Page 96 of More Tricks

“After yesterday, I figured we could all use a stiff drink or two,” she admitted. “Gator hates to get stitched up, so we tried to bandage it last time, but I knew it was too deep of a cut. When it didn’t stop oozing blood this morning, he finally relented.”

“I guess I can’t blame him. Stitches suck ass,” I said, taking another more controlled sip of coffee. “Is that the only injury out of the three of you?”

“Yeah, they had me in the back the whole time reloading for those who needed ammo. Gator didn’t get hurt until the end when they realized how badly they were losing. A Mad Dog went down swinging and caught him in the thigh with a knife. Mutt was helping to coordinate everyone's movements, so he was all over the place. That man has more lives than a cat the way he can narrowly miss being in trouble,” Tilly shared as she stared off into the distance toward the direction the fight took place. “If you hadn’t called when you did, we wouldn't have made it. Then the backup came at the right moment, just when we got hit with all the cars trying to ram the fence.”

“I’m glad we figured out their plan in time. The whole mission was chaos. Nothing turned out the way that it should have. Everyone got blown up. Eagle almost died, I got kidnapped, nearly blew up again, then arrived here to find a machine gun strapped to a pickup truck. Who the fuck had one of those laying around their house and thought it was a good idea to use?” I blurted.

“Seems Marco wanted to make sure they could take everyone out for picking sides with you,” she mused. “Not that I would have it any other way, but damn. You hear stories like this happening all over the world, and you think it would never happen to us. That’s just crazy. Not so crazy it seems.”

I took a big gulp of my drink, letting the whisky burn until it hit my stomach. “Now we have to go to New York and do it all over again.”

“Does that mean we get stuck babysitting the Saints again, or do we get to come play?” Tilly asked with a raised brow.

“Who else would look after things here?” I challenged. “If there is someone you can get everyone to agree on babysitting, then, by all means, come join the chaos. If not, there’s no way that Eagle will let that happen.”

Tilly groaned. “No, there isn’t anyone they would all agree on, not for this type of shit. Why do I always have to miss out on all the fun?”

“If there is a way that we can include you guys, you bet your ass it’s gonna happen. Right now, it’s all the boring planning and figuring out how the hell we are going to show up in New York and not get shot on sight,” I grumbled. “Here, I was thinking I could just sneak in and sneak out. Then Void laughed at me.”

“Babe, I would have laughed at you too. You could change your hair color and dress a different way, but there isn’t anything you can do to disguise that mouth of yours. The second you start talking or spouting off about something, they’ll figure out who you are,” Tilly tossed back her head and laughed. “Fuck, woman, you are like the Grimm Reaper’s sexy assistant the way you leave bodies behind.”

I shrugged. “What can I say? I like to make an impression.”

“So do that, find something you can do that’s legit business and has nothing to do with the Hidden Empire and will give you the excuse you need. They can’t take you out as easily if you’re expected to be at something that will draw in all the big’n’bad from all across the globe,” Tilly reasoned.

Cocking my head to the side as I stared down into my coffee, I thought over what she’d just said and what Void had mentioned earlier. “Do you think an underground cage fight might be able to draw enough attention?” I asked, looking up to meet her gaze.

“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.