CHAPTER 9
ZIGGY
The hotel lobby was packed, but that didn’t keep me from instantly spotting the large group of hulking Gods’ headed my way. Their size alone was enough to make them stand out, but our cuts are what really made heads turn, as they greeted me with hard pats on the back and a bunch of bro-hugs.
“Dude, you’re the man!” Slade said.
“Yeah, this is a total score, dude!” Wreck said.
“How the hell did you hook up with Lucky fucking Lazzarini, man?” Bones asked.
Ryder caught my eye and winked, always the silent type.
“Thank you,” I said to him, before turning to the others. “I’ll explain everything later. But first, you can unload all your bags in the tour bus. We’ll be traveling in our own bus during the tour. It’s waiting in the parking lot out back.”
“No shit?” Fury asked.
“No shit, man,” I said. “This is the real deal.”
“Unbelievable,” Stryker said, as we all began to make our way outside.
“Hey, Ziggy,” Slade said, siding up to me. “How is she?”
“Lucky?” I asked.
“Yeah, man. In the sack? Is she a wildcat?”
“Dude, I don’t kiss and tell,” I said, laughing and shaking my head.
“That says it all,” he laughed, slapping me on the back.
“I didn’t say a word,” I replied.
“You didn’t have to, man,” he said. “A woman like that? Whew-boy! She’s sexy as fuck.”
“Hell, yeah, she is,” Colt said. “Did you see her latest video? She was practically naked. All wet and soapy in a bathtub. I watched it again last night. Twice!”
They all burst out laughing as we walked out of the lobby, the misty rain falling down around us.
“Alright, y’all,” I said. “You can say whatever you want to me, but please keep it professional with Lucky, okay?”
“Of course, we aren’t pigs,” Riot said.
“Speak for yourself,” Slade said.
“You’re a snake, Slade, not a pig,” Riot replied.
“Enough, guys!” Ryder barked. “Let’s remember that we’re professionals and we’re here to do a job. The tour lasts for a few more weeks and from what I’ve learned, there’s a very dangerous guy that we’re up against. We’re going to need to stay alert and think quickly on our feet. We don’t have time to be messing around.”
“Yes, boss,” Slade said, nodding, his expression matching Ryder’s now. “We’ll snap to it.”
“Thanks, guys,” I said. “Lucky’s really cool actually. I think you’ll all like her. She’s been dealt a pretty fucked up hand and found herself in a terrible situation. I just want to make sure she stays safe.”
“You know we’ll do a kick-ass job,” Slade said. “Don’t worry, man.”
“I’m not worried. That’s why I begged Ryder to take this job. Because I knew the only people who could do it right are us.”
“Damn straight,” Fury said.
“Alright, let’s get going,” I said. I led them to the tour bus we’d be using, parked amongst the sea of other buses that made up the fleet used for the tour. They broke out into a chorus of whistles and hoots and hollers.
“These are some first class digs right here!” Nate said.
“I feel like a fucking rock star,” Slade said, sliding on his sunglasses, stretching out on the white leather couch, and putting his feet up. “Do I look like a rock star?”
“You look like a douche,” Riot teased. Slade laughed and flipped him off.
It was indeed luxurious. All white leather and shiny, golden trim, the bus seemed to be practically brand-new. With a large bedroom suite in the back, it also had small bunks lined up on each side of a small corridor.
“Smells like a new car!” Blade said.
“Like a new fucking limo!” Vick replied.
“It’s going to be a tight fit,” I said. “But we’ll make it work.”
“So when do we get to meet Lucky?” Slade asked.
“Now,” I said. “Let’s all go up to her room so you can all meet her.”
“We should start work right away,” Riot said, as we all began pouring out of the bus. “I’ll draw up some assignments and we’ll make sure every entrance and exit is covered. I’ve been working non-stop on making all the arrangements with her management, who I gotta say, is really not happy with us taking on this job.”
“Yeah, they’ve been giving her a hard time about it, but she’s adamant about this, so just ignore that as much as you can,” I said, as we walked through the parking lot.
Since leaving Lucky alone in the hotel room, I’d been sick with worry, and I was anxious to get back to her. Now that the other guys had arrived, I wouldn’t have to leave her alone at all anymore. The relief that they brought with them helped me breathe a little easier.
Sure, Lucky and I were hooking up, and it was amazing, but I wasn’t fooling myself. A woman like that didn’t stay with a man like me for very long. I was just a tool to scratch an itch, I figured. I’d let her use me for that, making no mention of anything more, and neither had she. We both knew what this was.
This whole thing had now become a job.
As of today, I was personally holding myself responsible for her safety.
Sure, I’d brought on the Gods but I put it all on my own shoulders. That’s why I was nervous about leaving her. If I never left her side, then there’s no way that asshole Nicholai could get close to her. That’s the only reason I didn’t want to leave her alone. So I could make sure she was safe.
It wasn’t the fact that I was quickly becoming addicted to her twinkling laughter. It wasn’t the fact that when she was within arm’s reach, I couldn’t help but touch her. It wasn’t at all the fact that my heart started beating like I was running a race when she touched me back.
Ryder pulled me aside before we boarded the elevator to the penthouse.
“Ziggy, we need to talk for a second,” he said, his voice somber.
“Of course,” I said. “Ryder, thank you so much for taking this job on. It really means a lot to me. I know it’s not what we usually do.”
“We’re happy to help,” he said. “I’m glad you thought of it. Gives the new guys some good experience, and it sounds like she really needs the help.”
“She does.”
“Ziggy, I need to ask you a personal question. Are you involved with Lucky?”
I blinked, hard.
“Yes,” I nodded, finally. “I met her in a bar and we hooked up, to be blunt. She told me what was going on and I suggested we could help her. That’s the extent of our relationship so far.”
“I see,” he nodded. “That’s what I thought. I hate to do this, Ziggy, but I need to ask you to hold off getting involved with her any deeper until this is all over.”
“What?” I asked, my face falling. There’s no fucking way he was saying what I thought.
“Not only is it a Solid Ground policy, but it’s also a way to make sure we succeed at our job. It’ll just cloud your mind, man.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I asked, laughing in his face. “I don’t mean to be rude, Ryder, but how many Gods have found love when they were working a case?”
“Is that what you’re looking for?”
“Huh?”
“Love? Is that where this is going with Lucky?” he asked, staring me down, his eyes demanding an honest answer.
“I - um, well — shit, I don’t know, man,” I stuttered, not even realizing I’d uttered the L word.
“Right. That’s my point. You just hooked up, that’s all. It’s best to cut it off at this point and keep it professional from here on out. You aren’t in love, there aren’t any feelings involved, it’s easier this way. Trust me, this is the right thing to do. You’ll thank me for it later.”
“Right,” I said, stunned, as he patted me on the back and walked away to join back up with the other guys. I stood staring after him, wondering how in the hell I was going to keep my hands off of her.