Something dark and twisted awakens at the thought of her alone and vulnerable. No doubt she won’t thank me for it but I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to keep her safe.
Even if it’s not what she wants.
* * * * *
Over the next week things are quiet. I don't hear any more until Tank calls to tell me that Blade left town. Max seemed pretty sure that he could handle things so maybe Blade got what he wanted from him. Or maybe not. Either way, I'm just glad he's not our problem anymore.
I'm talking to a customer on a Friday morning when Sasha storms into the shop. The door slams shut behind her, the bell overhead ringing like crazy. By the look on her face, I don't have time to get her in private before she blows up.
"Gabe Marshall, I can't believe you!"
Arthur Winston looks up from the forms he's filling out and then takes a step to the side. "I've been married long enough to recognize the look of a woman on a mission. I'm getting out of the way."
We've been handling Arthur's vehicles for years now so I know he's familiar with our paperwork. "Just leave the form when you're done, Art. Zack will call you when it's ready."
I come around the counter and motion for Sasha to follow me to the back. She looks like she wants to say something but she follows me until we get in the office. As soon as the door closes behind us, she whirls around.
"You hired a construction crew to finish the renovations at my club. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"
I was actually hoping she wouldn't find out until they were done. I should have known that she wouldn't be able to stay away, even on days when she’s not scheduled to be there. The club is her dream.
"The thought of you working by yourself to get things ready makes me crazy. It’s not safe at night and those locks are hardly secure.”
"I guess you'd know that better than I would." She immediately covers her mouth. "I'm sorry. That was a low blow."
Her words settle right in the pit of my stomach like I’ve swallowed a rock. “Maybe but it's the truth. I do know better just how dangerous this world can be and I don't want you at risk. I have the money to hire a crew so I did it. And I would do it again if it means you're safer."
She throws her handbag down in the chair behind my desk.
“Damn it, Gabe. You knew that I wanted to do this myself! It's not about the money or even safety. I'm not an idiot. I don't stay too late so there are other people around and someone always knows where I am. But now that there's nothing for me to do it feels like it's not really my project anymore."
I pull her into my arms and rest my chin on top of her head. "I hate when you're angry with me.”
She squeezes me around the waist. "I'm not doing it for kicks, Gabe. I told you that I wanted to accomplish this on my own. You knew my feelings about it and you just bulldozed right over them."
Now that some of her initial wrath has been expressed, I can see that she’s frustrated. And hurt.
I tip up her chin gently, holding fast when she tries to turn her head away. "Sasha, I'm a wealthy man."
She starts to protest but I kiss her into silence. "Just let me say this. I'm a wealthy man. I never thought I would be but there it is. I haven't earned it. And I'm sure as hell not the kind of guy who deserves it so I need to use this money to help the people that I care about. If I can't do that I'll go crazy."
"Am I?" she asks in a small voice. Then she peeks up at me shyly. "Someone you care about?"
"More than you can ever know." I rest my forehead against hers. We stay like that for a few minutes, breathing in tandem. Finally she rests a hand lightly against my cheek.
"I care about you, too."
* * * * *
Once Sasha leaves, I drop down into the chair behind my desk. It’s quiet up front so I figure most of the guys bailed when they heard Sasha on the warpath. She’s got the entire crew wrapped around her little finger so if there’s a fight between us, I’m already aware that they would all be firmly on her side.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I answer it without looking at the screen. When I hear Cole’s voice, I curse the impulsive action.
“Hey kid. You given any thought to that job I told you about?”
Despite my repeated refusals since the day he met me at that old warehouse, he seems to think that I’m playing hard to get. He’s called multiple times and even come by the shop. That didn’t go over too well. Jim knows that he was the one who got me into boosting cars in the first place so he wasn’t too happy to see him show up here.
“I told you. I’m out of that life.”
He grunts. “I really need you on this one. This is a big score. The kind that could really set me up, you know?”
He’s never sounded quite this desperate before. The kind of desperation that comes from either debt or drugs. My head drops forward into my hands. Even though I know intellectually that I’m not responsible for anyone else’s actions, I can’t help feeling a pang of regret and sympathy for him. He got me into trouble, yes, but he also got me out of trouble at times, too. He was my friend.
“Hey, man. You know I can spot you the cash. Whatever you need.”
My words introduce a new form of tension. Cole has always been a proud type and despite being a thief, he’s always had an almost old-fashioned code of honor. He doesn’t believe in charity.