to Kenleigh’s size and she’s a sweetheart. She won’t mind.”
“Yes, I know her. She’s great.”
“She and Tessa are working tonight. Maybe I’ll ask them to come in a bit early, help you get ready, yeah?”
“You think they would?”
“Sure they would.”
“Well, then… yes. Please. If it’s OK with them.”
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Jax smiled at her. “So… anything else?”
Gabi stood up. “No. I’ll finish cleaning, then I’ll maybe get a bit of rest before tonight.”
“Good. And thank you , Gabi. You really helped me out by being able to take the shift.”
“You’re welcome, Mister Jax.”
He watched her leave his office and he shook his head in bafflement. Gabi working in a bar in Mexico? Serving up shots to sketchy guys – who were her cousins? Going back to work the day after a drive-by?
Fuck, man. Just goes to show you, huh? You never know where someone’s really coming from, do you?
**
Ace threw his coffee cup out his car window and scowled back at the woman with the baby carriage walking by. Fuck, these people just kept breeding, huh? Like the world needed more of them.
He looked around Gabi Torres’ neighborhood again. Nothing but brown people, everywhere he looked. This was a known Mexican area and Ace had been here before – to pick up some drugs. Beyond that, he’d never had any reason to set foot in this slum again. Until now.
Fuck you for making me sit here for hours on end, Gabi Torres. One more reason to fucking want to beat your head in, bitch.
His cell phone rang and he jumped to attention. “Trigger?”
“Yeah, man. Any sign?”
“No. None. I’ve been here since nine this morning and she hasn’t shown up yet.”
“OK. She’s definitely in the wind. She won’t be going back there.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. She’s hiding.”
“You think she’s at Curves?”
“Maybe. I’m going to send a few guys in there tonight to check it out.”
“Not from our club?”
“Fuck, no. Hamill’s boys would have them out of there so fast, it’d make them dizzy. Naw, I called a few guys I know who aren’t in the club. They’ll go for a few drinks on me, scope the place. See if she’s staying there, maybe.”
“Or maybe she’s staying with family.”
“Yeah, that’s possible, but from what I’ve found out so far, her parents are dead. Died a year ago in a car wreck and I can’t find any other relatives that aren’t back in Mexico. I’ll keep looking, though, just to be sure.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Stay put. You never know… she may decide to sneak home later tonight. I fucking doubt it, but bitches do stupid things when they feel cornered.”
Ace rolled his eyes but knew way better than to let Trigger hear any complaints from him. “Sure thing, man.”
“If you clap eyes on her, you grab her, no hesitation. Feel free to slap her around a bit, if the mood strikes, but not too much. I want to talk to her and that’s easier if she’s conscious and has all her teeth. Yeah?”
“With pleasure,” Ace said grimly, furious about being stuck in this car until his President told him otherwise. “Nothing I’d love more, believe me.”
Chapter Three
Gabi stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, simply unable to believe what Kenleigh and Tessa had dressed her in.
“It’s – I look – ummm…”
“You look hot !” Kenleigh exclaimed. “Who knew you had all this to show off, Gabi? Why do you live in baggy clothes, again?”
“I – because I – I’m a cleaning woman,” Gabi mumbled. “Just a cleaning woman.”
“A damn beautiful cleaning woman,” Tessa piped up. “I mean – look at you!”
The three women stared at her reflection some more, then Kenleigh smiled at her.
“So… hair and makeup, yeah?”
“Oh,” Gabi protested. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes ,” Tessa said, digging in to her purse. “We came prepared so just relax. We got this.”
“Are you sure?” Gabi trailed
personal demons by christopher fowler