Page 42 of Reno

Reno didn’t display a tremendous amount of emotion. Even so, I couldn’t help but wonder if everything was okay.

I stood. “Is everything alright?”

He nodded. “Everything’s fine.”

I got done, locked up, and wandered into the parking lot. He was sitting on his motorcycle, staring blankly toward the highway. When I approached, he glanced over his shoulder.

“Remember the asshole that revved his motor earlier?” he asked.

“Cash?”

He nodded. “Yep.”

“I do.”

“Do you remember the big fucker that came in here with me the night we met? Six inches taller than everyone else?”

“Pee Bee?”

He grinned. “That’s him.”

“What about them?”

“They’re going to be over at Crip’s place, hanging out with their wives. Crip’s Ol’ Lady’s there, too.” He handed me a helmet. “I’m going to take you over there and introduce you to the women. Then, Crip and I have something we’ve got to do.”

“You’re going to leave me there?”

“Just for a while.”

I liked Reno, but I wasn’t thrilled to be left with two men I barely knew and three women I didn’t.

I let the helmet dangle at my side. “Can we do this some other time?”

“Just put on the helmet and hop on,” he said. “It’ll be a good time.”

I felt uneasy about being around people I didn’t know. I cringed. “I should really—”

“You’re coming with me,” he demanded. “Not negotiable.”

A chill ran the length of my spine. “Everything’s not okay, is it?”

He buckled his helmet. “Everything will be just fine.”

Despite his reassurance, I didn’t believe him. Not wholly. My sixth sense wouldn’t allow me to. Nevertheless, I put on my helmet knowing I’d be left in the presence of two of the toughest looking men I’d ever encountered.

If they couldn’t keep me safe, no one could.

16

Reno

Pee Bee, Cholo, Goose and I stood in Crip’s garage while Cash stayed inside, making sure the women didn’t listen in on our conversation. Filled with the same nervous energy as if I were walking into a combat zone, I paced the floor.

“So much for this cocksucker being scared to come into the country, huh?” Crip said, his tone expressing irritation with Alacrán’s unexpected arrival. “What happened to that theory?”

“Fuck, I don’t know,” I replied. “I don’t know this prick.”

“We just going to act like we’re two hot-shot drug buyers and see what happens?”