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Amen, brother.

Ace gave a nod and turned his attention to Jekyll. “You and Cue decide to take the scenic route home?”

Cue had called it. They’d get shit for the detour. Well, he would. Jekyll wouldn’t let his decision fall on his brother. It seemed Cue was dealing with other things.

“That’s on me. Needed to handle something.”

“What?”

“Personal.” Jekyll held Ace’s stare. If he wanted more, then he’d have to ask. His president didn’t.

“Alright.”

Ace was walking away when his gaze shifted toward the bar. There were two women behind it. A younger girl making drinks and a woman in her thirties counting the cash. It was anyone’s guess which of them caught his attention. Ace turned back, rounded the table, and took the empty chair beside him.

He lifted his chin toward the bar. “How long has she been working here?”

Gent and Ghost glanced over their shoulders.

“Bartender is new, I think,” Ghost said.

“The other one.” Ace’s graveled tone was showing his impatience.

“Ava?” Gent smirked. “About seven or eight months. And you’d know that if you ever hung out here with us.”

Before his lockup, Jekyll had hung out a lot at the strip club. Ace only made an appearance once or twice outside of business.

“We check her out?” Ace gestured to Ava.

It was routine to do a background check on every employee associated with Killcreek. That included the bar and strip club.

“I think you’re doing a fine job of that right now, Prez.”

Ace shifted his gaze to Gent and glared.

“You’d have to ask Cypher,” Gent said. “But she’s got a sassy mouth on her. Hanging at the bar one time, and Barry started in on her for being late. She put that dick in his place.”

Ghost lifted his hand. “I was there. Very entertaining.”

Ace slowly nodded with his eyes pinned on Ava. When she walked across the room, she had the president’s undivided attention.

Interesting.

Chapter Five

Imogene had another hour before meeting with her first client. She’d done all her research and given herself a pep talk to keep an open mind and allow each client a clean slate and no judgement. It was how she’d always approached every inmate. But this one was different. While volunteering in the prison, she wasn’t privy to the details of every inmate’s case and conviction. Her files for her clients included more information.

She considered reaching out to Judy and asking for a replacement case but decided against it. How would that look if she was trying to hand off her very first assignment? Like I’m not competent for the job. Employment was scarce even in the city. She’d applied to countless positions, and this was her only call back. She had bills and rent to pay, and her savings was dwindling. I can’t lose this job.

With time to spare, she decided to grab something to eat. Maybe a full belly would calm her nerves and clear her mind.

She glanced up at the sign on Main Street. It wasn’t much more than a dive bar, but when someone walked out, she was flooded with the smell of burgers and French fries. Just what she needed. Comfort food. Her first choice would’ve been Parry’s down the street. She’d practically lived on it for the last few days since she’d discovered the restaurant. But after getting scolded for letting the door slam behind her, she was officially banned for two weeks.

Imogene walked inside, glancing around at the open tables. It was just after one, and there were barely any patrons for the lunch rush. Was that a sign?

“If you’re waiting to be seated, you’re gonna be standing there a long fucking time.”

She jerked her head to the bartender. A woman in her late forties, possibly early fifties had her arms braced on the bar. Not exactly a warm welcome, but Imogene smiled anyway.