Chapter Nineteen: I Don’t Trust You
Numbers
“So we’re going for the nail salon? Are you sure? We could do the deli fit-out. It’s possible.” I was trying to convince Bones of the investment into the deli in the meeting room at Wheelz.
He wasn’t buying it. “No. Let’s stick with the tried and true. We know that’s a sure bet, ladies will 100% be getting their nails done. I know Harper loves that shit,” Bones claimed.
“Alright. I’ll make the calls and get the paperwork moving on it. If it does the numbers it’s projected to do that’ll help us make a play for the casino. It will bring in that extra dough, baby.” I might have been an accountant, but I wasn’t risk averse. I liked to push the limits every now and then. That’s probably why I got in trouble with stealing cars back in the day, in the first place.
Bones nodded. “Good. I’m proud of you. You’re taking charge here. We are still on track. I want us to look into setting up an after school group somehow, but the streets are too hot and our name is on people’s lips for the wrong reasons,” he said in a gloomy voice.
“Thanks. I’m still pissed off about Mia, but yeah… We are moving on. Devil Riders can’t keep it up forever. They are either going to come for us full force or back off. They can’t keep jabbing without a knockout. That’s not Snake’s style. They might know us, but we know them too. Snake is a show-off. He likes to do things in a big way.”
Bones rubbed his head back and forth. “The cartel is silent, and it’s making me feel weird. I half want them to call me, so I know where we stand.”
I leaned back in my chair. “Why don’t we set up a meeting in a neutral place, you bring Hawk and Bear as well. We can get this shit sorted out. Let’s just go for it. Can’t hurt. I’m sure they would appreciate the gesture.”
“Maybe.” He paused. “Let me think about how to work on that. If the cartel are together with Devil Riders still and know we’re investing, they are going to want a cut. It’s tricky.”
“True. True. Hate to say it, but we might have to wait and see on this one.” I threw my hands up in the air. My phone was on silent mode deep in my pocket. A vibration ran through my leg making me grab it out. I squinted staring at the caller ID. The one person I’d been trying to forget and erase from my memory bank…Mia.
Bones dropped his head to look at my face. “Answer it.” He knew it was her, his expression gave him away. Bones rose from his seat and moved to the door giving me a light tap on the shoulder. He was giving me some privacy to have a chat.
“Mia,” I snapped. Part of me still had deep feelings for her. They weren’t easy to shake, but as far as I was concerned, they were null and void.
“Hello, Numbers. I know you’re not speaking to me right now.” There was an awkward chord of silence for a moment and she kept on talking.
I wasn’t going to fill it and give her the satisfaction.
“I have some news to tell you about Devil Riders, and I need to come and talk to you.”
The desperation and the beauty of her voice in combination made me consider it. “Why should I listen to a goddamn word you have to say? You had so many chances to tell me, Mia,” I barked.
“Hear me out, please. This is life or death,” she begged in a wobbly voice.
I let out a ragged sigh. “Come down to Wheelz. I’m here now, if you’re not here in half an hour, I’m out,” I demanded. I wanted to show her the same compassion that Rebel Saints showed me when I messed up. Seemed to me, she didn’t understand the word loyalty. I would have to teach her what that meant. I parted my tousled hair with my fingers and stared at the walls.
Shit. I didn’t want to have feelings for her, but I did.
“Great. I will see you soon.”
The sound of her voice made me ache inside. I wanted to see her so bad. I figured Bones was downstairs, but I just sat there. She could come find me. It was a small petty act of defiance, I knew this, but it was mine. My mind wanted to escape and contemplated getting a beer out of the fridge, but I chose not to.
I kept waiting with my heart hammering in my chest.
A hint of raspberries made me turn around.
Mia stood in the door with a timid, scared look on her beautifully sculpted face. She wore her glasses, but they couldn’t hide those big emerald eyes that I loved losing myself in. Her snug jeans fit her perfectly and so did the cute top she wore.
My body responded to her in a way I didn’t want.
Not now. Not ever.
“Mia. Have a seat,” I barked in a nasty tone.
A tiny flinch of her shoulders could be noted as she blinked rapidly at me. She’d never heard me speak to her like that. “Thanks, so how are you?” Her forehead scrunched in concern as she looked at me.
“I’m doing fine, and how about you? How is your mother?” I did want to know if she was okay. I cared about her deeply and I knew I was in denial. I stared hard at her, not wanting to fold. My jaw twitched in anger as I watched her fumble with her fingers in front of me. I wanted to hold her hands and stop the fumble. Every movement she made was infuriating me for some reason.