The hand warm on my back slid to my hip and gave me a squeeze. “Baby, wake up. It’s nearly noon.”
My eyes fluttered open. I turned my head and saw Ren sitting on the side of the bed wearing jeans and a tee and looming over me.
His eyebrows went up and his tone was teasing when he asked, “Sleep is overrated?”
“Whatever,” I muttered, looking away and snuggling back into the pillows.
I heard his chuckle before, “Honey, your phone is buzzing with texts and Hank called. He’s on his way over.”
Shit.
I rolled from my side to my back and asked, “Why is Hank on his way over?”
“He didn’t say. He called me when he couldn’t get you and just said he was comin’ over.”
Interesting.
“And Eddie brought your stuff,” Ren went on.
Interesting.
Time to check for Firefly DVDs.
Also time to haul my ass out of bed.
I threw the covers back, leaned into him, touched my mouth to his then jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
I was brushing my teeth when Ren walked in and slid a mug of coffee beside the sink. He looked into my eyes in the mirror, his smiling, before I watched him dip his head and kiss my shoulder.
Nice.
Then he left me to it.
I was in running clothes by the time I made it downstairs. I also had my phone in my hand and saw that I had texts from various Rock Chicks (Roxie asking me if I wanted to go shopping; Jules telling me her Uncle Nick was going to look after Max, Vance was on the path of some dude who skipped bond, so she asked if I wanted to go to a movie; and Daisy asking if I wanted to come over and do home facials).
I also had a text from my ex-landlord.
Ren came out of the kitchen when I stopped by the boxes on the floor in his living room and I looked up at him.
“Do you know Snookie Rivers?” I asked him.
“Who?” he asked back, coming to a stop by me.
“Snookie Rivers. I asked my landlord who lives in that apartment where you saw a dude looking out and he said his name is Snookie Rivers.”
Ren shook his head. “Never heard of him.”
I looked back at the phone, murmuring, “Me either.”
“Sounds like a drag name,” he commented.
I grinned and looked at my man.
My man looked down the length of me.
When I got his eyes back, they were burning. “You goin’ for a run?”
“After I talk to Hank.”
“Right,” he muttered, his mind, I could tell, on happy things.
My mind was on those same things when I dropped to my knees and started rooting through the boxes.
Ren crouched beside me.
“Anything good?” he asked.
No. There wasn’t anything good. Kitchen utensils. A lamp base without the shade. A picture frame, slightly scorched. But the picture was of the Rock Chicks at one of Stella’s gigs, standing with her and her band, The Blue Moon Gypsies, on the stage. All of us were doing devil’s horns (even the band, except her saxophonist, Hugo; he was checking out Ava’s ass). Every Rock Chick had one of those pictures so I could get another copy. Still, nice to have it.
And, in box two, although it needed soot cleaned off it, my Lelo Lily vibrator.
Righteous!
“What’s that?” Ren asked, and I looked at him to see him studying it.
“Pure goodness,” I answered.
“What?”
I tested it by hitting the on button.
It vibrated.
Perfect working condition (once the soot was cleaned off).
Ren’s eyes came to me and they were again burning.
A knock came at the door.
Ren stood from his crouch and headed to the door. I dropped my Lelo back in the box and straightened to see Ren letting Hank in.
“Yo,” I called to my brother.
“Ally,” Hank replied.
Ren looked between me and Hank, came to me and slid a hand along the back of my waist, leaning in.
“Goin’ to the store, you need anything?” he asked.
He was giving us time for whatever this was.
My man.
So cool.
“No, but do you want to wait and I’ll go with you?” I asked back.
“No. I want to have it done and be back when you get in from your run.”
I wanted that, too.
Big time.
“All right,” I said.
He gave me a touch on the lips and turned to Hank. “Hank.”
A chin lift, then, “Ren.”
Ren looked in my eyes again with a small smile before he sauntered out the front door.
“You want coffee?” I asked my brother.
“Hit Fortnum’s before hitting here. I’m juiced up,” he answered.
“And you didn’t bring me one?” I asked.
“Sorry, Ally. Didn’t think about it. Gotta have a word with you about a coupla things, then I gotta get back to Roxie.”
Hmm.
I was curious, so I decided not to give him shit about dissing me on the coffee.
I moved to a couch and sat with my leg tucked under me. I dipped my head to the other side and Hank moved there, settling in.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“We got a lock on who wrote that book,” he answered.
Oh shit.
“Honey, it’s Jane,” he finished.
I took in a breath and admitted, “I know.”
He did a slow blink. “You know?”
“I figured it out a few days ago. I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it.”
“You figured it out,” he stated.
“Uh… yeah,” I confirmed.
My brother stared at me.
Then he shook his head while looking away with a small smile playing at his lips.
That was weird so I called, “Hank?”
He looked back at me. “Mace phoned this morning.”
Here we go.
I was going to find out if I passed the Mace Test.
“And?” I prompted.
“And he said you were great last night, Ally.”
