Page 78 of Cash

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket, tapped his fingers against the screen, and then pointed it at me.

DIDN’T TAKE YOU LONG TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

He typed another message, and then poked the phone in my face.

BAKER SAID SHE’S YOUR OL LADY AND YOU STFU. EMBARRASSED?

“We were done talking about it,” I said. “At least I answered the question. You poke your pork in that neighbor’s twat yet?”

He pecked at the phone, then turned the screen to face me.

AN ASIAN ELEPHANT WEIGHS TWICE THAT OF AN AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANT, 12,000 POUNDS

I chuckled. “It’s gonna be like that, huh?”

He nodded.

“That’s fine,” I said with a laugh. “She’ll tell me. She comes over and gets all jacked up on wine and spills her guts. Hell, I’ll just walk across the street and ask her tonight.”

He pushed his phone into his back pocket and shrugged.

“Food will be ready in about fifteen,” Goose said. “Smoked ham, smoked ribs, and smoked pork loin. The ham’s uncured, I think you’ll like it.”

“I’m ready,” I said. “Haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“Why the fuck not?” Ghost asked.

I grinned. “Been busy doing other shit.”

He glanced at Kimberly, who was still talking to Andy, and then looked at me with both brows raised. “That gal’s gonna give you a heart attack.”

I chuckled. “Not if I give her one first.”

“She’s good people?” he asked.

I gave a nod. “She wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t.”

His eyes narrowed. “Is she built for this shit?”

“You find out who the tough guy in the bar is when someone comes in with a gun,” I said. “Time will tell, I guess.”

He patted me on the shoulder. “I suppose you’ll find out. Sooner or later.”

I tossed my empty beer bottle and grabbed another from the ice bin. When I returned to the deck, Reno and Baker were gone. I searched the yard and spotted Reno talking to Kimberly and Baker talking to Andy.

Fifteen minutes earlier, it would have bothered me to see Reno with Kimberly. After Baker’s determination that she was my Ol’ Lady, I knew he’d be respectful of her, and of me.

“Been trading off with Tito listening to that guy in Encino,” Ghost said. “He’s an interesting fucker.”

“How so?”

“He finances a pot farm in Colorado, owns a car dealership in Kansas, and runs a card game in LA. Game costs five hundred grand to get a seat. Sounds like he has everyone from ball players to politicians playing poker. Then, he sells smack on the side. No wonder he beats the drug charges. Prick’s probably got the cops on his payroll. Prick only leaves his home about once a year, and that time is coming up in about a week.”

I glanced toward Kimberly, and then looked at Ghost. “We going to hit him?”