“Firebird and Eve. They say we need a family day,” he repeated.
To hide my smirk, I sip the cold beer. Things are slowly changing on Demon’s Lair, and I’m unsure how aware Day is of this. “You’re the one who hired Firebird as the casino’s manager.”
Day snorts as he sips his beer. Until Eve pointed out the need of someone with better organizational skills, TJ, the club’s secretary, had run the women and the casino. And between them, Eve and Leon roped Firebird in to help. Then, after a vote with church, Day hired the redhead as a full-time manager. I sip my beer, watching my toes wiggle. It’s thanks to Firebird we work three nights at the casino and have four rest days. My smirk deepens. Who would have thought a Davaro would be running things for Day?
“What makes you think it’s Firebird’s idea. Maybe I’ve been playing around with the idea. You know, from a PR point of view,” Day said.
I shake my head, “shit, Day. She’s been manager for what. Two months. And she’s already implemented several changes. This Family Day stunt stinks of Firebird.”
Day chuckles as he leans back against the couch, keeping his gaze on the giant television screen pinned to the wall. “Are you telling me you knew nothing about it?”
“I only see Firebird or Eve, if there’s a legal problem with the club.” I turn to Day. “You know TJ’s still playing around with the idea of opening an escort agency.”
Day nods, “I like the idea. More money for the club. Shit, the whores just pick up any john they fancy from the casino.”
I shake my head. The way Day describes it, you would swear the whores were lined up alongside the dock with prices on stickers on the soles of their shoes, waiting for the punters as they left the casino after a night’s gambling. It isn’t quite like that. TJ is good with the women. He’s the one who hooks the clients up with the right woman.
“Those Smythe boys are smart. I see why you recommended them for club officers,” I said.
Day smiles in self-satisfaction as he nods. “Talk to TJ about this escort business - Now about this ‘Family Day.’”
It’s a long time since I thought about family and the one I lost, and my hands turn clammy as I push back the memories of Jo-Leigh. “It’ll be good for the club.” My lips twist into a semblance of a smile. “We could do with some lighthearted fun. Shit, when was the last time we had any real free time?” My chuckle is genuine, “just don’t expect me to plan it.”
Day smirks as he lowers his bottle. The gleam in his blue eyes sets off the nervous twitch in my stomach. “It’s Firebird’s idea, She and Eve can sort it out.”
I take another sip of my beer, turning my attention back to the movie. “It’ll mean Poppy will be there.”
The couch cushion beside me springs back into shape as Day stands and runs his hand through his dark hair. “I’ve a casino to run. Call Fudge about the next run.” My chuckle follows the biker as he leaves the room, and I pull the burner from my pocket as I shake my head. The man’s been running from the young woman since she turned eighteen, and I wonder how much longer he’ll be able to run. I turn my gaze back to the movie, and my smile slips. He’s not the only one running.
I close my eyes as I lean against the couch and Mia Cartwright invades my thoughts as her lithe, tall frame floats up before me and my frown gathers. Shit, there are so many reasons why the woman is wrong for me. She’s Jono and Hank’s sister for one. She’s Poppy’s best friend. My stomach rumbles as I chuckle. Which would mean more torment for Day. The burner weighs in my fingers and my frown returns. She’s a journalist. Sure, it might only be for The Noir Valley Gazette and some blog she runs. But she’s still a journalist and The River Demons are not a hundred percent kosher. I key in a number and Devil’s Comfort Road Manager answers the call. “Hi. Fudge. How’s it going, Old Man?”
Fudge’s chuckle reaches out. After years of playing the field, he’s settled down with a widow and has a family of his own. “Less of the old man, Alex. How’s life on the river?”
I turn to the window and watch the water. The Mississippi and Demon’s Lair are still, and the sun glistens off the water. “It’s good. And you.”
There is warmth in Fudge’s chuckle. “Hectic. The women have gone away for the weekend.”
I chuckle. “How about we get together for a weekend?”
“Sounds good.” The cell goes quiet, but I hear the flicker of paper. “How about the third weekend of next month?”
“Sounds great. We’ll see you and the boys then.”
With the trip arranged, I hang up on the biker and although I resume watching the film, my attention is elsewhere. When Day took on the presidency of The River Demons. Turning the riverboat into a legal casino and moving our operations from the backwoods of Noir Valley, we had handed a majority of our pipelines over to the Scarlet Runners. But there were one or two lines we had kept. Pipelines Day has no intention of handing over to anyone. Pipelines set up by the founding president of the River Demons, Quaker,
