As she walked up to the strip club entrance, nodding to the bouncer guarding the door—a new Spartan prospect from the looks of it—she thought back to the last time she’d seen Bambi.
It was in Tucker’s room at the compound, and Bambi had been pissed as all get out to learn that she’d been there. At the time, the woman had staked a claim on Tucker, despite him telling her on multiple occasions that they weren’t an item.
Tucker had been a bit of a player—okay, a lot of a player—when she’d met him. She wouldn’t have been surprised to find a bedpost covered in notches, but for some reason, he’d latched onto her.
They had a connection that defied all odds, something that, try as she might, Bambi hadn’t been able to break. It had caused some contention among the two women, to say the least.
So, Talia was, understandably, a little on edge.
What did the bitch want, and why was she being so nice?
The phone call an hour earlier replayed in her mind as she scanned the floor, searching the tables for the familiar face.
“Talia? Hey…um… I don’t know if you remember me…”
She snorted. How could she ever forget? She was the sole reason Talia had been brought into the Spartan world, and they’d nearly come to blows over her man. The woman was and always would be a threat, even if there was no chance in hell that Tucker would ever look her way again. Bambi was not someone she wanted to ever see again, but that phone call…
“Talia?”
Her head snapped around at the softly spoken voice, and when her eyes landed on the source, she had to force herself not to glare.
The bitch still looked good, if not a little overdone. Her hair and makeup had always been a bit much, just shy of slapping it on with a trowel. Talia didn’t wear makeup often, and she kept her hair short and simple, but today she’d tried to look good.
She still felt she came up a tad short though.
Sitting at a corner booth, Bambi stood as Talia approached, a hesitant smile on her face. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“I said I would,” Talia remarked as she marched past Bambi and slid into the seat opposite her. “Enjoying civilian life?” she asked, realizing how catty she sounded. She just couldn’t help herself.
Bambi’s lips pinched. “It’s been better, honestly.”
Talia sighed, unwilling to keep up pretenses. “Say what you have to say. I don’t have long.”
That was a lie. Since Tucker hadn’t come home yet, and it was the weekend so she had the day off. She was more than available. She just couldn’t stand being home staring into empty space while her mind wandered.
She’d just end up driving herself crazy over where Tucker was and what he was doing, if he was okay, etcetera, etcetera.
It pissed her off that he was cutting her out like this. She wanted to fight with him, argue her points, make him see things from her perspective, but he had simply left. And she was so not okay with that.
So, her little bit of revenge? Meeting with Bambi, who he’d expressly forbidden to cross Spartan property until further notice, due not only to her foul attitude but her long-standing connection with the FBI. She’d destroyed trust while losing his respect and patience, which were both hard things to get back.
The woman was essentially no-man’s-land. She could just imagine how angry Tucker would be if he knew she was sitting here with her now, in a strip club of all places.
He’d lose his mind.
Which was exactly why she’d agreed to the meeting.
Bambi twisted her fingers on top of the table, which made Talia sit up and take notice. Despite their limited interactions, she hadn’t taken her for the nervous type. Something was wrong.
“I, um… I don’t know where to start,” she said hesitantly.
“From the beginning would be good.”
Bambi’s eyes met hers, and she nodded. Licking her lips, she said, “Well, someone came to me the other day and said some stuff that, um, that well, scared me, to be honest.”
Flattening her hand on the table, Talia asked, “Who is this someone?”
“Frank,” she said bluntly. “He said I needed to get a message to you.”
Talia’s heart had started to race, and she felt the shot of adrenaline like a punch to her system. “Why is Frank contacting you? Is he in some kind of trouble?”
Bambi glanced around. “Yeah, he is.”
Talia wasn’t happy. What the hell? She hadn’t heard from Frank since…well, since he up and quit the bureau. He’d always been a bit shady, she felt, and now that she was sitting across from Bambi, a woman she didn’t trust any farther than she could throw her, she was even more suspicious.
What could he possibly need to tell her? And why had he gone to Bambi? Granted, he’d been both their former partner, but still…
She sat forward, eager to hear whatever Bambi had to say. “What did he want?”
Licking her lips again, Bambi continued. “He’s in trouble. He has information you need. Something that concerns the brothers.” Her eyes widened, staring directly into Talia’s. “That’s the only reason I contacted you. The brothers have done a lot for me. I care about them, and if there’s something going on that involved them, and I can help…” She trailed off.
Yeah, Talia didn’t need to hear any more to fill in the blanks. The woman probably still had delusions of getting back with Tucker.
That was never going to happen.
But this thing with Frank? That’s what really had her worried. What did he mean he was in trouble? She didn’t necessarily like the guy, and they were far from friends, but as a former colleague, she did care.
“Did he tell you anything else? Why he’s in trouble, details of any kind?”
Bambi was already shaking her head. “All he said was that he needed to talk to you in person, that the phones couldn’t be trusted. Whatever he’s mixed up in, it sounds big. He wants you to meet him at the park, you know the one?”
