Tipsy (Take It Off #5)(45)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“You want the beating to continue?” he threatened.

“If you wanted me unconscious, I already would be.”

He stared at me for long moments. Finally, the silence broke. “I want an explanation.”

“Am I supposed to know what the hell you’re talking about?” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

“Don’t play stupid with me!” Dom yelled, some of his composure slipping a bit. “What are you, some kind of narc?”

I stiffened, like the term offended me. Then I lunged at him, hammering my ready fist into the side of his jaw. “I’m no narc!” I yelled.

“You might not be a narc,” he said, dabbing at the corner of his busted lip, “but you are a traitor.”

“How do you figure?”

“You trying to cozy up? Ingratiate yourself to me and the crew so you can edge me out and take over my neighborhood?”

“You invited me into the crew. I didn’t come looking for you.” I reminded him.

“Doesn’t mean you won’t take an opportunity when one is presented.”

I didn’t reply because he was right.

“So what? You have your bitch spying on me? On my business?”

My back teeth came together when he spoke of Julie like that. My body was stiff and sore, my face burned, and I was getting really, really cranky.

“I don’t have time for this,” I spat. “I did what you asked. I stole you a transport vehicle. I agreed to make the delivery. I went out on the street to deal. You even got my credits from LeBraun himself, and that ain’t good enough.”

I shook my head.

“Fuck this shit. I’m out.” I turned to walk away.

“You’re not out ‘til I say you’re out,” he said quietly from behind.

The two men jumped me again and forced me to my knees. Anger burned through my veins, so hot and so putrid I wondered if perhaps it would burn holes right through my skin.

The door to the house opened and Slater came out behind Dom. He assessed the situation quickly, barely giving me a second glance. Before I knew what he was doing, he strode across the room, around Dom, and belted me in the face.

It was a low blow considering I was being forced down by two men already.

“What was that for?” I spat.

“For messing with Dom.”

Dom clapped Slater on the back and stepped forward. He shoved his face close to mine, so close that I could smell the warm beer on his breath. “Do you know what happened to the last guy who tried to edge me out?”

I knew Slater was listening carefully.

“Why don’t you tell me?” I invited.

“He also tried to use his woman to screw me out of millions of dollars.” I stayed silent, looking straight into his eyes. “So I killed him.”

Slater slipped, his body going completely rigid as the news—the confession—he’d been waiting for all this time was handed to him. Dom must have noticed the change in him and began to turn, but I couldn’t let that happen.

“How do I know you aren’t just bluffing?”

Dom swung back around, pinning me with a cold stare. It was the first time I saw the lack of conscience in his eyes. “You’ll know for sure once I kill you and dump your body where I dumped his.”

“I’m flattered you took the time to plan my burial.”

Dom grunted. “No plan. Just taking out the trash.”

I didn’t dare look at Slater, but I hoped he got the message. Dom dumped Milo’s body at one of the local trash yards.

From somewhere on his person, Dom pulled out a black Glock. It didn’t appear so threatening, but I knew that one well-placed shot would end my life here and now.

I thought about Julie. About how my last moments with her would be at the police station, where she was dragged because of her involvement with me. I wanted to make it up to her… but now I wouldn’t get the chance.

The gun leveled at me.

Then I remembered.

“Go ahead.” I challenged. “Kill me. You’ll never see your shipment again.”

The gun jerked in Dom’s hand. “What did you say?”

“I said I’ve got your drugs. All of them. You ever want to see them and your millions, you better not pull that trigger.”

I could see him measuring my words. Weighing them against truth and bluff.

“Pretty genius idea disguising them as women’s hair color and stashing them at a local salon. It’s the last place anyone would think of.”

His nostrils flared when he realized I really wasn’t bluffing. A series of foul language dripped from his lips.

I smiled.

A phone started ringing. Dom lowered the gun, still keeping his eyes keen on my face, and answered his phone. “What?” he demanded.

His eyes turned cold and a calculating glint came across his features. I didn’t like that look. I didn’t like the calmness that came over him.

“Wait for my word,” he instructed and then disconnected the call. “It appears we both have something the other wants.”

“You ain’t got nothing I want,” I spat, my shoulders burning from being held down.

“Oh, I think you do. My men say she fought like a little hellcat and screamed until she was hoarse.”

Julie.

Cold fury washed over my body. My reaction was so physical that I surged to my feet. Not even the two men holding me could keep me down. “What the hell have you done?” I spat.

“It seems I found your weakness and my bargaining chip to get back what belongs to me.”

27

Julie

Dee and Craig pulled up in his black Hummer just a few minutes after I left Watson’s office. The tail lights glowed in the dark as I pushed open the glass doors of the station and trudged wearily toward the curb.

The passenger-side window rolled down to reveal my best friend in all her pajama glory. They were blue with white clouds all over them. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun and her eyes were alert.

“I’ve officially seen everything there is to see in life,” she announced. “The least likely person on earth to be arrested has gone and been arrested. It’s a sure sign the apocalypse is coming. Craig, better swing by Sam’s Club on the way home so we can stock up on beans and SPAM.”

“That’s disgusting,” I said as I climbed into the back seat. The interior of the Hummer was warm, and I sank into the black leather seat. “Remind me to never come to your house when zombie’s take over America.”