Alamo

After driving Jasmine back to work, I headed to the compound. I’d dropped Quin and Kinsey there that morning, and Badger was keepin’ them occupied (and locked down) for the day.

I parked my truck just as my phone rang. It was Booker, so I answered immediately. “What ya got, Book?”

He chuckled. “So fuckin’ much.”

“No shit?”

When Quin first mentioned she was dating Michael, I’d had Booker do a quick background check on him, which brought up nothing, not even a traffic ticket, so I didn’t ask him to go deeper. Apparently, that was a mistake.

“No shit, brother. This guy may not have a criminal record, but he’s by no means above board.”

“So you found something we can use to get this guy to back off?”

“We found enough to make this little fucker walk the plank.” I could hear Booker grinning as he spoke.

“I like the cut of your jib, sir,” I replied.

“Figured you would.”

“I’ll talk to you soon. Thanks brother.”

“No problem.”

I hung up and headed into the building, frowning when I walked into the great room to find Badger a little too close to my sister.

“Uncle Valley!” Kinsey squealed and made a run for my legs.

I scooped her up and she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Hey, baby girl. How’s my favorite niece?”

She dropped her head to my shoulder and held tight, but didn’t answer my question.

“Heard from Booker?” Badger asked, once I hugged my sister.

“Yeah.”

“Do I have any hope?” Quin asked.

“Yeah, you do,” I said. “Just gotta play it smart.”

“I can’t leave one prison, just to be forced into another.”

“Yeah, sis, I get it. You concerned at all that Michael might be watching you, though? Concerned he might grab you if you’re outside of our protection? Huh? ’Cause I am. If you have to go anywhere, you go with a brother, but Kinsey stays here. One of the ol’ ladies can watch her.”

“Of course I am, but what am I supposed to do about it?” She dragged her hands down her face. “We cannot stay at some old tobacco barn away from the real world. And I’m not leaving my daughter with an old lady.”

“You wanna turn that nose up any higher, Quin?” Badger snapped.

“Chill out Knox,” she snapped. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“How’d you mean it, then?” he growled.

“Kinsey doesn’t do well with strangers. You know this.”

“How the fuck would he know that?” I demanded.

Quin ignored me. “But that does not mean I’m objecting to a biker’s woman watching her.”

“Yeah?” he challenged. “Then why are you spoutin’ that bullshit, Quin?”

“Okay, you two, let’s take it down a notch, huh?” I said.

“Brooke’s close,” Badger said. “She can watch Kinsey if need be.”

“Not sure I wanna drag her into this, Badge. Caspar can make that decision, though,” I said, and sent a text to Caspar. His woman was a teacher, which meant she had time in the afternoons, and she loved kids.

Quinlan threw her hands up in the air. “Oh, my god! You male chauvinist, misogynist pieces of—”

“Mama?” Kinsey patted her leg. “What’s wong?”

Quin glared at me and I bit back a smile. Schooling her features, she picked Kinsey up and hugged her. “Nothing, honey bunches. I’m simply reminding your uncles that women are just as capable of making decisions as men.”

“Where’d my Kinsey girl go?” Gator bellowed as he walked into the room.

Kinsey gasped. “Hide, hide.”

“Well, you better do that,” Quinlan said and set her on her feet.

Kinsey ran off to play with Gator and I braced myself for the lecture about to come in three, two—

“Oh, my god, Valen, I had no idea you’d fallen to the depths of chauvinistic asshole,” she hissed, then jabbed a finger at Badger. “I knew he had, but not you.”

“Hey, now,” Badger growled.

I was pissed, but I wasn’t about to kick my sister (too much) while she was down, so I gave her a sad smile. “You and I don’t talk much anymore, Quin, so I don’t think you know what the fuck’s been goin’ on in my life... and you know what, little sister? That’s on you.”

She wrinkled her nose and glared at me, but she couldn’t argue, so she didn’t. Badger moved a little closer to her but also didn’t counter what I said, so I continued, “I’m gonna talk to Caspar and see if his woman can look out for Kinsey. It’s not because Brooke is a woman, it’s because her man is my brother and we talk to each other first. It’s a respect thing, and most importantly it’s a trust thing.”

Quinlan rolled her eyes, but didn’t comment.

“I have a feeling he’s not gonna have a problem with it, plus it won’t be for a few days, right?”

Quinlan continued to glare at me.

“Quin?” I pressed.

“Fine,” she breathed out.

I took her hand. “Come with me.”