The only park Talia could think of was at the center of town. It was a community project complete with a small playground and a veggie garden to teach the kids about food, as well as responsibility not only in life but to the planet. Plus, it was the perfect spot to ensure the kids were safe when they played—everyone could keep an eye on them. It reminded her of what her grandma used to say about it taking a village to raise a family.
“Did he say a time or day?”
Bambi pulled out her phone from her clutch and pressed the home button, the screen glaringly bright in the dark club. “Now, actually. He’ll be waiting for you by the old willow tree.”
Talia’s brows pinched together. She knew the spot. It was the only willow tree left in a good mile span. There was a bench that had been placed beneath it, providing the perfect place for a secret meeting—no one would see them.
Her worry grew, and she was glad she had brought her service weapon along.
“Anything else I should know?” Talia asked, her suspicion rising. “Like why he contacted you, of all people?”
Bambi’s eyes narrowed, and that attitude Talia was familiar with came to the fore. “You know we used to work together, so I guess he thought I could be trusted, which I can.” The “clearly” in that statement was left unspoken.
Talia’s brows popped up, the “yeah right” left unspoken.
“Look, all I know for certain is whatever he’s into, I don’t want any part of it. I have my own problems to worry about without getting mixed up into whatever the hell you two have going on.” She started scooting out of the booth. “But I’ll tell you this. If you hurt Country…”
Talia stared up at her, the threat in her eyes unveiled. She dared her to finish that sentence. When she didn’t, Talia stood up too. “Tucker is my concern, not yours. And since you clearly still don’t understand that, I’ll tell you this. Stay out of our lives. You’re not welcome here.”
Bambi’s nose turned up. “Believe it or not, I have my own life to worry about. But that d
oesn’t stop me from caring, and I do care. So, watch it, is all I’m saying. Be good to him.”
Talia sneered. “You’re right, I don’t believe it.” Because it was obvious that the little bitch still had a flame burning for him, and Talia wasn’t going to entertain that bullshit for another second.
Turning on her heel, she marched off, calling over her shoulder, “Thanks for the info!”
Punching the door open, she ignored the startled reaction of the bouncer and stormed across the parking lot to her car, nearly throwing herself into the driver’s seat.
Frank had better have a damn good explanation for this. And a hell of an apology for putting her in front of that piece of trash too.
TWENTY-SEVEN
“So, you want to just sit on it.” The look on Country’s face said he was flummoxed. The information was solid, far as Repo could tell, but Blake wanted to sit around pondering instead of acting. That’s what was upsetting Country. Repo, on the other hand, understood where Blake was coming from.
“That’s not what I said,” Blake grunted while taking another drink of his beer.
They were sitting outside on his brand-new deck, one all the Spartan brothers had had a hand in building since the utter destruction of his property just a few short months ago. Country had done the railings, and Repo had done the deck, which was magnificent, if he did say so himself.
“Then what are you saying exactly? Because from where I’m sitting, you want us to stick our thumbs up our asses and wait for the firestorm to come to us.”
Repo snorted and took a drink of his beer. If Country kept talking to Blake like that, shit was going to go down.
“All I’m saying is I want to take some time to digest and plan. I don’t want to jump headlong into anything. That’s how mistakes are made.”
Country nodded. “I can agree with that.”
So could Repo. It was just smart business.
Blake’s hard gaze held Country’s. “But you don’t like it.”
“No, but it’s not my decision to make.”
That was too right. There was a reason Blake was the president. He was the leader and he knew what was best for the future of the club. They’d all voted him in, and they’d follow his lead one-hundred percent. Didn’t mean he always agreed one-hundred-percent, but that was moot.
“Swear you’re going to keep your shit together. Tell me I can trust you not to run off half-cocked.” Blake’s tone was as severe as Repo had ever heard it, especially being that it was directed at their friend. Blake was ready to lay down the law…but it turned out he didn’t have to.
“I’m not going to do anything unless you tell me to.” Country reached into the cooler on the deck between them and pulled out another beer. Cracking it open, he said, “What I won’t promise is to sit on my hands while I wait. I’m going to keep digging.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. Just don’t act unless you’ve talked to me first.”
“You got it, boss,” Country said with a smirk.
Blake shook his head at his cheeky reply. “So…how are things with Talia going?”
Country looked out across the rolling landscape. “Fine. Why do you ask?”
Repo was wondering the same thing. It wasn’t like Blake to get into girl talk. None of the brothers did. That’s why they worked so well together. They didn’t need to have the deep talks and heart-to-hearts to understand each other.
“Because you showed up on my doorstep after midnight and have been sucking back my beer for the last”—he glanced at his watch—“almost six hours. Don’t take this the wrong way, but the only time I normally watch a sunrise is with my wife. Naked.”
Wife. Man, Repo still hadn’t gotten used to that one. But seeing Blake happy was a good thing. Made his heart warm and shit.
“How’s the married life treating you?” Country asked, curiosity in his voice.
“Not that you’re researching anything for yourself or anything,” Repo told him with a smirk.
