Even my brothers.
A few minutes later, she’s got a slick MacBook open and I’m staring at the most organized spreadsheet from a con artist I’ve ever seen.
“See, here’s the utility con. It’s not my best, but for clubs and bars it works well most of the time. I list the take here, what expenses I deduct. Then, on this sheet…”
She clicks a couple times, and there’s another Excel sheet where she points to a six-figure number at the bottom.
“So, over time, after investing, this is what the utility work has generated—less what I’ve paid out, given away or whatever. I guess what I can do, is help you guys invest. You’re the treasurer, why did they choose you?”
I shake my head, but tell her. “My dad was the treasurer. Taught me from when I was about ten how it worked. What the different streams of revenue generated. Things were different, though, back then they were into some stuff that the club is easing out of. They had prostitutes; we don’t do that. Drugs.” I shrug. “Weed is legal now, and that’s about the only product we really kept running. We’re looking for some other revenue streams. More legit.”
She bites into her bottom lip. “I could help your money make money. If that will help, I’ll get it set up, show you what I do. If it will buy my way out of this…” She tugs on the collar.
“That was the deal.”
She smiles and I see the sweet angel in her face, but I also see the hardened woman who’s not had a life of ease, and I want to change that. For whatever crazy reason, this little felon has possessive instincts I didn’t know I had rising up and taking over, thawing out the usual cool distance I keep with most people.
“So,” She starts, shifting and sitting up in the chair. “Has my information thus far earned me a shower?”
“Maybe.”
She gives me an inquisitive squint. “Well, what would secure such a luxury?”
Her eyes open wider, her tongue tracing along her bottom lip and I wonder what it would feel like to kiss her.
To run my tongue along that little dip near her collarbone, up the tendon in her neck, then kiss right where her pulse races, knowing it’s doing so because of me.
“Tell me why you picked Ride or Die for your mark. I mean,” I shake my head, raising my eyebrows and running a hand down my beard. “There has to be safer places to hit than an MC club home base.”
I lean back and stare at her. Every second I do, she seems more and more beautiful even in the rough shape her stay at the Ride or Die basement has left her.
Her hand toys with the chain leading from her collar, and she inhales a long, slow breath through her nose, opening her mouth to speak, then closing it, opening it again, then she blows out a breath, giving me an uncomfortable smile.
I keep my eyes on hers, feeling the throb of blood pumping into my cock, and I don’t even care if she sees the thick inches pressing out on my jeans.
“I don’t go for easy.” She finally starts.
“Okay, why not?”
On a mini shrug, she lines her eyes with mine, only this time any hesitation or discomfort is gone.
“Because I’m not a taker. I take from the takers. Most clubs like yours…” She nods, giving me a hard stare. “You’re takers. You have power and you like to wield it for your own benefit, leaving other people laying face down.”
“Not all clubs are like that.”
“I don’t have time to do interviews.”
“Fair enough. But, dangerous.”
She gives me a tight smile. “I don’t scare easily. I do what I do because I’ve seen what I’ve seen. I don’t care about living a life everyone else thinks is normal and successful. I don’t need a home, a yard, a car payment, a 401K. Retiring to Florida. I’ll do this until I go too far and someone does what your friends talked about today. Or, I get bored. Maybe I do retire to Florida.” She rubs her hands down the tops of her filthy jeans and her cheeks get red.
It only makes me want her more. Her blush makes me think she’s telling me the truth, and I want to know all her truths. I want to know everything.
“Shower earned.” My cock throbs when I see the sparkle in her eyes.
“Best news I’ve had in a couple days. A few days? How long have I been down there?”
“Three days.”
“Phew. Yeah, I smell like it. Hope you have enough soap. The water might just run scared.”
The thought of the water running down her naked body makes my balls draw tight. My hands ball into fists as I stand and jerk my head toward the hallway. “This way.”