Page 63

“We take reports of minors being served alcohol seriously.”

Wizard tilted his head curiously. “I thought you said you pulled the car over and then found out they’d been drinking here.”

Officer Day quickly corrected him. “We’d received a tip and were on our way here when we pulled the vehicle over.”

“Ah …” Wizard drawled, subtly motioning for Doom to get Natalia out of the club. So far, she had shaken Doom off every time he had tried to lead her away from the conversation. “Wasn’t that convenient?”

Officer Day’s hand moved intimidatingly toward the baton on his belt. “I’ll see the surveillance video before I decide whether to shut your club down.”

Wizard eyed the hand on the baton before lifting his gaze to the older cop. “You’d better pull his leash back before I do it for you.” His voice dripped with forced politeness.

Everyone near him backed up a step. The only person who failed to recognize that he was about to go off was Natalia, and she was too busy avoiding Doom’s grasp.

Officer Caffee sighed. “Let us see the video, and if what you say is true, we’ll get out of your hair.”

“When I made the offer, I was being nice. But when Officer Day touched his baton, my willingness to be nice flew out the fucking door,” Wizard said matter-of-factly. “You want to see the video, get a motherfucking search warrant. Buck, call our lawyer. Tell him to get his ass over here.”

Wizard glanced over his shoulder at the man standing behind him then turned back to Officer Caffee. “I suggest you go book your DUIs and leave us alone until you have proof they were actually served alcohol here.”

Officer Day’s face flushed with anger. “I’ll have this place shut down in the next ten minutes.”

“Try it, and the first thing I’ll instruct my lawyer to do is check your bank account for any large deposits made recently,” Wizard threatened.

Paling, Officer Day made a U-turn. “Officer Caffee and I will go back and talk to the young women. We’ll tell them you have them on surveillance. If their stories change, we’ll leave you alone. If not, we’ll be back.”

“Do that,” Wizard said snidely. “And since my lawyer will still be coming, I might as well give him some work to keep him busy.”

Grabbing Officer Caffee by the arm, Officer Day propelled the younger officer out the door.

“I almost feel sorry for Officer Caffee,” Doom remarked after the door closed behind them.

“Why?” Wizard asked.

Doom wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Because I could already smell that Officer Day had shit himself when you mentioned having a lawyer check his bank account.”

CHAPTER 25

DRAGONMAMA

“Where did Lucia go?”

Looking around the crowded room, Natalia couldn’t see her.

“She left right after Wizard stopped your show,” Doom answered.

She gave him a dirty look at the reminder then decided to get out of the clubhouse since Lucia was no longer there. Thankfully, Wizard made no effort to stop her.

Breathing in the fresh night air, she was walking toward her van when she heard Wizard call out.

“Be ready at nine tomorrow night for our date.”

She didn’t bother turning around. “Fuck off! I told you our deal was over.”

“Nine, Natalia. Don’t keep me waiting.”

His calm reply raised her hackles. Rather than give in to her temper, storm back, and kick him in the nuts, she climbed into the van and drove away.

Wizard was an idiot if he thought she would go on another date with him. He had clearly failed to keep Jesus away from Lucia. He should have barred Lucia from the club. Then she wouldn’t have made an idiot of herself by dancing on the table.