Tugging her to the back of the compound, I pulled her into the conference room and settled her in one of the chairs. “Vent, sis.”

Instead of releasing the rage I was sure she was stuffing deep down inside, she rose to her feet and burst into tears, wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest. “Hey, sissy, it’s okay. I’m gonna take care of this.”

“I’ve fucked this whole thing up, Valley.”

“How’s that?”

“I should have listened to you and Knox. I should have never married Michael.”

Well, she was right about that. She’d been pregnant at the time, so Michael convinced her that marriage was her only option. He didn’t want the stigma of a “bastard child,” which was part of the reason Badger and I warned her not to marry the asshole. We weren’t livin’ in the fuckin’ Dark Ages and my niece or nephew, regardless of Quin’s marital status, would never be considered a “bastard.” This was reason number four-hundred-seventy-two I hated the asshole.

I gave her a gentle squeeze. “Can’t go back, Quin, but I’m gonna fix it.”

“But you shouldn’t have to fix it! I should.”

I gripped her shoulders and met her eyes. “Sissy, this is most definitely a cluster-fuck. No doubt about it, but we are going to clean it up and figure it out. You trust me?”

She bit her lip. “It’s not you I’m worried about.”

“Michael can’t touch me... or you, Quin.”

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“Apparently, Booker found a shit ton of interesting information ... it sounds like you’re gonna get out from under this guy without issue.”

“What kind of stuff?” she asked.

“I’m not exactly sure, but Booker will fill me in when we talk later. He doesn’t like to get into specifics over unsecured lines, so I’ll have to call him from the clubhouse. He may be a bit paranoid, but the sonafabitch is rarely wrong.”

* * *

Jasmine

Leaving the salon in the capable hands of Renee, my second in command, so to speak, I walked a block to my little manufacturing space and into the lobby where Lindy was waiting. She was also a packaging design expert, but she said she preferred to be known as Head Mad Scientist...so she was. I even had business cards made for her (and she passed them out!).

“Hi, Jazz,” she said, handing me a hairnet and lab coat.

“Hey there. You look happy,” I said, and donned my protective wear.

She nodded. “You’re going to love, love, love the new formula.”

The very capable scientists I’d hired (at a premium price) had landed on a series of moisturizers that worked a little differently with each formula, meaning they could be marketed for body, face, hands, and feet. I was ecstatic, particularly since I was running out of money and if this didn’t work, I’d have to go back to the drawing board. All of this was a major risk, but it was my life’s work. I’d borrowed against my house and my salon, and if my extremely sensitive skin not only tolerated, but flourished with this formula, I could change the face of cosmetics.

Following Lindy into the lab, the head tech, Marcus (he liked to refer to himself as the minion to the mad scientist), faced us with a grin. “We’ve got it.”

“So I hear,” I said, and clapped my hands. “Show me.”

He showed me the results of their tests, then went back to work. For the next hour, Lindy and I discussed next steps, packaging designs, and marketing options, and by the time I headed back to the salon, I was exhausted, but energized. Luckily, I had one more client, then I could go home and crash.

Just as I was about to close up, I heard the bell over the door and headed out to the front... and stalled.

Swallowing the bile that rose up to my throat, I forced a smile. “Hey, Michael.”

“Good afternoon, Jasmine. Do you have time for a haircut?”

“I’m actually closing up.”

He gave me a smarmy grin. “Will you make an exception? For a friend?”

We aren’t friends, asshole.

Remembering that I couldn’t show any signs I knew what was going on between him and Quinlan, I sighed. “Let me get a few things set back up. It’ll take me five minutes... if you don’t mind waiting.”

“Not a problem.”

I nodded. “Great. Have a seat and I’ll be right with you.”

He sat in one of the chairs by the window and I walked as calmly as I could to the back, where I fired off a text to Alamo. I felt sick. What the hell was he doing here? He’d never come to me for a haircut before, so I pretty much figured he was there to rattle Alamo... or Quinlan... or both.

The problem was, he was rattling me, and I had scissors. I took a deep breath and headed back to the front. “Can I grab you a cup of coffee?”

Michael smiled, raising his head from his phone. “No, I’m good, thank you.”

“If you’ll follow me to the sink, I’ll wash your hair.”

I tried to calm my nerves as he sat at the sink. I helped him lean back and went about washing his hair, all the while my hands shook like crazy.

The bell rang, and I turned my head to see my man walk in and I almost cried in relief. He gave me a chin lift and nodded to a package he held, setting it on the reception desk and I smiled. Without a word, he walked to the back room and I finished up with Michael.

