Bones, Coyote, and Smoke held neutral expressions.
While we were getting Angie to write the turnaround piece, we didn’t want to blow Jaz’s cover and the fact that the Road Warriors wanted redemption for stolen money from their casino. There was a code between us all. We all nodded without giving anything away.
“Strange,” I replied. “I think it’s gone too far. We might wanna figure out a way to let this guy go.”
Bones nodded. “I wanted to know where he lived and who he ran with, but he was vague with it. He did let slip that he knew about the strip joint. Maybe I could find out more from the dancers, or get Harper to gain the scoop. He’s gotta go.” The final curtain on our not so hidden enemy was about to be drawn.
“Yeah, I get a bad feeling every time he comes in here,” Coyote said with his wide open stance and crossed arms. “We gotta move him on. Shut down the communication. Say we ain’t got no spots available. Something like that.”
“Agree with all of it. We gotta put this to vote, Bones?” Bear asked in his deep voice.
“Nah, this is an easy one.” Bones shook his head. “I know Hawk wasn’t keen on the decision in the first place. At least, I got a lead to the strip club and we can sniff around.”
I looked around to see Lucy’s back turned but I could see Jaz, Harper and Mia smiling and laughing. She had them in the palm of her hand. “I want to make sure she’s okay…” I murmured.
“She’ll be fine,” Smoke said affectionately with a chuckle. “The girls will take her under their wings like they do everyone. Mother hens, that bunch.”
“True.” Bones smiled. “Angie, when’s this piece going to be done? Got a draft ready?” he asked.
“Just about there with a few finishing touches, then you can read it,” Angie said with pride in her voice.
“Looking forward to it. If it was anything like that mudslinging article you wrote against us, I can only guess we’re in for a treat,” Bones teased her.
The rest of us smirked.
Angie threw up her hands with a wicked grin. “Hey, that’s what I do. Journalism at its finest. My job is the best, what can I say? And now thanks to y’all, I got a spin-off story brewing with Mia connected to that slime bucket Road Warrior friend of yours. So many secrets and I’m going to find them all.” Her eyes glazed over with fierceness. If anyone could solve a mystery, it would be her.
I studied her. I liked her but not the way she wanted. I needed to let her know that. Dancing around it was not working. Not for me and not for Lucy.
Angie approached me after her victory speech. “Hey stranger. You’ve been kind of distant lately. Everything been okay with you?” she asked, reading my eyes.
I looked out of the corner of my eye to see Lucy talking to the girls and laughing. I let the ball of tension in my stomach go. “Yeah, everything is sweet, Angie. How about you?” I answered, keeping my distance.
She could see my stiff shoulders and the edging away from her. Her forehead creased as a result. “I see you’re not so keen to see me on a personal basis. Am I right?” she asked, although she was still giving me her lethal look of seduction.
“Damnit, Angie. You’re hotter than this Holbeck heat, but I got a lot going on. I hate saying this but I just want friendship. I’m a two-for-one special with my daughter.” I hoped I was being casual enough to let her down easy.
Angie shrugged as if it didn’t mean anything and flipped her long locks to the back. “Suit yourself. You’re missing out on a good time. I can tell you that much.” She snapped her fingers with a giggle at my rejection.
I shook my head and smiled at her flippant response. Turning to peek at the women again, I caught Lucy’s eyes on me. A wave of feelings rushed through me when I looked back at her. Not even from the past, but from the new Lucy. The improved version. She was so different, more grounded, sure of herself, nurturing. Damn, I had it bad and she wasn’t even aware of it. Well, time would change that.
I intended to make my life whole again.