Jules rose off his stool and met the three agents at the door. “What do you want Schneider?”

 

“Just to talk.”

 

“I have nothing to say to you.”

 

“No? Well, I have a few things to say to you and your girlfriend over there.” She stepped around Jules and moseyed up to the bar. “Place is a little busier than the last time I was here,” she said to Rachel.

 

“What do you want?”

 

“It seems the men that killed your brother, and the one that took a shot at you, were Andres.”

 

“It took you two weeks to figure that out? I knew that the first night,” Jules said.

 

“Just because you have a tattoo of a ‘P’ inside your bottom lip doesn’t make you a member of the cartel,” Schneider said as she sat down on a stool. “But their prints came back from the Mexican government as known associates of the cartel.”

 

Jules’s lip curled. “Glad we have you around to tell us these things.”

 

“So the question is… why did the Andres Cartel put a hit on Forsaken 99? Any idea?”

 

“Target practice?”

 

“Cute. What I think, Jules, is Forsaken 99 is running drugs. I think that maybe you found out and tried to stop it. Maybe the rest of the guys that were killed were in on it too. I think the Andres Cartel found out and decided to protect their new partners. Maybe even your President tipped them off to it. That’s what I think. What do you think of my idea?”

 

“I think you watch too many cop shows.”

 

“I know you are not in the club anymore. Why are you protecting them? With you help I could take the club down. Then you could take over… or form a new club.”

 

“Schneider, you’re not even DEA. What are you doing involved in all of this? Why aren’t you out hassling people that bring undeclared oranges into the states?” Jules asked.

 

“Let’s just say that Ellis has been very helpful. And since I brought him in I’ve… been given a little bit freer hand. I can help you, Jules. I can help you get your club back.”

 

“What makes you think I want to go back? As you said, they threw me out after all.”

 

“Mmmm… call it a hunch.”

 

“Well, thanks for the offer, but I’m afraid I will have to decline.”

 

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Jules. People could get hurt. People you care about. This bar for example… known to be frequented by Forsaken 99. We may have to start looking into it a little more closely. Make sure its books are in order and it isn’t laundering drug money, for example. Nobody wants that, Jules.” Schneider then looked at Rachel and smiled. “Though I might not mind so much this time.”

 

“Keep pushing, Schneider,” Rachel snarled.

 

“Or what? Are you going to threaten to kick my ass again?” Schneider reached up and gave Jules a soft pat on the side of his face. “He may not find you as appealing after I was done with you, with your face messed up and all.”

 

Jules pulled her hand down from his face. “Knock it off.”

 

“What? I thought you would like two women fighting over you. Not that it would be much of a fight… and I would certainly enjoy the rewards.”

 

“Don’t do it,” Jules warned as he put an arm between Rachel and Schneider when he saw Rachel go stiff with rage.”

 

“Yeah, sweetheart,” Schneider said. “Too many witnesses, remember?”

 

“Get the fuck out,” Rachel muttered, her voice low and dangerous.

 

Schneider eased off the stool. “Okay. Have it your way.” She turned toward the door but stopped after just two steps. “Oh… I’m sorry about your loss,” she said to Rachel. “Your brother was a good looking guy and what happened to him was too bad. It’s such a waste. I was looking forward to getting real close with him.”

 

Jules’s hand flashed out and grabbed Rachel by the arm as she started around the end of the bar. “It’s just what she wants. Don’t give it to her,” he said softly. “Schneider, just get out… and take your goons with you.”

 

“Okay, have it your way. Dealing Ellis to me was a smart move. Be smart again… give me the club. I will make sure you and Rachel are protected.”

 

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

 

Schneider stared at him a moment then nodded. “Okay. I’m sure we'll be talking about his again. But next time… let’s meet somewhere a little more… secluded. Just the two of us. Someplace where we can negotiate in private. There must be something I have, something I can offer you, that you want.”

 

“Just go.”

 

Schneider smiled at him before pivoting and walking out, the other three agents in her wake.

 

“I hate that fucking bitch,” Rachel muttered. “And if you ever negotiate that bitch to her back, I will fucking kill you.”

 

Jules chuckled. “Not going to happen. Don’t let her get to you. She is just trying to get you to give something up, or have you to do something stupid so she can use it as leverage against me. Just ignore her.”

 

Rachel stared at the door a moment longer before looking back to Jules. “Why don’t you give up the club? After everything they have done? You could start a new club if you wanted. You don’t owe them anything.”

 

“Because the club is my problem and I don’t want the feds involved. I will either take Forsaken 99 back and make it stand for something again, or I will destroy it. Or I will die trying.”

 

She looked into his eyes and saw the promise written there. “We both will,” she said softly as she placed her hand on his. “I will be with you every step of the way.”