Page 30 of Sling’s Awakening

“How are you going to reprimand her?” I ask, still grilling him as I keep my tone casual. I pull a lighter out of my pocket and flick it, watching the flame light and disappear over and over.

I need something to do with my hands while I have to listen to this bullshit. Blake might hate my fucking guts, but I’ll be damned if some piece of shit like Russ puts his hands on my ass.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” Russ says with a hint of condescension lacing his tone. “Just know that it will be taken care of.”

I cross my legs as I settle in, the bench digging into my back. “That’s where you’re wrong, Russ. I do need to worry about it because if I find out you’ve touched a single hair on Blake’s head, you’re going to answer to me.”

Russ pauses for a moment. “I wasn’t aware you knew Gin on a personal level. Fraternization outside of the club is against our policy and will be a separate discussion.”

“Why? Because you won’t get your cut of whatever goes down? Sounds fucking sleazy to me. How I know her on a personal level doesn’t involve you. And again, if I hear she’s gotten some kind of blowback from you, your ass is the one that’s going to be reprimanded.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Russ rushes out before trying to change the subject. “Let’s get back to the matter at hand. When is a good time to set up a meeting so we can have a discussion?”

I remove the phone from my ear and look at it dumbfounded before bringing it back to my ear. “Have you been listening to anything I’ve been saying? After all that, what makes you think I want to have a discussion with you, let alone a meeting?”

“I have Jinx on the stage most of the night for you and your club. It would be wise if you came in.”

My eyes about bug out of my head. “Don’t tell me what’s fucking wise to do. If I show up, it will be to shove my foot up your ass. We’re done here.”

I slam the phone back on its holder, making it rattle against the wall.

Who the fuck does that guy think he is?

“I see that went well,” Whiplash concludes.

I take a few deep breaths before turning around and facing Whiplash. “That guy has some fucking balls calling the garage acting like it’s in our best interest to meet with him. He better leave Blake out of it, or I’m killing him.”

Whiplash’s eyes light with humor. “Ah, so that’s why you’re so worked up over someone who doesn’t have skin in this game. He wants your pretty little neighbor lady.”

“He doesn’t want her,” I grumble. “He wants to punish her, thinking she’s the reason we don’t want to meet with him.”

Whiplash’s brows lower. “What would she have to do with it?”

“I have no idea.” I shake my head. “I’m going to talk to her about it before I talk to him, though. He’ll get his meeting. It just won’t be on his terms.”

“Yeah, fuck that guy. I wasn’t paying enough attention to him last night to get a feel for him, but so far it’s not looking good. You think your neighbor will be forthcoming about him?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. She might hate my fucking guts, but something tells me that she might hate him a little bit more.”

“I’m sure you’ll get her to warm up.” Whiplash grins as he pushes off the car to move back to his bay, but not before calling over his shoulder, “Unless Mountain beats you to it.”

“Man, fuck you.” I grab a wrench off the bench and throw it at his head.

Whiplash ducks out of the way, laughing.

“Does she work every damn day?” Val asks as he reaches for the blunt.

We’re sitting on my back deck, smoking and just shooting the shit. My original plan for the night was to go over and talk to Blake about her fucking boss, but when I got home from the garage, she wasn’t home.

I’m kicking myself for not paying closer attention to who has been living next door to me. She moved in damn well over a year ago. I could have had her in my bed this entire time.

I swear, the only time I see her is when I’m waking her ass up.

I inhale, welcoming the burn in my throat before releasing smoke into cool night air. “Don’t know. It’s lookin’ like it.”

“You going to track her down?” Val asks.

I snicker as I bring the blunt to my lips again before passing it back to Val. “Nah. That would make it too easy on her.”