I pause mid-bite.“She didn’t come by to check on you?”
“We both know you didn’t marry her for her work ethic or sense of family.I told her not to come.”She purses her lips, and I can tell she wants to say more but is holding back.She’s never liked Faye.She tolerates her at best.
“What?”
“Nothing.”She folds her hands together, flashing her newest diamond ring.“Heard your new toy is a real looker.”
“I don’t have a new toy.”
“You put her in your room at the clubhouse.”
“Now, how do you know that?”
“I know everything that goes on in those walls.Do you have my rent money?”
Low must’ve told her.
“Yeah.”I pull the envelope stuffed with cash from my cut.The clubhouse’s property is in her name.Grannie Mags owns half the town.Unofficially, the properties and businesses belong to the club, but having them in her name is protection.We own lots of shit.Storage buildings.Moving trucks.Coin-operated laundry facilities.Commercial real estate.A strip club.All fronts to launder where our real money comes from.Manufacturing and selling Diamond Dust.High-quality speed.
My sister handles most of the bookkeeping.Gran taught her.Faye was supposed to learn, but she’d rather sit on her ass and look pretty.Maybe it’s better she doesn’t know how it all works.Fuck knows how much longer she’s going to be in the picture.
“I’ll get this deposited.Need me to find a job for your new friend?”
“Not yet.I’ve gotta catch up with Gray and pay a visit to the kitchen.”
“Bring your friend by for dinner.I want to meet her.”
“I’ll let you know.”
“I’m not asking for permission, Curtis.”
Shit.The last thing Jessika needs is being subjected to my Grannie Mags and one of her interrogations.
I find Gray at our laundromat, Strip & Spin collecting our coins with Catfish.It’s our easiest business.Place never closes.Cameras in the lobby.Gray or one of the guys comes by to collect the money, restock the vending machines, and empty the trash.All the club members are on our payroll.Makes shit legit for taxes and keeps their asses out of trouble for the most part.
“How’d we do?”
“Not bad.Was about to drop this at the office with Low.”
Yeah, I bet I know why he wants to see Low.Fucker.
“She’s not there.She took Jessika shopping in Fayetteville.”
His expression falls.Disappointment is there but he tries to cover it.“You sure that’s a good idea?”
“No, but Foolish and Rizz are with them.”
“Those two clowns.You could have asked me.”
“Figured you and Low could use some space after the rally.”I fish, seeing if he bites.
“We’re cool.You know how your sister gets, man.”
“Besides.We need to pay a visit to the kitchen.See if we’re still on schedule.Drop off supplies.You swing by Big & Stuffed yet?”
“Nope.”He empties the next machine.
“We’ll hit that before we ride out.Faye’s working.”
