“Please. A Hound can’t find his way out of a single-door bedroom, much less get out of Russia alive. Trust me, it was all me.”
I shake my head, but at least I’m smiling and not wanting to punch a dead guy in the nuts. I say the night is progressing well for me.
“Tell me, Menace—I mean Viv. Sorry, it’s going to take me a minute to get used to calling you that,” Tommy says with a shake of his head in wonderment.
She waves him off. “Call me Menace. I’m fine with it. It’s a name most people know me by anyway, so it’s something I’m used to.”
“Works for me. So, what’re you working on now? Got anything new?”
“You buy her stuff?” Lucky asks.
“Sure, it’s good. Even gifted a few to my brothers. You should see if she’d be willing to do something with the Hounds logo. Bet it would look good in welded metal.”
The boys and I all nod at Tommy’s words, and I catch the hint of a blush rising up her neck.
I lean in and lick it before getting close to her ear. “Your blush is the same shade as your pussy.”
I grin as her blush spreads and she wiggles just enough to make me groan into her ear for only her to hear.
She turns her head, and my lips brush against her cheek. I peck her lips and nibble on the bottom one before pecking it again.
“Want to get out of here?”
“You got somewhere in mind?” I tease.
Now it’s her turn to lean close to my ear and whisper, “Take me to bed or lose me forever.” Then she grabs my face and licks halfway up my cheek.
“Yuck,” I say as I wipe her slobber off my face with my shoulder. She laughs at me, and I like her enough to smile with her.
“Can’t say no to a girl who quotesTop Gun. Give me a second to talk to Rooster.” She nods, and I stand, lifting her for a beat before letting her feet touch the ground. I give her a kiss on the cheek as I go. “Be right back.”
She sinks down in the chair, grabs my beer, and kicks her feet up on the table. “I’ll be waiting.”
I smirk at my luck and head to the bar. “Yo, prospect.” The kid behind the bar comes over instantly. I like that in a prospect. “Where’s Rooster?”
“Out front last I heard.”
I rap my knuckles on the bar top and head out. I look back only once at Viv and wink when I see her watching me. She gives me an eyebrow wiggle, and I smile. Damn, that girl is something else. A real menace.
Grim and Rooster are next to one of the two benches we have out front for the smokers. They’re close enough to the building to be covered under our awning, and the standing patio heaters keep the chill away.
“Want one?” Grim holds out a pack of cigarettes, but I pass.
Need to tell Mama Bear. She’ll be pleased.
“About to head up for the night,” I say. “Wanted to make sure we’re good.”
“Already got the boys on double rotations in groups of three. We’ve got eyes on Viv’s place, her friend’s, and even Mack’s.” Rooster nods at his own assessment.
Grim chuckles at that. “Dude’s going to be pissed when he finds out.”
“Rather him be mad and think we’re under the impression that he can’t protect himself than have him dead and Viv dealing with it.” My comment has Grim sobering up and nodding in agreement.
I look at Rooster. “Tommy’s going to be sticking around. Offer him a room, even though I’m sure he already has a villa somewhere around here or at least something for him and his men. Let the boys know he gets let into the club, but only the ground floor.”
He nods at my words.
“The guy might be linked to some big, bad mafia kings back home, and he might be known here, too, but this is still Hounds territory and my house. The courtesy only gets him access, not easy access.”
