Desertion

“Please, you can do anything. I’ll love it. Besides, Vegas baby. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

“You’re doing Vegas for your bachelorette party?” I ask, putting myself into the conversation.

“Girl, Vegas all the way and you are invited. You have to come.” Holly bounces in her chair with excitement for what I’m sure is going to be one hell of a night.

“Yeah, let me know the dates, I’ll put in for time off,” I take a sip of water, washing down the concerns Mom and Dad will feel about a Vegas trip. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

“Sweetheart, you all right here for a bit? Got some club business to deal with.” Jesse comes up behind me leaning down to my ear.

“Sure, the girls will keep me company.” I rest my head back and let him know I’m fine.

“Good girl.” He leans in further and kisses me softly on my lips then pulls back. “Stay here. Don’t go running off.” He points to me while walking into the kitchen.

“I won’t.” I laugh, watching him leave. Turning back to face the girls, I ask, “What?” when they all watch us wearing the biggest grins.

“Girl, he has it bad.” Holly shakes her head in disbelief.

“Tell me about it. I’ve never seen him like this, ever.” Kelly nudges me gently. “You hooked the un-hookable.”

“Please, Jesse and I are just hanging out. Nothing serious,” I tell them, letting it be known where we stand.

“Nothing serious? Please, I’ve done the ‘hanging out’ thing before. He hid his sausage in your muffin yet?” Holly asks with a straight face.

“His sausage where?”

“In your muffin, chick. Your hoo ha. You know, you getting it on?” The girls laugh, and at the attention, I feel a blush start to cover my face.

“You’re embarrassing her, Holly.” Kadence tries to stick up for me, but it’s too late. The blush has taken over.

“She’s only embarrassed ‘cause she’s doing him. Just tell me this, is it good?” Holly leans forward whispering.

I’m expecting some kind of outrage from Kadence and Kelly, but instead, they all lean forward waiting for an answer.

“Well, ummm…” I try to scramble for something to say but stop. What the hell , I think deciding to let it spill. “It’s amazing. This thing he does with his tongue.” I start to get lost in remembering the last time we were together.

“Oh, my God, girl. Welcome to the club. I just awarded you full-fledged membership.” Holly holds her glass up in the air.

“What club?” I ask, watching them all raise their glass.

“The club where we women can all appreciate a good tongue.” She laughs and the girls clink their glasses together.

“This isn’t really a club, is it?” I ask, watching them all break out giggling.

“No, I just made it up, but I am glad Jesse knows how to use that tongue of his. Always knew he had it in him. Have you seen his body? Be a shame for all that to go to waste.”

“Mmhmm,” Kelly agrees, nodding beside me.

“You ladies are crazy, you know that?” I settle back into the sofa.

“Girl, you haven’t even seen the tip of it. Wait till we get you to Vegas.” I nod listening as they continue telling me what they have planned for Vegas. I’m not certain yet, but I’d say these ladies are as wild as Lissy.

If not worse.

I must attract these kinds of people.

Twenty-One JESSE

“What do you have for us?” I ask Jackson as soon as we are alone.

“So impatient, brother.” He shakes his head, and then drops a folder down on the kitchen table. It’s not that I don’t want to know what he has to say, but I’d much rather be with Bell in my bed. “Ran the name Markus Bates you gave me through the system. This asshole has a rap sheet as long as my dick.”

“So not very long?” I quip and watch him try to not react to me pissing him off. The fucker is always so serious.

“What we looking at?” Nix picks up the file and starts reading.

“Worse case scenario. He’s got connections to a drug cartel in Mexico, and sex trafficking rings throughout America. You name it, he’s got his hand in it.” Fuck, it’s way over our heads now.

“He, along with that fucker, Gary Innis, we’ve had our eye on for a while, have a strong connection to the Warriors.”

“How do you know?” An undertone of disbelief slips past Nix’s lips, his eyes narrowing at the news of the Warriors involvement.

“Doesn’t matter how, just that he does.”

“Fuck me. This club is sendin’ me grey before my own fuckin’ daughter does.” He shakes his head. “Why’d you come to me with this, Jackson?” Nix asks the question I’ve been wondering since we rolled up and saw him here. We all know what side of the law Jackson stays on. Why come to us now?

“‘Cause I know my thick-headed brother here is thinking with the wrong head now.”

“Fuck you,” I answer but he doesn’t engage.

“You wanted the info, I’m giving it to you in hope you understand how deep this shit runs and you don’t fuck this up for us.”

“Fuck what up exactly?” Nix asks on a sigh. I understand his frustration. I don’t blame him. Every week it feels like we’re being dragged into more shit. Shit we’ve worked hard at getting away from.