Hux squeezes his eyes shut. “Bizzy. If they left, it wasn’t meant to be. She was doing you a favor.”
A choking sound emits from my throat.
“Huxley Baker! You’re my brother. It’s your job to stick up for me even if it is years after the fact. And just FYI, I haven’t been the same ever since that whiskey barrel incident. Let’s just say she gave me one heck of a parting gift that afternoon.”
Fish lets out a riotous meow. And you’re a better woman for it. She did you a favor, Bizzy. If Mayor Woods hadn’t pushed you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Maybe she’s not all that bad.
“Oh, Fish.” I give her a quick kiss just above her nose.
“Bizzy.” Hux taps my arm gently. “You’re adults now. And we had a nice time last night.” Even nicer once I got her back to my place.
“Oh my God!” I swat him. “You dog!”
Sherlock barks. What’s wrong with dogs?
“You’re right, Sherlock. There’s nothing wrong with dogs. Hux, you’re a beast. How could you?”
He inches back. “What exactly am I being accused of?” I think I know, but I should probably play it coy.
“Don’t you play coy with me. You know what you did and with whom.”
“I swear, Biz”—Hux takes Fish from me and plants a kiss to her head—“sometimes it’s like you can read my mind.”
“That’s because you’re an open book. And you’re my brother. Please tell me this thing you have with Mack is just a flash in the bed pan.”
He chuckles. “The two of you used to be friends. Move on from the past. Who knows? You might even be friends again one day. She might be Mrs. Baker number four. You never know. She seemed to have a really good time.” And she’s called twice today begging for more.
I moan at the thought. “I guess I don’t have any say in it, do I?”
Fish mewls. Oh, who cares? Once he’s done with her, he’ll throw her to the curb.
Hux leans in to hook my gaze. “Bizzy, I care about how you feel. And to be honest, I didn’t think you’d care who I was with. And because you feel so strongly, I’ll tread lightly.”
“I’d appreciate it. Don’t let your guard down for one minute. The girl is a barracuda.”
“I can vouch for that.” He waggles his brows.
“Eww.” I give him a playful swat before he hands me Fish. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know an attorney by the name of Brooklynn Knight, would you? She worked on one of Juni’s cases in the past. She was at Killer Books the night of the homicide. I guess she owns a stake in it.”
Hux arches his head back. “Brooklynn Knight. Is she hot?”
“Hux.”
“What? I’m a guy.” He pulls his phone out. “I’ve got a secretary that claims to know everything about everybody. I’m about to test her on that.” His fingers dance across his screen and he hits send.
Gatsby walks up and lands his paw over Huxley’s leg. Pet me, please.
I bite down on a laugh. “I think Gatsby wants your attention.”
“Come here, big guy.” Hux gives the mammoth pooch a nice rubdown over the back and I’d swear on all that is good, Gatsby just laughed up a storm.
Huxley’s phone pings and he holds it out to read it.
“Wow.” His ears pull back. “Here’s something you don’t see every day.”
“If it’s an indecent picture of Brooklynn, I think I’ll pass.
“No, not that. She’s been disbarred. My secretary doesn’t know why.”
“What? We have to find out why.” I’m not sure why, but I’ve got a gut feeling it could be pertinent.
“I guess I’ll have to do some digging. But it could be anything from stealing from clients, committing a felony, or general client neglect. That’s a shame.”
“Hey, ask your secretary if she knows what Brooklynn is doing now?”
He glides his thumb across the screen, and no sooner does he hit send than a link pops up on his screen.
“She works nights at a place called Renegades.” He squints at the screen. “Out in Seaview.”
“Renegades.” I nod as I say it.
“Bizzy.” The tone in his voice alone scolds me. “Don’t do anything dangerous.”
“What? I was just thinking about bringing some lemon tarts to my favorite homicide detective. I’m practically headed that way.”
He cocks his head as if calling me out on the lie.
“Relax. I’m headed to see my fiancé, who happens to be packing heat. What could possibly go wrong?”
“For the average person? Nothing. For you? Don’t trip over a body, Biz. And do not make a move without Jasper.” He gives Gatsby and Sherlock a quick pat as he heads for the door.
“You bet,” I say.
“Steer clear of trouble. I mean it,” he bellows while walking backward.
“Heed your own words,” I shout back.
Hux belts out a laugh as he heads on out. “I sure will.”
Something tells me he won’t.
Chapter 13
Renegades is a retro club of sorts for the older set.
Each week boasts of a rockin’ boppin’ theme, per the sign on the window, and this week’s party is all about the eighties.
Lucky for me, I’m a closet fan of neon and mesh, so I was able to outfit both Juni and me with enough bright colors to make every star in the solar system jealous. I could have outfitted Georgie as well, but she wasn’t as cooperative. Instead, Georgie donned a silver lame kaftan that has heads turning every which way and not necessarily in this direction—some are looking to flee. And across the front of that tin treasure she’s donned, in large black letters, it reads Georgie Say Relax.
“You like?” Georgie holds the front of the foil wonder out. “I made it myself. It’s a play on the old Frankie Say Relax shirts they had back in the day. Believe it or not, I used to call this little ball of tinsel my good luck charm. It screams take me to your love dungeon.”
“Mama”—Juni shakes her head at