“Did I hear the bell?” Michael asked as he sat at my station.

“Delivery,” I said, securing the cape around him and smiling at him in the mirror. “So, what would you like done?”

“I’ve let my hair get a little out of control, I’m afraid, so if you can cut it quite short, perhaps leaving it a little longer on top?”

His tone had always been soft and southern to the core, but he always gave me the creeps.

“I can do that,” I said, and went about doing my job... as quickly as I could.

“So, I know Quin has an appointment with you next week, right?” he asked. “When is that again?”

“Um, I don’t think she does, actually,” I said as breezily as I could. “But I can check. Gosh, I hope I haven’t missed something.”

“I could be wrong,” he said. “But it would be helpful if you could check.”

I nodded and decided to change the subject. “How’s Kinsey? I bet she’s growing like crazy.”

“She sure is,” he confirmed.

After that, conversation stopped. Michael said nothing. Not one word. I forced myself not to shudder. It was weird. People always talked to their hairdresser. The stories I’d heard would make a whore blush and I’d taught myself not to react. I was a safe place for people to unload.

But Michael? He sat there totally still. Not a twitch, unless I asked him to move, or put him in a certain position. It was as creepy as hell.

“Right,” I said, grabbing the hand mirror to show him the back of his head. “Have a look and tell me what you think.”

“Looks great, Jasmine. I appreciate it.”

I removed his cape and led him to reception.

“So... Quinlan’s appointment?” Michael pressed.

“Right,” I said, and pretended to be checking the computer. “Nope, she’s not on here. Did she say she had an appointment? I’ll be happy to squeeze her in if I’ve missed something.”

“No, no, I’m sure I must have written the date down wrong.”

I made a point of letting out an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, good. Well, you let her know if she needs to come in to give me a call.”

“I’ll do that.” He handed me a hundred-dollar bill, and I opened the till to get his change, but he shook his head. “Keep the change, Jasmine. You do good work.”

“Well, thank you, Michael. I’m glad you liked it.”

He turned and walked out the door and I locked up, then rushed to the back, straight into Alamo’s arms. “Ohmigod, I thought I was going to puke... or cut him.”

Alamo gave me a gentle squeeze and stroked my hair. “Don’t like that he came in here.”

“Me neither,” I admitted. “He’s never come before, for any reason.”

“You coulda told him you didn’t have time.”

“I didn’t want to piss him off, Mo. What if he went ballistic and you weren’t here? I had time, so I figured it was easier to cut his hair and get him out as quickly as possible.”

Alamo sighed. “Probably the right call, baby, but I don’t like it.”

“Me neither. He was grilling me about Quin’s appointment. I think I lied convincingly.”

“Does she have an appointment?”

“Yes,” I whispered, like Michael was omnipresent. “Next week.”

“How about we go ahead and cancel that until this shit’s taken care of?”

I met his eyes. “How about I let your sister tell me that, since she’s a grown-ass woman and doesn’t need her brother ruling her schedule like a glorified secretary?”

“Hmm, feisty today I see.”

“I’m feisty every day.”

He chuckled. “True.”

I smiled. “I’m surprised you’re here. I figured you’d alert Boomer.”

He cupped my face. “No way in hell I’d let you cut that asshole’s hair without being here. Got your back, baby.”

I buried my face in his chest again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Can’t stay, though.”

“I figured.” I held him tighter. “But I want to squeeze you for another couple of minutes.”

He chuckled. “Sounds good.”

“What time are you going to be at my place later?”

“Probably after ten.”

“Okay.”

Alamo’s phone buzzed, and he kept hold of me while he pulled it out of his pocket. “Gotta go, baby.”

“Okay,” I said, but held him tighter.

He chuckled. “You need another minute?”

“Yes.”

He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and I breathed in the glory of his scent before he was forced to go. I did get an epic kiss that left me all hot and bothered before he left, but, honestly, it just made it harder for me to watch him leave.

Closing up the shop, Boomer met me outside and followed me back to my place. I got a call from Willow right as I stepped inside my condo, and I grinned. “Hey, long lost bestie.”

“Want some company?” Willow asked.

“Yes! I’ll cook.”

“Mmmm, sounds good. Parker’s coming too.”

“I get you two nights in a row?” I said excitedly.

Willow laughed. “Yep. We’ll see you in twenty.”

I grinned and hung up, then planned my menu.