I passed.
So I smiled.
“I’ve asked Lee to train you,” Hank continued.
I stopped smiling and stared.
Then I asked, “What?”
“You need experience with a skilled investigator. The best in town is Lee. You need a license so you can charge enough to take care of you. He can help you get that. So I’ve asked him to train you.”
Oh my God!
I had Hank’s vote!
“And?” I said again.
“He’s thinking on it.”
Crap.
“Which means no,” I stated.
“It doesn’t mean no. It just doesn’t mean yes.”
Mm-hmm.
Whatever.
“I’m gonna tell him you figured it out about Jane,” Hank said. “And I’m gonna tell him you sat on that in order to figure out what to do, rather than reacted and fucked shit up. Even Lee didn’t know what to do. And you caught on before Brody. And as for me, through anything, I’ll have your back.”
I was beginning to get pissed-off.
Not about Hank having my back, I loved that. It felt great. He was an awesome brother and that was just one of the many ways he proved it.
I was pissed-off about Lee.
“I don’t actually have to have his blessing, Hank. This would be indicated by the fact I’m already taking cases.”
“He can teach you a lot,” Hank noted.
“So can Darius, who already has, Vance, who also already has, Hector, Bobby, Ike and Mace,” I returned.
“That’s correct,” he conceded.
“So you don’t have to convince him. You don’t have to do anything.” I reached out, grabbed his hand, gave it a squeeze and let it go. “And having your support is all I need f
rom you.” My voice dropped quiet when I finished, “It means everything, honey.”
Suddenly, he reached out and caught me at the back of my neck. Pulling me forward, he leaned into me and rested our foreheads together. And his voice was quiet when he spoke too.
“My little sister, livin’ with a guy and bein’ a badass.”
Uh-oh.
My eyes were getting hot.
I lifted my hand to wrap my fingers around his forearm. “Hank—”
“You’ll never be a big brother, honey, so you’ll never understand how this feels. Lettin’ go. Givin’ care of the girl you love and looked after a long fuckin’ time to another guy. Seein’ her make her way in a world like that.”
Oh God.
He was killing me.
So.
Loved.
My big brother!
“Honey—”
“It sucks. I’m happy, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost something.”
Oh God.
“Please—”
“Give him time,” he whispered.
He meant Lee.
And now I got it.
I was his little sister and Lee wasn’t ready to let that go.
I pressed my lips together before I nodded, our foreheads rolling. Hank lifted a bit away but didn’t let go of me, mostly because I squeezed his arm.
“I get you,” I said softly. “But I hope you never let go.”
“Good to have your permission, ‘cause I see in him that you’re it for him. He’s all about you. His world has become you. And he can have that.” His fingers tightened around my neck. “Still, in the way I can, I’m gonna keep hold.”
Hank saw in Ren that his world had become me.
I liked that.
I wondered if Ren’s sisters saw the same in me.
And my brother was going to keep hold.
Righteous.
“Good,” I replied.
“Now I’m gonna go before you go girl on me and burst out crying.”
I jerked back and declared, “That’s not gonna happen.”
That wasn’t a lie. It was true.
Still, I was close.
My big brother smiled at me.
Then he let me go and got up, muttering, “Shit to do.”
I had shit to do too. I had to run and get sweaty and come home and get laid by my man.
I did not share this.
I walked Hank to the door.
He opened it. I followed and stopped in the jamb.
It was then I remembered to ask, “What did you and Lee decide about Jane?”
He turned and answered, “He’s gonna tell the men. He’s gonna tell Indy. I’m gonna tell Roxie. And we’re gonna keep our eye on shit but let the chips fall.”
Time to scratch a conversation with Jane on my list, and I decided to give her a heads up before I ran.
The good news was, neither Hank nor Lee had gone ballistic. That might make Jane fret less.
Still, I’d have to keep an eye on things, too.
Hank leaned into me and I thought he was going to kiss my cheek.
He didn’t.
He put his lips to my ear and said, “He hurts you, I’ll fuck him up.”
Loved my big brother.
“That won’t happen,” I replied.
He pulled away, saying, “It better not.”
I rolled my eyes, and when I rolled them back, I saw him smiling.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He smiled bigger.
Then he was gone.
* * * * *
I rushed offstage at Smithie’s after my final dance, keen to get the hell out of there and get home to bed.
And Ren.
It was another bust of a night at Smithie’s. Even though I’d approached a couple of the girls and had a chat with Tanya, one of the waitresses, there was no thawing of the informational freeze-out.
I’d also had a chat with Smithie about what he knew about Gibbons. I wasn’t telling him our progress on the case because I didn’t want him to lose it and screw the pooch if what Steiner and Gibbons were doing went deeper.
But Smithie paid attention in his club. So he knew exactly who I was talking about.
And his response was, “He’s an asshole. Shit vibe. But good customer. He drinks. Tips the girls good. Gets a lap dance every night. Don’t love every one of my regulars. But I don’t bitch when they buy drinks and take care of the girls.”
