Page 13 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

I started separating the stacks into neat bundles while Dice counted beside me. Kash pulled out a notebook and calculator, double-checking every total. As we stacked the money, Dice let out a quiet sigh. I didn’t have to look up to know something was on her mind.

“We can’t do this forever,” Dice said, her voice dead serious.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start that shit again, Dice.”

Dice looked over at me. “I’m serious, Rebel.”

“You back on this, huh?” Kash asked without looking up from her calculator.

Dice laughed and shook her head. “Yes, I am. Once we hit Ross Savings & Loan, I’m leaving the game. That was always the plan.”

I finally looked over at her before speaking. “You serious?”

Dice nodded without hesitation. “Dead serious. Ritz has been trying to get me to quit for a long time now. We got more money than we could spend in a lifetime. My babies, Revv and Koasta, deserve to have their mama at home instead of wondering if she’s gonna make it back after every job.”

Kash nodded in agreement. “Facts. My baby boy, Kashlyn, is my world. I don’t want anything happening to me either.”

I stared at both of them for a long moment before nodding. “I can’t even argue with that, ladies.”

The truth was, neither of them needed the money anymore. Dice could’ve walked away years ago, but loyalty to this crew always outweighed another payday. Kash was in the same position. Between her family’s money and everything we’d stacked over the years, she could’ve retired whenever she wanted. But she stayed because we were family. But now things were different. Dice had Ritz, Revv, and Koasta waiting for her at home. Kash had Declan and little Kashlyn. They finally had something worth risking it all to protect instead of risking it all to keep it.

I finally agreed. “If anybody’s earned retirement, it’s you two. Go be with your families.”

Dice smiled. “I appreciate that. One more, and then I’m done.”

Kash grinned. “Girl, I’m ready for the big one. And Declan’s definitely ready to help us.”

I pointed a finger at both of them. “Y’all better not get all soft on me before then.”

Dice threw her hands up. “Excuse us? You’re the one who needs to retire, get a nigga, and pop out a couple of babies.”

I scrunched up my face. “First of all, I don’t want no kids. Second, men ain’t shit.”

Kash snorted. “That’s because you keep pushing every good man away.”

“I do not,” I rolled my eyes.

“The only reason you can’t keep one,” Dice chimed in with a smirk, “is because every man gets intimidated by whatever the hell you and Crow got going on.”

I frowned. “Crow and I don’t have anything going on.”

Kash and Dice exchanged a look before they both burst into laughter.

“Action begs to differ. That’s yo’ boyfriend-bestie,” Kash teased.

“My what?” I shot back.

“You heard her,” Dice laughed. “That man looks at you like you hung the damn moon, and you over here acting clueless.”

I shook my head. “Y’all are delusional.”

“Mhm,” Kash said. “Keep telling yourself that.”

The three of us burst into another round of laughter before going right back to counting our money. After leaving the safehouse, I headed back to my hotel suite. The moment I stepped inside, I found Cairo stretched across the bed watching television. As soon as he saw me, he grabbed the remote, turned the TV off, and sat up, giving me his full attention.

“Glad you made it back, Rain.” His eyes swept over me, searching for any cuts, bruises, or signs that something had gone wrong before he finally relaxed. “Everything go as planned?”

I dropped my duffel bag by the door and kicked off my shoes. “Everything went exactly the way we drew it up.”