencing my bedside manner.

Chapter seven

Eagle

Shifting in my seat, I tried to find a position that wouldn’t hurt so damn much. Why the hell did I tell them I didn’t need any painkillers before leaving? Who was I trying to impress? Dani? Nah, she knew exactly how much pain I was in, but we couldn’t fill the prescription until we got into town. Something about narcotics and state line, who the fuck knows?

“How much longer until we get to the pharmacy?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

Dani looked at me with a knowing expression. I wasn’t fooling her in the slightest.

“Do you want something over the counter to help at least take the edge off?” she asked. “I told you it would help if you laid down in the back, so you’re not putting so much pressure on it.”

“I’ve been lying about for almost a day. I can’t take it anymore.” I growled as I yanked the seat belt looser so it wasn’t pressing on the wound.

Dani let out a sigh as we pulled off the highway and onto the road that would lead us to the pain meds. “Once you take one of these, it’s going to put you on your ass. You’ll be sleeping whether you want to or not, so be a stubborn ass. The meds will win.”

While Dani had been around for a few weeks when Dax was shot, I hadn't really spent much time with her one on one. Having had the pleasure over the past day, it made sense why Dax brought her into the fold. Dani was smart, didn’t take shit from anyone but had a real heart for taking care of people. We needed someone like her who could handle what most people would consider too intimidating to tell them to shut the hell up.

Before I was released, she made one more round to the other hospitals, looking after the guys, making sure they would all have rides home and people to look after them. It put me at ease to know she cared for everyone with the same protectiveness that she did Dax and me.

“You’re staying here,” she ordered. “I will be right back, don’t do anything stupid.”