said unashamed.
Her heart did something weird, and then flopped to the side.
He stood straight, coming off the door jam. "Anyway, I wanted to stop playing games with you. I feel like I've been doing it for years, and now, especially now, it has to stop."
"Games?" she said, and an insight hit her straight in the head. "Fuck me," she hissed.
"What?" Liam asked, looking at her a little concerned.
She lifted her hand. "Hold that thought. It might get you a blow job later." Then she started digging in Uncle Jim's desk until she came up with a battered looking phone book. Paging through the book, she came to the number she was looking for, and picked up the desk phone, dialing.
Liam was looking at her with wonder and questions, but she shook her head, begging him off.
The voice that answered was male, deep, and a bit tired. "Manny?" she asked. "This is Lizzie, Jim's niece. The reason I'm calling is to ask you how long you are going to let Ramirez fuck your club into fucking with mine, because this shit is getting old."
***
Ramirez Pagan walked out of the Tijuana bar at close to three in the morning, well sexed and just a bit drunk.
His mind wandered back to that puta running the Road Knights who thinks she's like Isabella Casas. She was nothing like the Señora, and her trying to say so was deeply insulting. He still couldn't figure out how the Knights stopped the ambush, though. The Devils were given all of the information they required to make a clean hit. But not only did they fail, as they had failed him so many times before, they got the fuck shot out of them. Two dead, Manny told him.
He made it to his car and then leaned against it, fishing out his pack of cigarettes and getting one lit. He had been playing games with her uncle for years, and enjoying every minute of it. The old man was good, but Ramirez won many little games. Very good times.
Of course none of his bosses or friends knew about his game playing with the clubs. They would not approve. No, that would not be smiled upon at all. It was too much fun to give up. He had to keep playing.
Now, however, the games were at an end for a while. The old man was dead. Ramirez felt that it was only appropriate to bring his club down with him.
And why should they keep running? These men who brought in a woman as their leader? No, these were not real men. The Señora, well, she was different. They did not bring her in either. She took what was hers and held it. Such amazing strength the Señora had; very brave, and deadly smart.
To his surprise, when he mentioned this little puta to the Señora, she actually remembered meeting her at her house. She advised Ramirez to have patience and watch. She expected good things from her.
Maybe the Señora was right after all.
Didn't she stop the takeover of the Strip with great ruthlessness? Yes, that was true, and did it within days of her coming to power. She also stopped the ambush. He didn't know how she did that one, but it was her. Definitely her.
Ramirez smoked his cigarette and blew a cloud of blue smoke into the night sky. Then he sighed, "Well, there is nothing for it," he shrugged. "I would like to play the game, but she is in the way. She's got to go."
He turned back to his car and saw a large man coming toward him. The big man was only a few steps away when he said, "Lizzie sends her best."
Ramirez's mind clicked and he went for his gun, but never cleared it from the holster. Three shots took him in the chest. Then he was on the ground looking up at the sky. He heard the final shot, and then there was only darkness.
"Checkmate," Liam said, and walked away.
***
Lizzie sat at her desk. It was well after four in the morning. Liam was back across the border and heading for the Roost. She understood the world her parents had left her in when they died. She understood that her Uncle was an outlaw biker and did