Gibbons would tip the girls “good” since he’d see a return of that money, and not in the normal way.
“Why you ask?” Smithie finished.
“Just keeping my eye on things and he gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I told him.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Asshole written all over him. Then again, that’s every other guy who walks through my fuckin’ door.”
He was right. But not that brand of asshole.
I left it at that.
Then I went about my business, hoping that Bobby and Darius would turn up something or one of the girls would suck up the courage to give me a lead.
And soon.
But now the night was over and the workday was done for me. The girls had half an hour of dancing before they were finished, but there was no reason for me to stay. Therefore, if I did, it might be noticed and wondered about.
So I headed to the dressing room as the girls headed toward the stage to take over once Lottie was done.
“Have fun,” I said on a big smile.
“Mm-hmm,” JoJo replied on a forced one.
“Have a good night, Ally,” Meena said as she passed me.
She also grabbed my hand.
I thought that was weird.
Until I felt her pressing something in my palm.
I closed my fingers around what felt like a piece of paper and a jolt of energy surged through me making it hard to keep my voice modulated when I called, “See you tomorrow night.”
“Later, babe,” JoJo called back.
Meena turned back and waved.
But her face said it all.
Fear.
Shit.
I rushed to the dressing room, got dressed, grabbed my stuff and hauled ass. My palms were itching, but I didn’t want anyone to see me reading the note.
So I waited until I was sitting at a stoplight before I yanked the paper out of my pocket, unfolded it and read it.
We pay, or they do it. We talk, and they do it.
They have more guys. Eyes all the time.
We don’t pay or we talk, they’re gonna hurt Smithie.
I stared at the paper.
Then I whispered, “Fuck.”
* * * * *
I sat cross-legged on the bed in my jeans and tee (but I’d flipped off my flip-flops).
Ren was up against the headboard, sheet to his waist, chest on view.
For once, I didn’t appreciate the view. My mind was on other things.
He was studying the note which, incidentally, was what my mind was on.
In other words, I was obsessing over it.
Ren had elected not to go to Smithie’s that night and instead stay in and get some shuteye.
But I’d woken him up after I flipped off my flip-flops and turned on a light.
Then I’d shown him the note.
He looked from it to me. “You want me to put Lucky and Santo on this?”
This surprised me.
“Would Lucky and Santo be helpful?”
“One of many things those two have goin’ for them is everyone underestimates them.” He held my eyes. “Heads up to you, don’t underestimate them.”
I nodded.
That was good to know, and as Curious Rock Chick, also a relief to have that intel.
“So you want me to put them on this?” he pressed.
I leaned toward him and put my hand to his chest. “No, baby. But thanks for the offer.”
“Ally—” he started, his voice cautious, and I knew where he was going.
/>
This was bigger than me. Even bigger than me and Darius.
This needed team play.
So I cut him off in order that he wouldn’t worry. “I have to talk to Lee.”
Ren let out a breath.
I took one in and said, “I had this feeling when it started. It wasn’t bad. It was bad. Darius on it, bringing in Bobby and Brody, I felt better.” I tipped my head to the note. “That? Smithie needs the big guns.”
To that, Ren weirdly asked, “Do you know what’s amazing?”
“Well… no,” I answered, bemused at this turn of conversation.
“That you give a shit enough about what you do, and about Smithie, to be big enough to set pride aside to do the job right.”
He.
Was.
So.
Awesome.
“You’re just saying that so I’ll kiss you,” I replied.
“No. I’m sayin’ it ‘cause it’s true. Though, I’m also sayin’ it so you’ll kiss me. But mostly I’m sayin’ it so you’ll fuck me.”
My happy place spasmed, but my eyebrows drew together.
“I was dancing all night and you want me to do all the work?
“Babe, you dance for eight, ten minutes tops. That hardly puts you out of commission.”
“I also had a run today,” I reminded him.
He grinned. “Yeah, I remember.”
That grin—another happy place spasm.
“So I’m thinking my man needs to put in a little effort,” I kept going.
“I did that after your run.”
This was true. And it was more than a little. This was because, before I got back from my run, Ren had cleaned my Lelo.
“Okay, a little more effort,” I amended.
“Are you sayin’ you’re good with missionary?” he asked.
“Missionary is growing on me,” I shared.
Ren grinned a grin I felt in my nipples and my happy place.
Then he set the note on his nightstand and lunged toward me, taking me to my back on the bed with him on top.
His lips to my lips, his eyes looking into mine, he suggested, “Let’s see if I can take it to number one.”
I was all for that.
Totally.
And I shared this by lifting my head and kissing him.
Hard, wet and wild.
Ren kissed me back the same way.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Top of That List
My eyes fluttered open as I woke.
Ren’s arms gave me a squeeze.
“Babe, you awake?”
I grinned to myself and rolled from Ren spooning me to me snuggling front to front with my man.
Rock Chick Revolution Page 45
