Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 109640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Good thinking, but it also highlighted the fact that Hawg Wild was dangerous.
“Those assholes are dealing right out in the open,” he murmured and shook his head.
“In that crowd? Do you think anyone in there gives a shit? You could probably drop a brick of coke on the bar and no one would blink an eye. Though, they might line up with rolled dollar bills.”
She was probably right. “Did you have to ask for meth or did they just assume?”
Her forehead wrinkled. “I thought that’s what they’re dealing?”
“That’s their main moneymaker, but they also sell pot.”
“Ah. That’s right, I did see that mentioned in the dailies. At that bar, I’m sure pot’s a bigger seller than meth. Most of the upstanding, fine patrons look like they succumb to the munchies a lot.”
He glanced into the cup again. “Looks like a gram. What did they charge you?”
“Eighty.”
That was the same amount they were selling grams out of Pizza Town. Decker had gotten a list of prices while undercover there.
“The bartender named Hook told me one-fifty for what I assumed was an eight-ball.”
That sounded about right. “And where’s my change?”
“Yours or the feds?”
He sighed. “The feds. They do like to keep track of their money.” Every damn dollar needed to be tracked and documented. For good reason.
“I have it for you. Don’t worry, Grandpa.”
“Stop it. My kids aren’t even old enough to make me a grandfather yet.”
Her mouth gaped. “You have kids? Will you need a walker by the time they graduate?”
He sighed again. If he didn’t react to her smart-ass comments, maybe they would stop. He pushed on. “What job did they offer you?”
“Well, they didn’t quite offer it to me, I kind of elbowed my way in.”
“Doing what?”
“I’ll be working behind the bar and also serving the customers on the floor.”
“On the books?” If so, he would have to quickly get her documentation. If he allowed her to go back. Which he wasn’t, so the point was moot.
“No, off them. I bet they cook the books.” She made a face. “Actually… I only convinced them to let me work for tips.”
“Tips? In that fucking place?” He couldn’t imagine that the fine folks who drank in that place were big tippers.
“Have you been there?”
“No. But like I told you, Fletch and Wilder have spent quite a few nights hanging out there. Especially in the beginning of the investigation. I’m going to safely guess that crowd isn’t generous tippers.”
“Probably not. But I’m not in it for the money,” she reminded him.
“You’re not going to be in it at all. You’re not working there.”
Her voice rose an octave. “I have a solid in at one of their distribution hubs and you’re going to pull me from it?”
“It’s not fucking safe, Cami.” Damn it, he slipped and used her first name again. It was the name he used in his head while his fantasies played out.
Late at night.
When he was alone.
“Being a DEA agent in general comes with risks. I signed up for this. I know how safe it is or isn’t. Why don’t you let me decide that?” A flush rose up her neck and into her cheeks.
What the hell, she was getting mad? Too fucking bad. “Because I’m the fucking task force leader, you’re not. I’m responsible for your ass. You’re the most junior member of the team and, even if you weren’t, you still wouldn’t get to make those types of decisions.”
“My skills are being wasted by reading reports or watching a fucking Demon gather coins in a laundromat!” she yelled. “That’s not why I joined the team.”
His head snapped back. “Then quit.”
“Of course, that’s what you want. But news flash, that’s also what you won’t be getting. I’m not quitting since I’m not a quitter. You’ll have to force me from the team. And you better have a good reason for that to fly. I want to do this. I can do this. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m fucking helpless, Crew.”
He struggled to keep from shouting back. Somehow he managed it. “I never said you were.”
“Bullshit. Since jump street, you’ve acted like I should be tucked in a corner and patted on the head. And if you deny that…”
“If I deny that, what? What are you going to do?”
She took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Time for you to leave.”
He agreed because right now he wanted to shake the fuck out of her. “You shouldn’t keep the task force vehicle outside.”
“Fine,” she bit off. “I’ll park it in the garage.”
“You shouldn’t have it here at all.”
“Fine. When I’m done with my shift at Hawg Wild tonight, I’ll take it back to The Plant.”
“That’s not good enough.”
Her chin rose defiantly. “It’ll have to be.”
“Don’t make me write you up.”
She laughed.
Actually fucking laughed.
“Go ahead. I’ll help you.”
What the actual fuck? “You’re still considered a rookie with the DEA. You don’t want a black mark on your record.”