They were all aware that Country didn’t really see himself as the marrying type. Although, that’s what he’d always said about being in a committed relationship, and look at him now, all monogamous.
It was a wonder hell hadn’t frozen over.
“It’s the best, man,” Blake said sincerely. He was wearing a stupid little grin too, which, come on, was just so damn adorable.
Country burst out laughing. “Dude, you are straight pussy whipped.”
“The fuck I am!” Blake said with laughter rolling through his voice.
“Next, you’ll be saying you like doing laundry and washing the dishes,” Country teased.
“I do!”
Now they were all laughing, big, booming laughter that shattered the early morning quiet.
Country wiped tears from the corner of his eyes. “Man, you got it bad. You wouldn’t catch me within twenty feet of a kitchen sink unless it was to put my dish in it.”
“Tell me you wouldn’t jump to put on a pair of rubber gloves if Talia asked you to,” Blake challenged.
“Depends on what she wants me to use them for.” He waggled his brows suggestively.
“No,” Repo said adamantly. “Just no. My virgin ears don’t need to hear that shit.”
“What did I say?” Country said, his voice an octave too high. Laughter boomed between them again like a thunder clap.
Damn, it was good hanging with his boys. Sometimes, Repo forgot what it was like to just let loose and laugh. But nothing beat being alone with his woman, and he had plenty of plans for her when he got home later.
***
As they sobered and the silence expanded between them once again, Country reflected on the previous night. He hadn’t fought with Talia since before they’d become a “thing.” He’d felt justified at the time, knowing that getting this shit sorted ASAP was the best thing for everyone, but as he reflected, he found himself second-guessing himself.
Fighting with her left a sour taste in his mouth. A part of him wanted to ride home and apologize for talking to her the way he had and for leaving the way he did.
He didn’t want her sitting there thinking bad things. His thoughts wandered to her locked away in their bedroom, and he found himself wondering if she’d cried. The very idea shook him. He never wanted to be the cause of her shedding a single tear—and yet he may have done just that.
Shit. He was an asshole. He never should have left. He should have gone back to that bedroom and made things right first, made her understand where he was coming from. He should have made more of an effort to hear her side of it too.
He just hadn’t been ready at the time.
Now that he was sitting here, calm as the morning sky, he could see that she had a point. This whole thing with the shooting and what they’d found in those papers was consuming him. He barely ate, barely slept anymore. He was always thinking ten steps ahead, plotting and planning. Talia said she couldn’t remember the last time they’d really spent time together. She was right. They were always together, but he was never truly there.
That needed to change, didn’t it? He needed to make more of an effort, because at the end of the day, she was going to be in his life. She was his partner. If his momma had taught him anything, it was that you took care of your relationships, nurtured them…or you’d lose them.
He was not willing to lose Talia. And he knew the perfect way to make it up to her. His first stop would be to the clubhouse to pick up something specific that would—hopefully—put a smile back on her face.
“I think I’m going to head home,” he announced as he stood.
Blake followed. “I thought you would.”
Stretching his arms over his head, Country offered him a knowing smile. “Oh yeah, and why do you say that?”
“Because you were doing some deep thinking for a minute there, and the only time a man does that is when he’s thinking of his woman.”
Dropping his arms to his sides, Country nodded. “Yeah, we have som
e stuff to sort.”
“Then go sort it.”
“That’s what I just said I was going to do.”
Repo chuckled. “Then why are you still standing here?
Blake seconded that. “Yeah, get the fuck off my property and handle your business.”
Country grinned. “If you weren’t the president, I’d tell you what an asshole you are. You too,” he said, pointing at Repo.
Repo grinned back. “Good thing you don’t have the balls to say that to my face then, huh?”
Lifting his hand, Country descended the steps. “Thanks for the beers, man. And tell Gabby and Little Man I said hi. Same to Red. We miss her around the bar.”
Repo nodded.
Blake said, “Will do. And hey, Ash has been asking when you’re going to take him out for ice cream again.”
Climbing onto his bike, Country called back, “Give me a couple days and I’ll be back to take him out.” He loved hanging out with Ash. He was a cool kid, a kind of nephew to him, and as such, he had a hard time telling him no. Which meant he spoiled him rotten.
Hey, what were cool uncles for?
“All right, man.”
“We’ll talk later?” Country asked, indicating the papers he’d left on the fold-out plastic table with a tip of his head. Even though Blake wasn’t likely to read through them again, what with his dyslexia making it more difficult than usual, he thought it best to leave them with the man in charge.
“Absolutely.”
Saluting his friends, Country fired up the bike and rolled it back onto the stone drive until he was facing the main road some distance ahead. As soon as he hit asphalt, he got some speed going and his mind shifted gears, and it was all he could do not to race home.
***
Frank was sweating. And it wasn’t the heat that was getting to him. The pressure was building. He hadn’t truly been out of that cramped, garbage dump apartment alone in too long. It was messing with his head.
Vigor: A Spartan Riders Novel Page 18
